GL: Single handling on the loop

[CaptJoe60 at aol.com]

Ahoy Again,

On a southbound trip, 1995, a  buddy found himself alone when his wife had to 
delay her retirement and he had  to leave NY for the on coming winter, He 
asked me if he could "tag" along.   Because he NEVER was alone on his boat, he 
didn't know what to do, here is a  description of the trip to Jacksonville.  

We would meet in the  evening, plan the next day's destination, check the 
weather, equipment.  In  the morning, after the engines were ready, I'd assist 
him off the dock, jump on  my boat, getting off myself.  He follows, we are on 
the radio, watch this,  go right, marina 2 miles past maker Red 2, etc, I 
direct.    I  would then, pull into a slip, usually on an end tie, tie my boat to 
the dock,  then wave him in, grab his line as he took a week to get close 
enough for me to  reach the line.  We'd go pay for the dockage and repeat the 
procedure until  we got to Solomon's.  Here we picked up a 39 ft Gulf Star Motor 
Sailor with  an elderly couple in absolute fear.  They had just bought the boat 
and was  way too big for them, so I let them tag along, so at 7 kts, it was 
the Aquaduck  and the 2 Ducklings.  

Now the sad part of the story, when we  arrived at Jacksonville, the first 
guy had the boat hauled for service, I took  him to the Airport so he would 
return with his wife after the holidays.   The second week of January, they 
returned, we go to dinner, the check comes, he  said, we'll split this 3 ways, but 
I'll get the tip.

So much for the  camaraderie.   

Ciao, Capt Joe  




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