Traumatised Mr Oxley

From the time I started to journal our adventure and share them with our group, I committed to give my readers the whole story, the good the bad and the ugly and today was the UGLY these are the moments in time when sailing is probably the least glamours and we start to question why we are doing this.

Our 2 day sail to Mexico was supposed to be real easy cruising, according to weather we would be down wind all the way, which is perfect conditions for Mr Oxley we had left plenty of time to ensure a daytime arrival, extra hands-on deck made for more down time, so this was going to be a sweet ride.

We motored out of our anchorage and headed for the open ocean heading west toward Mexico and there was that beautiful wind from behind that Eric had seen, less than 30 minutes after departure we were ready to hoist our favorite sail.  I jump on the helm while Eric and our hitchhikers head up front to get Mr Oxley in the air.

As we start to hoist our sail, that we have become so comfortable with, and so routine, expecting our usual grace and speed. Instead, things got ugly quickly. You will see in the image; the traitorous green sheet (rope) somehow had slithered itself to the wrong side of the cleat. Under pressure, it becomes as tight as a steal cable, which makes it impossible to release. Due to this green sheet “pronounced shit”, Mr Oxley was unable to open in front of the bow, instead he had no choice but to go rogue. He pulled to port with all his might, pulling the boat in the wrong direction. Eventually shredding the material and flapping all the way around to the stern like a dragon out of control.

Thankfully the material is very delicate, and I am grateful that it ripped, because with the wind into the sail it would be extremely powerful and dangerous, at the wrong angle. Remember that even with the smallest amount of wind this beast pulls our 25 ton boat.

While I am furiously working the sheets, I can see Eric trying to get physical control over the Mr Oxley, but he is also getting wrapped up in it like a mummy, this too another incredibly dangerous situation, I have now been told that you can actually not breath when it covers your face OMG seriously, it is so thin, how is this possible.

Now I need to turn the boat into the wind, so that Eric and our hitchhikers that have become instant crew, could try and get some control over this beast. This means I need to be heading straight to land, which is ok for the moment, I got my eye on the beach.

Gradually I can see some, element of control on the fore deck…. As Eric is hauling in what seems to be endless amounts of cloth, our hitchhikers are right behind him assisting to bring the shattered material back on board.

The beach is still at a comfortable distance away, but a tiny little mannie in my head, tells me to check our depth and to my HORROR , we are in all of 1,5 meters of water. All the while Eric is saying just keep her there into the wind ……... I am shouting back saying NO NO NO!!!  we too shallow I need to get out of here NOW. So now I must go against the wind, which makes things much more challenging on the foredeck, our hitchhikers, now have to use the full force of their bodies to hold Mr Oxley down on the deck, they are lying spread out all over him ( I seriously cannot think of another way to say this) but what to do,  he has to stay, no escaping this time obedience is what we are after.

Finally, all is well we escaped getting grounded, Mr Oxley is secured, Intle Breeze is safe, we are safe, our beautiful Mr Oxley is severely injured. Let’s not forget our egos are feeling pretty bruised as well, we should have checked the sheets and the lines before hoisting…….User error is a real thing.