Magic Journey

So here we are, sailing along close hauled in 10 - gusting 15 of wind. We were almost home from the Lorelie, when coming up on cowpens cut, which narrowly goes through a strip of islands and with Zero wind inside. I turned on the motor, and we no sooner rolled in the jib and closing in on the entrance to cowpens, the engine gurgled, spit, and died. Dozed off would actually be a better term. I knew immediately what the problem was. And I knew if I was correct, I wouldn't be able to make the repair underway. I was right! The electric fuel pump had pumped it's last drop and was, for all practical purposes, in a comma.
It was the kind of repair, I might have been able to jury rig, using a fuel can placed above the engine, or taking the pump off and shake, hammer, and shake it till it started working again.
There was one problem, however. The winds were light, but the gust were reminding me nasty weather was on the way and in short order. And as much as I hate the idea of being towed into an anchorage to my mooring ball, the thought of using up the few daylight hours on a Hail Mary repair and getting towed to port in the dark appealed even less. Thank god for Tow Boat US towing insurance. I made the call and in 30 minutes were underway.
The last leg up to the mooring ball, was a complete "tug of shame". There we were, all pretty like, everything stowed neatly, the sun just setting, everyone in their cockpits watching the day fizzle away... and we're following behind the pretty red towboat with FLASHING LIGHTS. We passed the other boaters so close I could see the whites of their smiling teeth. Those who had teeth anyway.
And now I see my nephew took a picture? Paybacks are hell son...