A great forecast for the day, and a mate rings up to see if I would like to go fishing. I have to think carefully about this, as he doesn’t have a wooden boat! On the other hand, his boat is bigger, he is doing the towing and launching, responsibility for finding the fish and shouldering the blame for failure is his, I don’t have to spend an hour cleaning up etc. when I get home …. and his missus is a fabulous cook who always forces his friends to stay for homemade delights with accompanying beverages.
I accept.
So I pick up the 3rd mate, rendezvous with the skipper and we head off to Warneet to catch the tide.
All is well, although the skipper did drop a bucket accidentally over the transom, which managed to snap off the transponder on the way past……. But we simply drop into “what we used to do before transponders” mode and head out.
Well you know what fishing is like, you sit and chat for 4 or 5 hours, throw the keepers in the fridge and the others overboard, then getting tired ,and having eaten all the food you go home! Usually!!
Ummmm. There doesn’t seem to be enough charge in the battery to start the motor! The motor is of a size to not have an auxiliary starting apparatus (cord)! The skipper is not keen to drop over the transom, wrap a cord around the prop shaft and pull while we assist with the remaining battery juice (wimp!!!!)! We consider a push start – but the water is too deep!
The Skipper contemplates his course of action.
Our friendly contact at Al’s Bait shop (Warneet Pier) gives us the rescue number to contact, and our skipper leaps (slowly) into action. He provides licence number, rego. Number and location, fishing report etc. and we wait whilst the rescue service contact the police for the normal checks, outstanding warrants, and permission to get the volunteers to drop their work, race off to the rescue boat, and proceed.
Two hours pass very quickly when you are contemplating all the horrible fates that could befall you – what if we had to paddle the 2 kilometres back? Are we going to be stuck over this swarm of toadies for the entire wait? (YES). We are anchored in 2 metres of water (determined by the 3rd mate hanging over the side with the broken off transponder in his hand) – will the tide change mean that the rescue craft can’t get to us? I’M GETTING HUNGRY!!
The rescue crew were friendly and efficient. They passed across a jump starter pack, and our engine hiccoughed into life (it’s a 2 stroke).
I am full of praise for these men, all volunteers, who gave up their time to come and help us, and who followed us most of the way to make sure we were ok. Thank you, Rescue Team, for your help. I know that our skipper is talking about a thank you donation.
Our thanks were also given for the calm weather provided.
How did the day end? Three tired and hungry old men made it safely home to the promised culinary delights long anticipated.