The Boat: Fisher 33 Motorsailor
Conditions: close reach in 20-25 knots, seas 5-7 feet in blue water.


CRASH, THUD!!!! How could this happen? But it has happened. You've collided
with a partially submerged object. You run below and check the engine
compartment and bilges...no water rushing in. That's good! Back on deck you see
that the impact has compromised your rig. Two stays are broken. You quickly
douse the main and working jib. But you leave the mizzen up as a rider for the
moment. You realize that your boat is sluggish, as if stuck. You move to the
bow...and..the first thing you see are shark fins cutting back and forth.
There's stuff floating in the water. The Blue sharks are feeding in a frenzy.
Your boat has struck a dead whale and is practically stuck on top of it. At the
height of a swell, the heavy Fisher actually lifts and heels riding the back of
the dead animal. The stench is awful.
You run into the pilot house and fire up the powerful diesel, but in gear it
labors as the prop tries to church rotted blubber. You'll blow a headgasket
that way. Help is far away. You need to get free of this floating grounding.

What can you do?


RB