Pooped at the Dock
June 28, 2011
Bear and I spent the day trying to get over the result of the “incident” the other yesterday. That meant that we stayed on the cage side of the bars and watched the people watching us. When the tidal current is in ebb and there is a wind from the opposite direction, waves can build even in the Cape Fear River. It is particularly acute here at the city dock where we are on the outside of the bend of the river and the South wind has a very long fetch focused at about where we are. This is a floating dock, thank goodness since there were two to two and a half feet waves passing here. I originally tied the dinghy astern between the waves and our swim platform but that became untenable when the action started. At one point during the peak outgoing tide the winds were 20 knots opposing. The dinghy wanted to get into the cockpit sort of like a pooch hiding from thunder. During that time, we took two waves over the transom and into the cockpit. In technical terms we were pooped. Never been pooped, in the nautical sense, before. Can you imagine the book Bear was reading and our shoes and some towels floating around in the cockpit? Shortly after that, it appeared the dink was about to get it’s wish and I decided to move it to the bow. Good thing I did since further inspection revealed it took more damage than all the time we have had it. Guess I will have to pay attention even at the dock. If you ever visit the city dock, take heed. Put the bow facing south. That way, the morning coffee stays in the cup. It is now 2215 hours and everything is calm like a lake. Think I will head to the rack and get ready for the next outbound tidal current- or not.

I know there are other meanings for the word "pooped" but this one is a legitimate marine term.