forward as I feared making a bad situation
worse with the potential for a man
overboard scenario. We therefore were
unaware, at that time, that we didn’t have
a usable anchor and also unaware of the
cause of the engine failure.
A friend indeed
The coastguard was alerted and a few
conversations followed on the VHF about
our position, level of urgency and the
problem. We explained we were not in
immediate danger but soon after The Eric
and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) Severn
Class lifeboat, launched from Yarmouth,
arrived. You feel very small but extremely
relieved when the RNLI’s biggest class of
lifeboat rushes up to you. I wasn’t
expecting the greeting though. From
Wanderer I heard: “Hello Charles”. One of
the lifeboat crew was Graham, an old
friend from Bembridge. Comforting but
there went any chance of us staying
incognito. The sea dogs would find out
and no doubt nod sagely.
In tow
The RNLI told us to furl and then soon
after unfurl the jib, as we risked being
blown onto a large channel buoy. A rope
was thrown to us from Wanderer and
Horace somehow sorted the bridle and off
we went back to Yarmouth under tow,
seemingly a long way behind Wanderer.
However, the RNLI decided it was too
rough for us to be towed safely into
harbour so we had to be rafted up to
Wanderer. This act, though necessary,
made us feel even smaller. A small
consolation was at least the spraydeck
spared us the ignominy of a soaking
from the angry seas.
As we approached the pontoon it was
clear we had a reception committee. One
looked friendly and three less so. The
coastguard asked about our safety
equipment (all in order) but cautioned us
for not having a VHF licence. We were
unaware of any communication issues
and had planned to do the VHF course
but it just hadn’t happened. Day Skipper,
RYA Level 2 and engine courses had been
completed, with a recent enjoyable
bareboat week round Antigua but the VHF
course had slipped our minds.
Suitably chastised, tired, with tails
between legs, we retreated to the
welcoming tranquillity and privacy of the
RNLI office, where we were given a much
needed cup of coffee and sympathy.
It was time to assess the damage. The
fouled prop was clearly visible from the
pontoon and the plan was to lift Topsy,
check her over while out of the water and
put her back in. I then noticed that the
engine hatch wouldn’t shut. It was now
clear that significant damage had been
done and that we weren’t going anywhere
fast on her.
The anchor had stayed tied on board, as
had the bucket, but the warp and chain
had washed overboard when we had
tipped to starboard on a big wave coming
in to Yarmouth. This had fouled the prop
and pulled the engine off all four
mountings. Luckily we hadn’t started
taking on water.Flare up
I was angry with myself for identifying a
potential problem but not persisting in
finding a solution.
We had a great lunch in the welcoming
Yarmouth Yacht Club. Many there had
watched our rescue. The Red Lion in
Freshwater told me they were fully booked
that evening but on hearing our story
kindly called back later and said they had
made a table available for us. In the Red
Lion we chatted to the adjacent dinersW
e have learned a lot.
It didn’t start well but
we hope it finished
well. Our thanks go
to the amazing
volunteers at the Yarmouth RNLI and
also Yarmouth Yacht Club and The
Red Lion for looking after us so well.Q Should we have set out? – I think so
Q Should I have tried restarting the
engine after it stalled? I’m not sure
Q Should we have called pan-pan
immediately? – I think so
Q Should we have gone to the
foredeck after stalling? – No
Q Should we have beached off
Hurst? – Definitely not
Q Should we have practised making
a bridle years ago? – Probably
Q Should we have done the VHF
course? – Of course!
Q Should I have persisted in
exploring how to protect the warp?
Most definitely.LESSONS LEARNED
*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
who, coincidentally, lived in a property
overlooking the channel where we were
rescued. They said they had seen us and
so I asked what they thought we were
doing. “We watched you for half an hour
through our binoculars but you didn’t
seem in trouble; it was a bit odd but
there were no flares, so we thought you
were fishing.”
Harold Hayles boatyard in Yarmouth
removed the engine, fixed four new
engine mountings, refurbished the prop
and checked the shaft. They also
designed a new warp locker on the
foredeck. We believe this has made Topsy
a safer boat when out in rough seas and
we recommend other Shrimper owners
consider doing something similar.50 Practical Boat Owner t http://www.pbo.co.uk
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE
LEFT Topsy is towed into harbour by the
Yarmouth lifeboat. ABOVE the offending
anchor and rode that led to her getting
into trouble, is now safely stowed away