So the Catalina 30 that was in this dock slip for about a month had some troubles.  First, it was the day that I went sailing with Mia and her family and we had just came back to the dock when I noticed the harbor patrol boat coming down the channel right here and taking a good look at the open slip. I saw Fiji Girl, the boat that belongs in the open slip, out sailing and coming down the main channel at the same time as I did, just 30 minutes earlier. That’s when I figured, “Oh no, something must have happened to Fiji Girl”. Next, we witnessed the sailboat drifting down the isle under just a flapping jib, no engine running, and the guidance of another harbor patrol boat just as the first harbor patrol was floating still by the sea wall - as a bumper I guess. Fiji Girl came in a little fast and hit the dock, but all was okay.  

A couple weeks ago was a very windy Saturday, wind gusts blowing throughout the harbor as well. I was down below curing a hangover from the company holiday party and trying to take a nap when I heard engine revving and some frantic yelling. I walked up to my cockpit to find Fiji Girl doing a 360 (evidently on accident) in the little channel, I think the driver’s boat-pole kept them from doing damage to the boats they skirted. It was reverse, revvvvvvvvvvv, forward, revvvvvvv, all while the wind was pushing them where they didn’t want to go. When I stepped up I was frightened because the bow and anchor were aimed at my sailboat and all I heard was the engine roaring. A couple minutes later the boat was pointed in the exit direction and as the driver went past me he just shouted “That slip is a hell of a pain, thankfully we’re moving!” and that was the last I saw of Fiji Girl.

In all fairness, it’s a terrible position for a sailboat slip. any wind will push the boat into rocks a couple feet to the side that sailboats like to turn when they back up. There’s even less room for error during low tide when the rocks are exposed.

Now we have a nice looking fishing boat in the spot. This dock slip has been a nightmare for everyone, and that boat looks to be just a hair beyond the maximum size, so I can only hope the owner knows what he’s doing. From what I’ve gathered so far, the owner knows how to invite drinking buddies over and stand outside at 9pm on cold weeknights playing top-40 music while cussing about sports loud enough to hear over the songs.  We’re off to a great start.