Lesson learnt. Engine switched off before the swim!

Our last full day in the water. We needed to attempt to get both sails out fully but again, there was hardly any wind in the air. We set off with the intention of finding a quiet bay to anchor up, go for a snorkel and, if the wind picked up, sail. Well we found a nice quiet bay, dropped the anchor, switched OFF the engine, took bearings and sat back to see if she was holding. It was, so in for a swim. There was a Croatian registered boat anchored close to us when we arrived. When they left they were putting out both sails, indicating that there should be sufficient wind. So, up anchor, point into the wind and mainsail out. Good. Next the headsail to be hauled out. Sheet wrapped around the winch, out she came. But it was flapping about in the wind. Why? Well, firstly I hadn’t set the cars on both sides of the boat and, secondly, I hadn’t sorted out the rigging for the inhaul sheet for the headsail. So many things to think about or try to sort out, especially if these had not been covered in the Day Skipper sailing course – or did I miss this bit as well? Anyway, once all of this had been sorted out we were flying, well not quite. We saw 6.9 knots on the GPS, which was our fastest yet, even more than under engine power! Fantastic. Okay, we had had our fun and it was time to head back for Kilada. This time though we needed to moor up on the wall ready for hauling out the following morning. Now this was the one method I had been taught on my course so I was ready. Warps prepared, fenders set out, crew informed as to requirements, entry into the narrow dredged channel we made our way towards the wall. Everything was looking good, slowly inching our way to my chosen spot. Just as I got to the point engine in reverse and we were parallel to the wall. Daniel climbed off quickly and began to secure his warp. Helen was hesitant in getting off, to the point that she didn’t (!) and as Daniel was pulling on his warp the bow was closing in on the wall and the stern was drifting out towards a very fast and expensive speedboat. Daniel dropped his and ran to the stern and began to secure that end. Oh well, all was good in the end and the boat was secure for its lift out the following morning. As we were back on shore it was an opportune time to visit the local bar for a glass or two of Mythos. Usually in the height of summer the place is buzzing but at the end of October it was very, very quiet.