It all began with a dare. Are we awesome enough to go sailing without a motor? The whisky made us brave. I rationalized, Epic is only 15 feet long, a dinghy basically, and we can row if need be. Yeah -why not! Why are we waisting great sailing weather in hope of finding the $$ for a new outboard (ours was stolen at the Alameda Marina)?
And so it was. I took the boat out last Friday. Initial problem, the crew (Erik) didn't feel up to sailing. So I called everyone I knew looking for available crew. The only response was from my lady friend Landra who has never been sailing before. I was grateful for the company.
So we rigged and launched about 3pm at the public boat ramp at China Basin. Erik showed up on his bike to see us off. Before departure an old salt showed up to offer his two cents on what we were doing. Together we strategized on the best way to depart the dock, round the old pier, and sail out onto the bay under wind-power alone.
The departure went perfect with plenty of wind. With winds blowing East we set off on a Port reach, then came about to Starboard for a downwind run out to the bay. The winds were so great we sped right along. It was almost as if the Epic was excited to be free again and let her sails fly after being laid up for so long.
In no time at all we came upon the bay bridge. I decided to come about and head South as I preferred the emptiness of the Southbay waters to the more traffic laden central bay. Just as we came about, the wind completely died. We sat there becalmed between the Bay Bridge pylons and Yerba Buena Island. I tried different things to get going again, different directions, everything. The telltales were as limp as... they could be. We drifted for as long as my patience could handle it, then I started rowing with the emergency oars. I rowed as long as I could until I needed a break -only to odiscover that we hadn't moved at all. In fact, we were actually farther back than before and heading for one of the Bay Bridge Pylons -unable to control the boat. Landra and I rowed furiously trying to to get us away from the pylon. Just then, an enormous cargo ship passed within meters of us -we are in a shipping lane, this is very dangerous.
Landra became unable to do much more - she has a back condition and isn't one for a lot of physical work. Landra declared that she was just unable to row anymore. That left me with one oar in an effortless attempt to fight against the strong currents moving out to sea. We must have stayed in that windless space between the Island and the City under the Bay Bridge for an hour and a half. Landra tried to get me to relax but I could not. To be becalmed in an open expanse of sea is one thing, but to be among dangerous obstacles on both sides left me totally unnerved. The only way I could spend my anxiety was to paddle as hard and as fast as I could. I accomplished nothing. We'll just have to wait, I thought. Surely the winds will pick up when the sun sets and we'll just have to fend off the pylons with the oars, and stay clear from the container ships.
As the sun set, there was still no wind and Epic was being pulled farther out into the central bay by the currents. Landra then made a declaration. "It's about to get dark, there is no wind, we cannot stop drifting farther out, my back injury hurts, and I'm kinda scared at this point. I think you should call for help." Landra then began waving to a passenger ferry passing us by. "Forget that" I said, they can't help us. We'll try to signal a passing private boat or call on the VHF. No private boats passed us.
Calling for help became the only option to end this situation quickly and safely. I picked up the VHF, something I hoped I never would need to do. I called Vessel Assist, even thought I don't have a membership, I just felt is was more benign than calling the Coast Guard. Vessel Assist had me switch to another channel where we discussed the situation and eventually switched over to my cell phone. They quoted me almost $400 dollars to tow us back in. I had a feeling it would be this way but I suppose $400 was worth not going Cosco Busan on the Bay Bridge Pylon. Luckily the Vessel Assist man on the phone had some pull with the Coast Guard and had them call my cell phone. I explained the situation -out of control, no motor, person with bad back, getting dark, out of options... The Coast guard dispatched a rescue boat which arrived in five minutes.
Landra and I both felt relieved and assured that this was the best decision - even though I knew that had I one of my able bodied friends with me, we could have paddled like the dickens and made some headway. Oh well. Always too late for would have dones, should have dones.
The coast guard towed us back to the public dock at Pier 40 - the only place they were allowed to tow people to. We thanked the CG guys prfusely and they assured us there would be no charges. I then called Erik who has been spending the last couple hours getting waisted at a bar with our friend Chadwick. Erik and Chadwick take a cab to Pier 40 and meet us there. Landra had decided to go home having enough for one day.
A drunken Chadwick and Erik stumble from a cab to take charge of the situation. We get in the boat and sail out into the darkness with oars at the ready. The crew became excited when they discovered I still have a few beers on board and so it began. We sailed a little then rowed when winds died. We reached pier 6o in the darkness only to be blocked by a large black ominous tall ship. It looked a lot like this only all black and mean like.
We tried to steer a course around it to get into out little dock area but the ship was oblivious to us. No one appeared on deck and we couldn't make contact. We just sat there and waited for the ship to move along.A near mutiny occurred by way of one Seaman Erik who decided (the liquor making him brave) that he knew what was best against the wishes of his captain. The Captain (myself), was in no mood for this and explained to the novice in no uncertain terms -the proper order of things.
The ship did move and we eventually docked - Captain and crew were drunk. Mutiny was averted and after a tedious breakdown routine all were free of the boat until the next voyage.
The three of us then showed up at a friends birthday party looking like we had just been thought a harrowing sea adventure... which we had.
