Lost In The Pacific Ocean, In The Fog, With No GPS!

zip · 08 September 2008, 05:51

Well, that is not totally accurate, but kind of.

I decided to spend Labor Day Weekend at Catalina Island.

The day before i departed, i discovered that my gps unit was no longer working. It is pretty much a straight shot from Dana Point to Avalon, and i have a compass, so i figured that i would be ok. It is still 32 nm, but if i am able to keep a true bearing on my compass, i felt i should hit the island.

I left early Saturday morning and trailered my 14' rib from san diego to Dana Point. I was in the water by 5 am, and it was still very dark. I had just installed this compass, but had not hooked up the wires for the lights yet. I had a headlamp, so i could still see my heading on my compass.

It was kinda choppy for the first 45 minutes or so, but then it got a little smoother. I have no idea how fast i was going, but i would have to guess around 15-20 knots.

I saw lots of dolphins, and a couple of sharks on the way over.

The final part of the trip turned choppy again, so i had to slow way down.

After about an hour and a half, i came out of the fog and finally saw the island. I was right on course.

It took me 2 hours and fifteen minutes to get there, which is a little on the long side.

After i arrived at Avalon, i decided to go to the annual Jimmie Walker Buffalo Chip Toss contest at two Harbors. The contest is to how far you can throw a piece of buffalo crap.

It is around 14 nm from Avalon. and i made it in around an hour. More wind and chop.

While in route, i got buzzed by a boatpix.com helicopter, who appeared to be taking pictures of me. I thought about contacting them, but have read some less than positve comments about these guys.

I threw my piece of crap around 100 feet, and thought that i might have a chance for a trophy, but the winner threw his POC over 150 feet.

The trip back to Avalon was a little quicker, but still a little rough.

Had a great evening. I played miniature golf, went to karaoke, and i met a girl.

The girl's name was Lorraine, and she appeared to be rather intoxicated, and very interested in me. She seemed to like me even more when i told her that i had come over on my own boat. She said that she would do anything to go for a ride on my boat. As much as i wanted to oblige her at that time, I wasn't sure if she was thinking very clearly at this time. I offered to take her out the next day, and she agreed.

The next day i wasn't really expecting Lorraine to show up at our designated time and place, but much to my surprise, she was there early.

We spent the rest of the weekend together and it was fantastic!

On the day that i was scheduled to leave i went down to the dinghy dock and spotted 3 dinghies adrift or untied. mine was one of them, but was still fastened to the dock with my locked cable. the drunks leave the bars at night and "borrow" a dinghy to get back to their moored boat. They then kick the dinghy loose, and they generally make it back to the docks. i secured 3 loose boats, and headed for home.

It was much foggier heading back to Dana Point. I didn't see land clearly until i was around a mile from shore. When i came out of the fog, i could only see for around a 1/2 mile up and down the coast. I didn't recognize anything. I wasn't very concerned, because i knew i had to be close, and i estimated that i had about 9 gallons of fuel left.

I saw some fishermen on a beach and pulled in close enough to ask them wher i was. i was a little inside the surf line, but was able to motor over the incoming waveswhile talking to the people on the beach. They pointed South, and off i went.

It turns out that i was only 1 mile north of where i wanted to be, so i was OK.

The rest of my trip was uneventful.

All in all, it was a very memorable, and fun weekend.

No GPS, the fog the dolphins, the buffalo chip tossing contest, and Lorraine.

I will never forget this holiday or sweet Lorraine.

Because of this woman, i have now decided to rename my boat to: .........................

"Ribbed For Your Pleasure"

The Zip

Stoo · 09 September 2008, 03:30

That's a fine tale Zip. Believe ir or not, folks used to get around on boats before GPS was invented! (Having said that, I have a little spare one in my locker!)

I'm glad to hear that you met a girl too. Nice girls always go for real umm... seamen! The first Mrs. Stoo was named Lorraine as well. She was quite nice until she tried to claim ownership of my RIB when we were getting unmarried. Then it was "gloves off"...

I'm glad you made it back. But get another GPS. And some of those big flappy paper things. And hook up the light in your compass. And be careful of drunk girls named Lorraine, when throwing pieces of crap, because eventually, she'll want your boat... no matter how good of a seaman you are...

zip · 10 September 2008, 13:15

Stoo,

thanks for the advice.

i am definitely going to buy a new gps.

what are flappy paper things?

Rigaud · 10 September 2008, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip

Stoo,

thanks for the advice.

i am definitely going to buy a new gps.

what are flappy paper things?

Marine charts.

zip · 10 September 2008, 14:34

charts.

i got some of them, but i don't know how much help they will give you in the fog.

Stoo · 10 September 2008, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip

i got some of them, but i don't know how much help they will give you in the fog.

They make you look more knowledgeable when you're lost. Oh ya, you can get a compass bearing from them as long as you start doing that before you get lost.

And if you run up onto some unknown shore, you can use them to start a fire to alert rescuers...

Rigaud · 10 September 2008, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoo

And if you run up onto some unknown shore, you can use them to start a fire to alert rescuers...

He, he, good one.

Hightower · 10 September 2008, 19:01

Got any pictures of your epic trip?

ian parkes · 10 September 2008, 23:56

Sounds like a great trip

Can you see clearly now Lorraine has gone

Stoo · 11 September 2008, 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

Can you see clearly now Lorraine has gone

I know where he can get a used one. I'll introduce you if you promise to take her to the UK and support her, so I don't have to anymore!

Rigaud · 11 September 2008, 01:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stoo

I know where he can get a used one. I'll introduce you if you promise to take her to the UK and support her, so I don't have to anymore!

Doh!

avius · 28 January 2009, 23:15

great story Zip, screw the GPS ! the excitement of not having one adds to your adventure. very clever name, "Ribbed for your Pleasure". I would steal it, but I have a SIB...
Keep making adventures-
AV