Chapter 1: acquisition
I was sitting in the cockpit of my sailboat, drinking coffee and watching the sun rise over the horizon. It was such a beautiful morning and I was planning on setting sail on the high tide. I was thinking about my plans to sail to the Bahamas later that day. High tide would be here in about 3 hours, so I could leave in about 2 hours and catch slack tide in the bay as I headed out on the Gulf of Mexico. Not many of the residents here at the marina were stirring yet. Still a bit early for most of them after the big party last night. We had a big blow out party on the beach with a bonfire, BBQ, and lots of drinking. I didn't stay too late, for I am leaving today on my trip.
"Jess, permission to board", I hear from behind me. I look back and see Jim standing at the railing of my sailboat. He is an older man who also lives on his boat. He owns a 38ft Cabin Cruiser Power Boat. Where, I love sailing, so I own a 43ft Irwin Staysail Ketch Sailboat. One of the big differences is the amount of fuel you have to buy to get the same distance. I use very little fuel in the course of a month, and Jim uses many gallons to go the same distance. Needless to say, Jim very seldom takes his boat out on the Gulf or Oceans. I spend about a week or more each month sailing all over the place.
"Come aboard Jim. Want some coffee? I just made a pot." I respond.
Jim unhooks the railing cable and climbs aboard and steps over to sit across from me in the cockpit. He has a stern look on his face as he sits down. "Sounds good. I can use a cup now." He says. I get up and go down below into the cabin. I take a cup off the rack and fill it. Then hand it out to him. As I climb back up the stairs he is sipping it lightly.
"Jess, I know your leaving today, but I need to ask a favor?" he asks.
"Sure. What do you need? "I respond
"You remember my nephew. He is in a little bit of trouble right now and I need your help to go get him. ", Jim says. Looking at him I see there is worry across his face.
"Alright Jim. What kind of trouble is he in? ", I ask
"He is on a Power Boat returning from Mexico, and it broke down about 20 miles out in the Gulf from here. He needs for someone to go get him and his cargo, and get them to the rendezvous place on time. ", He tell me.
I think, his cargo to a rendezvous point. Something doesn't sit to well with that statement. "You know my boat isn't fast like a Powerboat. Sailboats are slow. But I told you I would help, and I will." I reply to him.
He says, "I wouldn't ask, but one of my engines is tore down right now and I cannot take my boat out. I'll go with you. I am sure my Nephew will compensate you for your time!"
"Alright, get the bow lines and I'll get the stern lines." I tell him. He stands and goes to the front of my boat, and starts untying the dock line. I reach back and undo the stern line then turn back to the cockpit and start the motor. It fires right up. Once it is running smoothly, I shift into gear and the boat slowly starts moving out of my slip into the open area of the marina. Jim comes back and joins me in the cockpit and sips at his coffee, while I steer my boat out of the marina and into the bay. Once we got out to the bay, I told Jim to take over the wheel. He kept it on the heading I had it on. I climbed up on deck to the main mast, where I started undoing to fasteners on the mainsail cover. I removed the cover and dropped it down on the deck. Next I started pulling the main halyard rope raising the mainsail. Once I got it up, I tied it off to the cleat on the mast. I then went back to the cockpit and adjusted the mainsheet, so the sail caught the wind at the right angle and we picked up speed.
Jim. Kill the motor." I said, as I started pulling on the Genoa sheet. As I pulled it, the Genoa unfurled at the bow. Once it was unfurled all the way, I let the sheet slide back out of my hands a little. Once enough of the sail had played out to the right angle, I cleated it off. With the sails now set, we headed out of the bay at a good 6 knots of speed.
Now I turned to Jim and asked, "Were is he now? Do you have his quadrants?" I turned on my chart plotter and waited for it to grab the gps fix.
"I do not have them. All he said was he was tied up to an oil rig about 20 miles off shore. I have an idea of where he is.", He replied.
"The helm is yours. Get us there." I stated. I looked at the chart plotter and navigation instruments. About 30 minutes later we passed the out buoy marker for the bay. Jim kept us on a straight course out into the Gulf of Mexico. I kept an eye on the wind indicator and the tell tells on the sails. We were heeling about 3 degrees off and doing well at 6 knots of speed.
