Warp factor nil*Send us your boating experience story and if it’s published you’ll receive the original Dick Everitt-signed watercolour which is printed with the article. You’ll find PBO’s contact details on page 5.arrange a day-sail with her the following week to pass on the essential rudiments of sailing and man-overboard drill.When I reached my car I was still
dripping wet, as was the electronic car key in my pocket: with tiresome inevitability, it wouldn’t open the car doors. I called the AA, and was told: ‘We are very busy
tonight, but we should get to you by 2300.’ The AA man turned up at the appointed time and somehow managed to open the doors and get the car started,
so I drove home and arrived at 0100! Sailing can be such fun...to the young man on his Laser who was My sincere and heartfelt thanks are due
key to my ‘rescue’, my crew Sue for keeping the boat off the rocks and our class captain for staying with me until my car was drivable.
Bless you all!
LESSONS LEARNEDHere are the three lessons I learned from
this overall experience. 1 Firstly, always use a boat hook to pick up a warp – never lie on the
side deck and reach for it. 2 Make sure your crew can handle the boat on their own and know
how to operate the engine and VHF. 3 Never carry your electronic car ignition key in your pocket
when sailing!Boat hooksSome boat hooks are specially
designed for picking up warps: there are many on the market, but here are three which might help.LINE-A-SUREThis is a strong plastic grapnel which can be disassembled and stowed
flat. It can be used to throw over a mooring buoy or pick up a line, as well as for coming alongside a pontoon.
■ http://www.line-a-sure.co.ukSWISSTECH RETRIEVING HOOKThis is a snap-hook which mounts onto a boat hook: you can clip it
onto the ring of a mooring buoy or a line if required. It’s more suitable for buoys with rings, but
if you have this type of mooring it’s a quick way to pick it up – you can sort out the normal line later.
■com http://www.bluewatersupplies.
THE EXE BUOY HOOK simply a sturdy stainless The Exe Buoy Hook is hook on the end of a
glassfibre pole – nothing good-size hook that can grab any line or buoy.complicated, just a
■ http://www.exebuoyhook.co.uk