We awoke to a lovely clear and calm morning. After coffee and some breakfast we hauled anchor and started out of the harbour. There was not a breath of air. How the weather had changed over the 4 day passage.
We decided we would head to Shelburne. It was only a few hours away under motor as we were, due to the extreme calm.
Once out of the harbour it began to rain lightly so we let Ghosty, the autopilot, take the helm as we took shelter under the cockpit's dodger. The few hours rolled by quickly and we were soon making our way into the long arm of Shelbourne Harbour.
Things had gone surprisingly smoothly. Perhaps too smoothly. When within sight of a mooring ball we moved in to pick up the line. When almost in reach of the line the Admiral put Makina in reverse to slow her to a crawl. It was then that the tender's line dropped down in the water to become ensnarled in the propeller, which stalled the engine. There we were in the middle of the Shelbourne Harbour with the sails down and the engine unusable. What a pickle!
The saving grace was that it was so calm that Makina stayed pretty much exactly where she had stopped. Things could have been much uglier had there been a strong wind like the last few days. A kind soul, Liv, noticed our dilemma from shore and came out in her motorized tender to help. She towed us to the mooring ball we had been approaching and we were able to tie up.
With Makina secured we then set about to untangle the tender's line from the propeller with the hope of not needing to get out the mask and snorkel. There was some cutting of line, a bit of tugging and some cursing; yet once a knot that had been in the line was undone we were able to work it through the shaft and the propeller became free of entanglement! We started up the engine to test all to be in working order, which it was. A disaster had been narrowly averted!
We then, sheepishly, rowed to shore in search of a beer for the Admiral's aching nerves, with Makina now safely secured at her mooring.
The Shelburne Yacht Club (SHYC) is a very comfortable and welcoming place. They have both berths and moorings. The club also offers a bar with a wide assortment of drinks and snacks. We got two drinks and while sipping on them Pierre gave a friend of his, who now lives in Shelburne, a call.
His friend, Niel, was pleased to hear from Pierre and insisted that he come right along to the Club to have a get together. He was a very nice fellow and after catching up a bit over a drink he invited us out to dinner and then over to his home which is from the 18th century.
After visiting until early evening we made plans to get together tomorrow and perhaps get a sail in if some wind was to be had and then head over to his place for supper.
Pierre took some wonderful shots of this historic town, yet he was soo exhausted by the day that he is now fast asleep, so that will have to wait until tomorrow's log entry.
A listing of my sailing posts:
@novacadian/categories-of-novacadian-s-sailing-seasons
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