Glad I have a Parker

[tara11]

Today, this morning we had to come back from Catalina, for us it is 32 miles, we watched and watched the winds, at 4am, I got up, checked the stations I could on the internet and it was 20 plus, at 5 it seemed to get better, at 6am, it was not good, but everyday it got less windy, so we went for it, about 10 plus miles out, the Coast Guard made and annoucment, no more small craft, now gale, we were f@@@@@,we were to far out to turn around, we all put on Life Jackets and went for it, we being my wife, my son (11) and me, we made it and only lost a wiper, the waves were 10 plus feet (swells) and the wind was storng, we finally pulled into the marina about 2hrs later, about 15 miles into this or so, the high water alarms started going off, bummer, I could not not drive and look at the same time, so my wife looked, it was just all the water coming over the rail and everywhere was getting down there, I thought we blew out another docking light, but could not look, well long story short, glad our boat is a Parker, we heard on the VHF in my garage all day, so many boaters in trouble, I hope no one was hurt, but it was a day we will not soon forget

 

[BradV]

I am with you on the happy to be in a Parker. We were in Bimini when a front blew through early. Put the wipers on and say a bunch of curse words. Its so emotionally and physically draining driving in those conditions. Glad you made it out I think the PH does a good job of keeping alot of water out of the boat when waves are big.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Glad to hear you made it!!!

I have been in some nasty stuff too but never felt unsafe in my Parker!!!

 

[TopShot25]

Craig,

Really glad you and the family are safe! That's crazy, and you were able to make about 15 knots? You will have to tell me more of the details sometime. Some of that area off PV can get really bad. I've heard of boats making little or no headway, and just trying to ride it out.

I would have have just stayed and had a couple of beers at the Isthmus. Did you trim the boat out, and did it help a bunch?

 

[tara11]

Hi John,
Had we waited 30 more minutes, there is no way I would of gone, but I have done the crossing in bad stuff, and have ( I thought) learned how to read the ocean and the forcasts, but I almost cost a life, so I will never ever do it again, I knew it was going to get bad, but the forcast I say, gave me a two hour window, but by the time the weather updated, it was too late and we were too far out to turn around, it got really hairy when we came upon two container ships, that was a bad one, I tried going with the swell, and I almost lost control of the boat, when I see you , and we will , ask me then, as I will be with my wife and son, and they were on the boat, I remember every minute, but one second in perticulaer, looking at my son and wife, and out the back door, and all I could see was a giant wall of water.
I could write about it for hours, but I do not want to post one of those long and boring posts, below is a email I got back, I emailed the Harbor masters son, we are friends , to let him know we were home safe, if we left 1 hour later, maybe even 20 minutes, this might be a different story, there were countless rescues and countless boats lost, we got very lucky, our boat is fine, except a few things, I realized yesterday, I could of lost the most important things I love in my life, my son and wife ! That is the closest I have ever been to being in a really bad place at the wrong time ! I am fully aware it was all my doing, but I thought we would be fine !

This is the email I got back from my friend, I sent him one to let him know we were safe, spirit broken, but safe Thank God !

Good to hear you made it home safe. Others weren't so lucky. We sent six out on helos that were injured and baywatch.vessel assist ans coast guard had to deal with many others further across the channel. Five people went down with their boat by Eagle Rock, but they were ok, broken arm, broken hip, near drowning and lots of cuts and bruises. Another got his finger taken off after getting it stuck between two boats. I rescued and diver that was still going after lobster at 3pm yesterday afternoon at isthmus reef. He left his boat anchored with two people that didn't know how to sail/drive a boat and they went to sleep, only to wake up about ten feet off the rocks in our cove baywatch beat me to them and almost ran over the diver they couldn't see. Idiots galore, anyways glad your safe and if you see forecasts like that go home early or late. Today is beautiful, you could make it back in no time.