THE WHAT, THE WAY, THE HOW!
The What!
The morning we though we lost Magic Carpet!
3 am: The wind had changed directions with a mighty roar. The Captain & Admiral woke with the snapping & wiping of the wind scoop sending gust throughout M.C. cabin. As the Captain dashed on deck to lower the scoop he noticed our anchor chain pulled straight out holding tight! A strong outgoing tide & gusting gale force winds were shoving M.C. toward the rocks. What had been Magic Carpets protection was now her enemy! The Captain immediacy started M.C. Iron horse to help hold her in place. We had a 5 to 1 scope out of 5/16 BBB chain in 25 feet of water. Than we heard the thump M.C. was grounded, on a underwater reef. The Admiral at the helm the Captain on the bow, our Yanmar iron horse at full ahead, the Captain on the windless - Team Magic Carpet worked at its best to drive/pull her off the reef, that promised sure death to M.C. The wind let up but the tidal water kept flowing fast past our hull. The Admiral kept the spade rudder centered offering it all the protection our fin keel had to offer. The Yanmar kept Magic Carpet in place we never lost ground but we never escaped the reefs beckoning call. It was like M.C. gave up as she lay on her side ready to die. Now knowing we couldn't save her alone & time was running out for M.C. The Captain got on the VHF radio woke Figment & crew a 60 foot plus luxury Yacht. They jumped into their shore boat with a 40 HP motor, but couldn't pull M.C. free. As each minute past M.C. laid further into the sea. The Captain was now standing on her side; the Admiral had wedged herself at the helm, keeping the rudder protected and the engine at full speed ahead, all to no avail. Precious minutes passed we felt frozen in place. Fearing only the worst - yet hoping and never giving up! The Captain of Figment returned and guided his luxury yacht into what was now 5 ft. of water close to Magic Carpet... M.C's. Captain Throw Figment's crew a line it was secured. The Captain of Figment asked one question of us and only one - ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO THIS? A load and clear shout out came from M.C. Rip her off! Sure death waited for M.C. on the reef and maybe Davie Jonas locker waited at sea. As the 210 HP engine of Figment slowly and steadily pulled M.C. free. Magic Carpet moaned & groaned being dragged to freedom; we will never forget the sound. It gives us goose pimples to remember! As soon as she was free M.C .straighten up she seemed to shutter & shake and then flashed forward alive! The Admiral had to ideal her down, the Captain had to retrieve her tow line. The Admiral pointed her to deep water and soon signaled the Captained to drop the hook! Once it was set the engine shut down both the Captain & Admiral dove below looking for flooding. Wondering how long we'd stay afloat -Bulge pumps were ready to go, but there was no water. Figment hovered by, waiting for what was next. After a complete inspection we thanked Figment and watched them motor north to their next destination, like the Queen of the Sea she is - A great job done well.
Our Thanks will never seam enough to offer Don & Jan Gillings - M/V Figment
THE WHY!
After several days of soft wind from the North East & nightly Westerly winds just as soft - a strong wind shift blue with a vengeance!
We had moved into the corvette hide hole spot 4 days earlier - dropping our hook near the GPS location suggested in a popular cruising guide.
We were tired from the cross swell that had perversely kept Magic Carpet rocking and rolling for days. Our surge protesters were not aboard! At one point M.C. had almost rolled on top of us as we were boarding her from our shore boat Aladdin.
We had stayed to long enjoying good company with bad seas. Waiting for southerly winds to sail north on!
We didn't fallow our own rules "Never Trust" and dive & check out the area under M.C. Water visibility was poor, the color was green from all the turbulence.
THE HOW & PLUS!
Bigger than usual tides, the weather seams more unpredictable than ever before. We wonder if it's because of environment changes, or global warming?
We anchored in 25 feet of water; Figment reported we were in 5 feet at the time of our rescue.
We have always felt good about using a 5 to 1 scoop.
In a small hide hole that's too much it will hold great but the radius was too great at full stretch.
On diving on our anchor in the past we have always noted - she set with about 10/15 feet stretched out in a line to a pill of the rest of the chain holding her in place. M.C. has never dragged always held tight; our 35 Lb. CQR does its job well! We have held tight in 70 knots of wind!
In addition Magic Carpet carries 4 other anchors with appropriate rode. We always had taken anchoring very seriously! Now we have lots to think over.
Years ago the Captain had beefed up M.C. bow cleats by reinforcing them with ¼ inch stainless steel backing plates.
New this season to M.C. anchoring system was added a bigger & better snobbier bridle, designed & fabricated by the Captain. It held tight as M.C. was dragged of the reef!
Last but not lest was the all-purpose line kept on deck for quick emergency use. We perversely had discovered, fishing through the over stocked lazzeret took too much time, too much energy, and added to our stress when trying to move fast!
Magic Carpet Adventures, Land & Sea blog
We have kept this blog to share with our family & friends and to someday transform it into a coffee table book:" Dreams into Reality" to keep the memory alive in our Golden Years. This new adventure or was it an ordeal? Has lift us speechless, it's almost impossible to put into words our hours of horror. This is the first time we have shared the scariest event of our life's its strange in a crisis what ran through our minds
The Captain had a flash that since the engine was running we should be making drinking water.
The Admiral had a flash not to forget to spray the sprouts (Alfalfa & Mung Beans) .
Little Z, she hide after the cutting board almost decapitated her.
We all trembled for days just at the thought of all this... Nightmares are still part of our quite time!
All this besides the normal thoughts, what if had to abandon the ship! We would have to grab the brief case with all the important papers, truck keys, money, and phones. And then our thoughts went to the ditch bag, what was really in it? We carefully pack it in 2008, stowed it and hadn't look inside it since.
Aladdin was tethered to Magic Carpets stern, waiting for us.
Bernard Moitessier & s/v Joshua, and what he said as he gave her away after the Big Blow in Cabo years ago.
We entertained the thought of just leaving this horrible event out of our blog! But we knew we couldn't do that, it would turn or great adventure into a fraud. Honesty is like an icicle. Once it melts, that is the end of it. Our Dreams into Reality would be incomplete if we didn't tell all - so there you have it the most frightening experience of our life!
Magic Carpet floating high and proud! She beat a reef! With very little damage, she is near perfect!
Thanks To!
M/V Figment, Captain: Don & Jan Gillings - Magic Carpets, Guardian Angles.
The Admirals Mother Rose, for her blessing and the Saint Christopher Yacht plack that resides above M.C. chart table.
Father Ron, from our Catholic parish at home: who blessed M.C.at her Open Boat, Bon Voyage Party so long ago.
And Team Magic Carpet for a great fight against bad odds "The Reef"