May 29 2009
Fear, laughter, cooking & safety at sea all part of ASA 104 training in Southern California
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Channel Islands Adventures
by Randy Bush
Right around the first of the month, Capt. Dan, Beverly, and I had embarked on an ASA 104 adventure circumnavigating Santa Cruz Island. Day two found us off of Fraser Point on a broad reach, headed through the infamous Potato Patch. The seas were running 9-10 ft, on the beam, and our little 36 was getting tossed around pretty good. Steering through this slop, though not difficult, was tiring as hell.
Capt. Dan and I were taking turns at the wheel while Beverly had gone below to do some chores in the galley. Then above the din of the wind and waves, we heard a faint “whoosh” followed by a shriek from below. This was followed by the exclamation, “I blew up!” from Beverly.
Dan and I exchanged puzzled WTF looks—had the propane stove exploded? Would I go below to find a singed Beverly?
As I started to drag my tired butt out of the cockpit to investigate, Beverly appeared in the companionway, her head protruding from the center of an amorphous yellow blob. After a few seconds, we figured out what had happened: Her automatic life jacket had inflated! With concern giving way to relief, and then to amusement, the Captain and I began to laugh uncontrollably. It was indeed a spectacle: Bev had on a green beanie, and she looked for all the world like frog poking his head through a garish yellow lily pad.
It happened like this: She had caught her “manual inflation pull tab” on the stove grill. Along came a swell, throwing her off balance and WOOSH!—instant life jacket.
So, sailors and sailorettes, watch the angle of the dangle of that little pull-tab thingy, or you might be in for a surprise. Another good reason to be careful is that the re-arm kits are rather spendy; this one was about $38, and others are quite a bit more. But at least we know the damn things work…
