August 22nd. Never leave on a Friday.

Written by Jack van Ommen on August 23rd, 2014

I made it as far as the Tides Tavern and the engine quit again after an early morning start. I sculled the boat back. Ric Holl, a mechanic, had a hard time figuring out where the air was coming in but got the engine running again. It ran well for a bout 2 1/2 hours. I was motor sailing against the Northerly and was near the north end of Colvos Pass. A jerk in a dive boat passed a few feet from me at high speed, I was on the starboard side of the pass and he was going south. He threw a mean wake and water came over the deck and into the open forward hatch. The right after the engine quit. Most likely something got dislodged in the tank, filter or fuel lines. I could not restart the engine by bleeding the lines as I had been able to do the week before. I sailed back south on the stiff Northerly but it petered out near Gig Harbor, I inched close to the harbor entrance but the ebb was starting to push me backwards. I hailed a sport fisher who towed me into the harbor where there is always wind when there is none outside and I sailed the rest of the way into my slip.

So, I’ll ave to start the whole process over again. I should have been born 200 years earlier before engines spoiled the fun of a good sail.

 

2 Comments so far ↓

  1. Brother Stephen says:

    no doubt he was thoughtless in passing so close.
    maybe God sent him to cause your motor to quit early on, rather than later, at a more inopportune time.
    best of luck getting that air leak fixed!
    wishing you all the best.
    Stephen

  2. I promise to let you know which pleasant surprise God has come up with this time, brother Stephen.I’m a believer by now.