South Pacific – Day#13

4.7.18 @ 1000 Local, 1700 Zulu Day #13
Latitude: 09°45N Longitude: 125°29W Covered Distance Last 24 Hours: 107 Distance to the Marquesas: 1414 Distance from Punta de Mita, Mexico: 1486 Weather: 80% clouds with some rain Winds: 17 NNE Sea State: 6′-8′ swell NNE Barometer: 1014.5 Crew’s Mood: Another day of outstanding.
You will know them by there deeds
This world is a funny place. Some of us don’t even know the name of our neighbors and some of us do. There are those that keep to them selves and have very little eye contact with those living around them for what ever reason. But I’d like to speak about those you know that are all around you. These individuals are the grocery clerks, the plumbers, the domestic engineers, the retired nurses or the police officers. Ordinary people that do extra ordinary things in life in their communities.
The boating community in particular has many individuals from all walks of life and from all ethnic, religious and political backgrounds, but many of them seem to be stitched with a similar thread that makes them who they are. That fabric that creates binding and long lasting friendships that are sometimes created after a single incident.
For me there have been many incidents where I have been there to help many boaters along my boating life and there have been many that have provided me with countless advise, assistance and friendships. A tool, help with anchoring, friendly advise or just a smile all are part of the common language that boaters and in particular sailboaters have in common. Many of us have done well enough to purchase a boat and live the reality of a dream we call cruising. And even if that boat never leaves the dock, those individual that live on it are still living a dream of the cruising life style. Most of us are the ones that see a plastic bag in the water and use our boat hook to remove it and place it in the trash can. We do offer our help freely without any strings attached. Paying it forward or doing good to others because we might be on the receiving end of assistance in the future.
I have a friend that loves to fish. His whole life has been involved with fishing in one way or another. One of the many days he was fishing at Catalina Island in his tender, he saw birds diving well off shore near White’s Landing. He thought he saw something in the water so he fired up his trusty tender and went out to investigate. He found a girl splashing about in the ocean. Apparently she had fallen off one of the island sight seeing boats. After he got back to his boat, he called the US Coast Guard. They had just received a report of a missing girl on a tour boat out of Avalon Harbor. Another acquaintance postponed an opening in a weather window to tow another sailboat back to an anchorage. I can go on with countless stories about these individuals.
All of this comes to mind recently because a vessel within 80 miles of us had reported a hydraulic steering/autopilot issue several days back. The issue was reportedly mitigated. Yesterday, we learned that they thought they had fixed the problem, but were still leaking approximately one liter of fluid every six hours and they needed more oil to mix with diesel fuel as a make shift hydraulic fluid to get them to safe harbor. Dazzler had a few extra gallons of oil on board willing to share with the distressed vessel. Another vessel Nightide was also going to contribute some oil as well. A coordinate was established and we all set course for that coordinate. John’s voice, the owner of the distressed vessel, was obviously stressed and fatigued from trying to locate the source of the hydraulic leak. For several days he had been unsuccessful in finding it. I suggested that he check the area surrounding all of his bilges for oil running down the inside of the boat to the bilge area. All three of us are heading to the rendezvous site when at about 1700 local time a message from John indicating he had found the leak and it had been stopped. The need for more oil was gone for now. I had never even met John before. But, there you go complete strangers in a HUGE ASS ocean willing to render aid at the mention of assistance needed. That’s what cruisers do. We step up and help those around us that need it. The aftermath of Hurricane Odile that hit Baja California a few years ago had endless stories of boaters helping boaters with no expectation of more than a thank you.
I’m not trying to paint the picture of cruising as rainbow farts and sunshine kisses. There are those in the cruising community that are expecting the rest of the community to support them by running to their call of assistance only to find that the individual is basically looking for free rides, parts and or free labor. Those individuals are known throughout the many different boating communities and are usually avoided.
My hats off to the hundreds of cruisers, men, women, pets and kids as well, who have rendered assistance at the slightest whisper of help. Acts of donating blood, picking up groceries while at the market, helping keep a boat of the rocks, providing assistance of some fashion, rescuing a wayward tender or pumping out nearby tenders after a heavy rain. You all know who you are and I say a heart felt thank you! You are known by your deeds.
Until next time, stay well my friends.
Cheers!
Captain Dan
PS The photo is of our Ol’ faithful generator. She helps us manage the power needs of the Engels freezer and make up for those cloudy days. Dazzler’s solar array and wind generator do just fine during the daylight hours. But, sometimes you just need a little help from little friend.