"Bart Senior" wrote in message
| Anyone else have any good falling in stories?

Wooooooooo Yah!

It was Friday Night... 4 sailboats had sailed to a party in Horseshoe Bay
about 8 miles away. I had been invited to show up and promised I would after
a late start.
I got back late from work and tried to line up some crew. I went to the bar
and found 4 ladies who wanted to go.. only 2 with sailing experience. I then
ran into a friend..I'll call him Remora.... it was his nick name. One of
those people who jinx and screw up all the time. I should have known better
but he had a knapsack of beer and rum. I didn't have time to hit the booze
store and he had been sailing before. So off we all went... drunk as
skunks... 4 babes, Remora and I... after last call.... down to the dock.
It was 0200hrs. Winds were 30 kts and the waves were up. We needed to bring
the boat in to the dock from the mooring to load the girls. Remora placed
his knapsack into the dinghy before climbing in and I rowed out the 7 foot
fiberglass punt to Overproof bobbing at her pennants.The waves were not
making the progress easy but I was at the oars and making way.

As we approached the Overproof's bow I calmly yelled to Remora to stay still
while I drift down secure us..... to which he replied.. "No Sweat I got it"
and promptly stood up!! We were over and upside down in a splash! I
sputtered some obscenities and made way for the bowsprit and climbed up in
an instant. As Remora flailed in the water I realized to my horror that the
knapsack was on a one way trip to Davy Jones Locker!! While Remora
continued his incessant pleas for help, I ordered him to grab the knapsack
and pass it over. He refused because he feared he would drown under the
added burden... knowing I had to act .. I leaped over the side firmly
holding the rail and placed a foot on Remora's head ... submerging him but
rescuing the knapsack. I lifted it and myself onboard. When I knew the booze
was safely aboard I reluctantly used the boat hook to drag his sorry carcass
to the stern and lifted him aboard as well.. Remora is 6 foot 4 inches and
150 lbs . I then started the engine let loose the mooring and went to the
dock to load the ladies. Enroute I made the Remora hang by his feet to
retrieve the oars and the dinghy painter.

When we got to the dock the ladies were in tears of laughter! Luckily I
lived aboard at the time and had dry clothes for both of us. We reefed,
raised canvas and sailed out under radar and made the party at about
0400hrs... just as it was getting under full swing.

Two other Captains at the party who sailed regularly with me won a bet of
$100 each on if I would show up. It was a great time and made for a great
story. Even Remora got laid... a sympathy screw no doubt.

CM