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Scuttlebutt News
Scuttlebutt News appreciates input from Flotilla 1-4 Members
The Stormy Day Round-Up at 8A Anchorage
by Bill Dabbs
Safety patrols are usually pretty routine with simple tasks like warning boaters in small
skiffs about fishing inside the security zones, checking out open VHF radio mikes and complaining
about Sector San Diego's mess hall food routine (Monday pork chops, Tuesday chicken, Wednesday
stir fry, etc.).
Tuesday, October 19th, was a little different because of the heavy winds and rain that swept
across Southern California that day. Bill Andersen, Scott Murdock and I departed the MCRD Marina
on Alpha 440 shortly before 1500 in a blowing downpour. As we entered the main channel, wind,
rain, wave chop, and visibility were heavy enough that we decided to seek calmer water inside the
bay instead of going out to Point Loma. Just as we turned the corner beyond the Harbor Island
fuel dock, we heard several VHF radio calls to the Coast Guard about boats adrift from the A8
anchorage in South Bay. We headed in that direction as fast as possible but anything over about
3-4 knots resulted in too much water over the bow. Even at that slow speed the amount of rain
and spray coming on board required the bilge pump be turned on even before crossing under the
Coronado Bridge. The three of us were also getting pretty wet even though the boat canopy was up.
Not a nice day to be on the water.
Additional radio traffic indicated the 87foot CG Petrel was on scene and Vessel Assist and Harbor
Police were on the way. It took us a little while to get there because of the southerly wind and
chop, but as we approached the south end of the 32nd Street Navy Base, we saw the scope of the
problem. Vessel Assist had corralled (3) boats, a side tow on port and starboard and one on stern
tow. That was a great example of good seamanship since Vessel Assist was manned with only a
skipper. The Petrel also had a small sailboat in side tow and their RIB crew was still chasing
down a couple of other unsecured boats.
We called the Petrel and asked if we could be of any assistance and their reply was to stand by for
a moment until they got things sorted out since they were also coordinating Vessel Assist as well
as their own RHIB. While waiting we headed over to A8 anchorage to see if we could help out. For
those not familiar with that part of the bay, A8 anchorage can best be described as the
"marine trailer park across the tracks." At last count there are (7) sunken vessels in
the anchorage and several more derelict vessels on the verge of sinking. As we approached A8,
we saw the Harbor Police towing a boat with (2) people on board and the crew of another drifting
boat trying to reset their anchor. When entering the anchorage, a man on a sailboat hailed to see
if we had spotted his missing dinghy. A quick radio check with the Petrel indicated they had not
found a dingy. It most likely was under a pier to windward. When talking with the Petrel, they
requested that we help retrieve and move a small sailboat near shore that was banging up against
a Navy pier.
When approaching the boat at the pier, it appeared that the RHIB crew had temporarily tied it off
using their heaving line. A quick plan was put together and Scott slipped our boat along side,
the line was tossed off the bollard and we backed it away from the pier. A stern tow was set up
but the sailboat was swinging in a wide arch at which time we switched to a side tow. In crew and
coxswain training, one of the check-offs before doing a stern tow is to ensure that the rudder on
the towed vessel is midships to ensure straight tracking. When the boat was rigged to a side tow,
we saw why it wouldn't track. The rudder was not even attached to the boat but was lying in the
bottom of the cockpit. By now the Coast Guard had a couple of the other loose boats side tied to
the leeward side of a Navy pier so we headed that way to deposit our contribution. As we
approached the pier and came along side the outboard moored boat, Bill and I scrambled to find
dock lines to tie off our runaway boat. The derelict boat had no mooring lines so we tied (sheet
bend) 2 or 3 loose scraps of line together and made it secure. After ensuring that it was tied
off OK, we motored by the RHIB, returned their heaving line and were then released by the on-scene
commander, the Petrel.
On the way to dinner, a critique was held to see what we did right and what could be improved.
We all decided that the communication and teamwork between crewmembers was excellent and if we had
it to do all over, the only change would be to use our own dock lines to quickly secure the towed
boat to the pier and then switch off each line after control had been gained.
Our only other problem (aside from still being a little wet) was that by the time we got back to
the base, the mess hall had run out of "Tuesday chicken" and we had to settle for leftover
"Monday pork chop."
Precariously Adrift
by Peg Salisbury
These fishermen were just about on the rocks when the Auxiliary Vessel arrived on scene.
They finally got their trolling motor going while a line was being prepared to pull them into
safer water.
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