SHIPWRECK ON UNION LAKE

September 29, 2007 Blog

Thankfully no casualties!

Today was the kind of day sailors dream about. Union Lake was a little rough for the fishermen but the stiff breeze made for great sailing. There was only one sailboat to be seen on the lake - mine!

My dear wife helped me rig the boat but she saw a few whitecaps and decided to stay on shore.

That proved to be a wise choice.

After two tacks, I heard an unusual noise. I looked around and noticed a crack near the mast step. No water was entering but I decided to head for shore and check it out.

Less than a minute passed and there was a loud bang! The bottom two feet of mast dropped through the floor and water came gushing in like a geyser.

I am a good swimmer and the boat is unsinkable, but to be on the safe side, I put on my swim vest. In the short time that took, the boat had filled to the top.

The oars threatened to abandon ship without waiting for the captain's orders, so I locked them up and they started a row. Have you ever tried to row a boat filled with water and its mast lying in the water? What a drag!

My wife witnessed the mast going down from the distance but couldn't see if I was in the boat or the water. Just in that minute, two fishermen came to the ramp to launch their jon-boat and try some fishing. Verna asked them to please check on her husband and offered meals in a restaurant of their choice for my safe return.

I don't know if they caught any fish but they can eat fish and steak in the Texas Roadhouse on their way home if they want!

About two hours later, I picked up a dinghy that needs some work. My brother Dan gave it to brother Tim who gave it to me. He figured I needed the work!

Verna has re-evaluated my worth at two hot dogs.