Day
to day life aboard Let's Dance is governed by a series of routine
chores and rituals designed to assure safe and comfortable passages.
We have laminated sheets handy to prompt the correct sequence for the
pre-underway check, satellite phone dialing, May Day call procedures,
engine room prep, etc.
When
underway, the Love Me Tender sits in her own custom made, padded
cradle on the upper aft deck. The heavy duty stainless steel davit
that lifts her from sea level to this preferred perch keeps her
company in transit. She is buckled in with two safety belts so she
can't be dislodged by rough seas or rogue waves. For crossings, or
especially long passages, she is lovingly cloaked in her own little
navy blue sailor suit -- fitted to perfection of sturdy fabric to
keep salt and sun from her helm.
Using
the davit, or crane, we lift the Love Me Tender from the deck and
plop her gently into the sea behind Let's Dance. There, she is ready
to provide transport for us to remote island beaches, other boats,
town docks or for a casual harbor tour. Between islands, if the
route is short, we often let the LMT surf along behind Let's Dance.
Bill fashions a harness with a heavy, 3/4 inch line and she bumps and
bounces over the waves, following obediently as we motor from
anchorage to anchorage. We have a closed circuit TV system on board,
and we use it to check on the tender as we travel -- just making sure
that all is well in the rearview mirror.
After
a short 4 hour travel day, we pulled up to the anchorage at Norman's
Cay -- a little island infamous for the drug trafficking activity of
Carlos Lehder in the 1970s -- and prepared to drop the hook. Three
or four boats were already tucked in for the day. From his position
on the bow, and mine in the pilothouse, we kept the LMT in sight as
we backed down on the anchor line to set the hook securely. The 10
inch yellow float on the line to the tender kept the sturdy black
line from being submerged in the process. As we are very practiced,
the anchoring process was quick and efficient. Still with our head
sets on, Bill and I met at the door to the pilothouse to admire the
beautiful water view. We watched as a sadly deflated yellow float
drifted off to our starboard.
"That
looks just like the float we have", said Bill. Just then the
light bulb goes off! Holy cow! I run to the cockpit to check on the
Love Me Tender and see immediately that the heavy black tow line is
still firmly attached to the rear chock. Whew! So, I peer over the
port rail -- nothing. I rush to the starboard side -- nothing. The
line from the chock trails limply into the water off the swim
platform where it ends. Bill searches from the bow -- nothing! She
has escaped while we were anchoring. Bad, bad Love Me Tender!
When
did this happen? How long has she been adrift? Is she OK? We were
watching, but apparently not closely enough. We search the horizon
and, finally, there she is.....bobbing peacefully in the shallows
about a half mile away.....the picture of innocence. I panic
immediately, of course, and insist that we contact one of the
anchored boats (whose dinghy is actually attached to their boat) for
assistance in the retrieval. Captain Bill has other ideas and
commands that we raise the anchor and go fetch. I'm still freaking
out, but he is firm, and, since he is the captain, we do it his way.
Keeping
a close watch on the escapee, we raise the anchor in record time and
set out to collar the wandering dinghy. Luckily the water is fairly
deep surrounding her and we are able to circle her without running
aground. Wouldn't that have just been the icing on the cake? I
steer Let's Dance carefully around the errant tender as Bill reaches
out to grab her with the fully extended boat hook. He is able to
latch on to a railing and bring her along side. Boat hook, indeed!
She is caught, but not yet secure, so, at Bill's direction, I use the
fishing gaff, its sharp hook sheathed, to pull a line from her bow
into his waiting hands. We've got her back where she belongs.
Now
that she is retied on a much shorter lead, we head back to the
anchorage, pulling the humbled Love Me Tender behind us. We settle
in for another night of star-filled skies with stories of the
attempted escape. Apparently the life line between Let's Dance and
the Love Me Tender got caught under the stern of the big boat as we
backed up to set the anchor. The razor sharp line cutters, located
just in front of the prop, did what they were designed to do -- cut a
line. It was just the wrong line, but at least the propeller was not
fouled in the mayhem. And, as usual, Bill's cool head and calm
disposition saved the day -- that's why he's the captain.
Another
lesson learned, perhaps, about towing and lines and floats and
setting anchors. The Love Me Tender was shuttled back up into her
cradle the next morning for the continuation of the winter 2013
adventure. Maybe if we did not repeatedly leave her high and dry she
would be more amenable to following in our wake.
Let's
Dance......Carol and Bill
(Not
two hours after writing this log: We dinghy in to a little rocky
cove on Warderick Wells Cay so we can take a much needed walk to the
ocean side of the island.
An
hour later we return and, guess what? The keel of the Love Me Tender
is sinking into the soft sand. Bill and I join forces and with a lot
of grunting and grumbling we are able to push her into water deep
enough to let us motor back to Let's Dance. Will we never learn?)
