I had a number of wet episodes when I was a dinghy sailor, but have stayed
relatively dry in recent years. However, I did have one incident a few years
ago that caught me totally by surprise:

We were on a mooring in Northeast Harbor, Mt Desert. I was up early and decided
to row into town to get some muffins for breakfast. I was standing in the
normally stable Fatty Knees dink sorting out the oars, when the current pushed
the bow of the dink up on the stern steps of Loki. The stability of the boat
was completely altered, and the next thing I knew I was in the frigid Maine
water beside an upside down dink. The current was pushing me under Loki, but
fortunately I was able to grab the steering crossbar, and get to the steps on
the other stern, which has a ladder.

A few lessons: The unexpected happens very quickly! Wear a PFD when
singlehanding. Clear the oars before getting in the dink.



"Bart Senior" wrote in message
news
It was bound to happen eventually. I've given
people detailed briefings on how to get on and
off the boat, but no one seems to listen much.

Climbing on board ECHO over the stern has
been a bit of a challenge. I have the knack for
it, but others, newbies, have had problems.

It involves grasping the rail in two places, placing a
foot on the sloped transom and bringing the other
leg up. The reverse is similar, only the leg is
stretched from the top flat area of the transom
to the dock.

Yesterday, I had my the first victim. I need to
video tape these things in the future.

A lady friend was trying to get off the boat. Instead
of putting her foot on the portion of the dock closest
to the boat, she angled it out some. I was just about
to say something when she slipped and hung from
the pushpit for a brief moment, and then "PLOP"
into the drink.

I hate to think that, less than a second was the longest
she could hold on in an emergency.

Fortunately the tide, which a rare intervals leaves
debris along the dock, had swept the area clear
and the water was very warm and relatively clean.

I hauled her onto the dock, with my double
wrist grip, and she was somewhat embarassed
but no worse for the wear. I will get many years
of laughs thinking about that one.

I've never fallen in, although I have done my share
of freaky dances climbing into and out of dinghy's
in the past.

Anyone else have any good falling in stories?