Jim said, "We need to turn about 15 degrees south now. This should put us on course to intercept his location."
I checked the plotter, and wind indicator. "Ease it over, Jim." I replied. I loosened the Genoa sheet a little as he changed the heading. Once I got it set, I then eased the mainsheet. We didn't even slow down. About 2 hours later we came into view of the oil platform. This was one of the abandoned one, and there was his nephew's boat. As we got close and could see them on the deck, I furled the Genoa in and let off the mainsheet. My sailboat slowed to a crawl as we pulled up alongside the powerboat.
Jim called across to the other boat, "Chris. We've come to get you." Jim hung the fender alongside my boat as we pulled in next to the other boat. Jim then tossed the bow line across and I tossed the stern line across. When the boats were secured to each other, then we started with pleasantries.
"Uncle Jim. It's great to see you. Thanks for coming so quickly. This is Travis." he said indicating the other guy. The other guy didn't look to savory of a fellow.
"This is Capt. Jess. Let's get everything transferred and get out of here." Jim said. With the boats secured together now it was easy to step from one to the other. Next thing I know there are young women coming out of the powerboat. They seemed to be Latino girls. We helped them across and I told them to go below. Chris repeated what I said in Spanish. They went below one at a time and Chris went back inside his powerboat. When he reemerged, he was holding the arm of an Asian woman. I went to help her across and Chris moved to stop me and he held her as they crossed to my boat. He took her below and a few minutes later returned back up in the cockpit.
"Travis. I'll send out another boat to tow you back in. just stand tight here." He said.
Travis looked annoyed but replied, "don't take too long."
Jim and Chris untied the lines holding both boats together, and I eased the mainsheets back in. I caught the wind and we started to pull away sharply. Once we had a little distance between us, I had Jim take over the helm and I unfurled the Genoa. We were soon making about 4 knots of speed. I settled back to relax. About 30 minutes later the wind dropped off a little and our speed dropped to 2 knots.
Chris seemed a little on edge and asked, "Can this boat go any faster? I need to get to the rendezvous place by a certain time."
"I told your Uncle this is a sailboat, and it isn't fast", I responded, looking at the wind indicator and chart plotter. . I grabbed the genoa furler rope and furled it back in, then I reached up and pulled on the staysail sheet and unfurled it. I then let out the sheet a little to set it to the right angle on the wind. I then turned around and reached up and started removing the cover on the mizzen sail. Once I got it off, I pulled the mizzen halyard and raised the mizzen sail. I tied it off and let out the mizzen sheet until it was at the correct angle to the wind. Looking back at the speed indicator, we were now up to 7 knots of speed. The boat was heeling up a bit more than before. As it heeled up, the girls down below screamed. Chris moved to the companionway door and called down for them to be quiet, this is normal for a sailboat.
He settled back down in the cockpit with us. Watching the horizon and my sails, we were soon up to 11 knots of speed. We were flying now. I had our heading set for Tampa area. In about 2 hours we were in sight of land and the outer islands near Tampa.
Looking over at Chris I say, "Where are we headed for the rendezvous?"
Chris gets on his cell phone and starts taking on it. I wait patiently until he is finished. He states, "We will be going up the Bay past the main bridge to Wilson creek inlet. Can you get us in there?"
I lean over the pedestal steering station and check the map plotter. At mean tide I can just get my boat in there. Looking at my watch, I figure we will be arriving at slack tide. I reply, "I am sure we can squeeze in there as long as we don't have to go too far up the creek?"
"No. Just past the first bend in the creek. There is a dock on the right side behind a huge white house." He states.
About 2 hours later, with Jims help, we pull up to the dock, and tie off the lines. Just as we get settled in snug to the dock, 3 big savory fellows come walking out to meet us. They are all wearing suits. Chris jumps off the boat and approaches and talks with them. He then comes back with one and says they are ready for the girls now. Jim goes below and brings up the Latino girls, one by one. The girls were then taken to the house by the big man. Chris boarded the boat and I stopped him.