HMB Hobie Sail and Crab Chill 11/10/12

I called Scott on the radio and let him know my condition and continued to head in using my mirage drive.  I slowly made progress but about a mile later my legs cramped up so I got to stop and called Scott for assist but he already inside the harbor and couldn't hear me. 

Sorry Sonny, I heard you but was barely making 1 MPH and didn't think I could tow another AI. You were in the boat lane and only 1/4 mile out so figured you could flag a boat if you needed a tow.

Day started off promising.  Good crew, mix of newbs and old salts.  Forecast showed rain, which never materialized.  I love the fall sunrises, cold and clear.  Best time of day in the best time of year.



Scott launched first and rode point, majestically unfurled sail in the harbor and effortlessly speeded away.  The rest of the AI's followed, and I paddled after them to the drop zone to see how its done.  Not having any crab gear, I pedaled about a mile and half upwind/upswell out past Pillar Point.  It was dicey crossing the boat lane.  not recommend being on the outside in such big conditions, and I didn’t stay long.  I came loaded for bear with only big plastics and jigs, made a few ineffective drops but too much wind and swell to fish so I quartered back to the boys.  BS'd with Glen for a while, who baited up a crab snare and lent it to me.  Drop it down and let it sit for 20 mins, he instructed.  I couldn't hold station for 20 seconds, such was the wind.  Bagged the snare attempt after a few drops, and instead released my shutterbug.

Scott and Pat buddied up to good effect.



Here you see how a good swell, heavy load, and working your gear will really test the stability of your boat. 



Scotts ama is practically submerged.



Same with Pat.



To really throw your weight around on your boat while crabbing, i'm thinking you'd best be really confident and comfortable, like sitting on that thing better feel like second nature, esp in those conditions.



In this sequence, Scott is gauging crabs.  He didn’t see me sitting off to his five oclock.  Finding one of them undersized, he chucked it over his shoulder – I had to duck to narrowly avoid getting crabbed in the face haha. 



Quickly moved abreast of him (and outside his strikezone lol).



Shortly after this pic was taken, GB2 called his limit and he and Pat headed in.  I was in pursuite when Gwhiz radios in that his crab line is wrapped on his rudder.  Being the only guy with no outrigger, I was on step, found him with crab line in a bizarre loop around his rudder, no way would have come undone without some manual urging. 

Cleared that hangup then hear Sonny's call.  Gwhiz says, I think he's going to need a tow.  "From who the hell?" I said.  "I guess from you!" says Gwhiz.  I shook my head, but figured either help him now, or we'll be picking him up from Bean Hollow lmao. 

Came to his starboard and intially attempted to hold onto his ama and pedal along.  But his boat had just too damn much mass to steer effectively.  After trying for 10 mins and damn near blowing out a pectoral, I knew it just wasn't going to work.

so I let go. 

In that span of a few moments, Sonny drifted back a good hundred plus yards.  It was evident no way was he making it in on his own cramped up leg power, and his sail uselessly slapped about his face.  OK f' it, these are the moments you train for, Numba Won.  Go back to him, grab a rope and tie off to his bow handle and your gonna pedal him in. 

When I started the tow job, I was holding raydon's pot on my tank well.  I had it strapped with an elastic, but kept getting smacked kiddy wonker by the tow rope.  So we offloaded the pot onto sonny's boat.  In that brief offloading time, we drifted further from the jaws yet again.  Two hundred yards forward, one hundred back! 

F' this chit, gotta get home at a decent hour lol.  So we get the gear sorted, i flip on pandora on my iphone and just started grinding away.  left right left right pump pump pump.  after about 40 straight minutes of pedaling into the wind and swell, i'm f'ing wasted and we still haven't even cleared the jaws.  My legs haven't felt that worked since heartbreak hill at mile 19 of this year's Seattle Marathon and I'm literally ready to vomit.

Gwhiz gets on the radio and is like STOP RIGHT THERE.  I'm like are you kidding bro, I'm towing a fully loaded AI and we're right in the lane and still have a mile and abit to go ROFL.  I flip on my GPS app while we wait, and I'm thankful for an excuse to rest, even if it means the winds gonna knock us back a bit.  We link up with G, clear the jaws and pedal in the remaining 1.4 miles.  The little squiggle shown is us taking a breather in the lane.



At last make it to shore to see ma nature's final insult of the day.  It was low tide, requiring an inglorious mudwalk across the muddy substrate.  I swear if it was solid ground, i would have kissed it.  I was truly spent. 

Always one to pep up people's spirits, Glen tumbles off his boat only to get a cramp in his calf and end up fully submerged in 3 feet of water LOL.  Raydon was nice enough to buddy carry my boat up to my car.  Thx, bros, i needed that. 

Ekta, great story and thanks for helping out my loose screws bros in time of need. 

Rey

Nice recap #1XL ! Glad I wasn't the only Non-AI in the bunch, I could have NEVER towed back my LS bro; I couldn't keep up with you pulling his AI I just barely had enough strength to get back to shore; the second I stopped peddling my leg cramp'd up BAD!

And, thanks again for unwrapping my rudder! I would have been going in circles  if you hadn't....

But it was a fun interesting day on the water, nontheless....

So cool to see the AI/Hobie crew hookup for some crab n chill! I love the report from #1XL, great teamwork!!

Thanks for the report brothers, hope to see y'all soon especially you Glen. Miss y'all lots!