December 28 - Day #26. A cruiser thinks about their dink (dingy) like anyone shoreside thinks about their car--its how you get around. Being stranded by a broken down car is never fun, but it's usually not life threatening. If a dink's engine quits in the wrong place it can be disastrous. While we were in Mexico a fellow cruiser was returning from the beach in Cabo San Lucas to his boat anchored just off shore. When his engine quit he got the oars out. To his horror no amount of effort could overcome the wind and current--he was going out to sea. Luckily, the next day a helicopter found him--12nm offshore. Today, as we dingied back from downtown Charleston, our engine decided to test our mettle in the middle of a mile wide section of the Ashley River. There was a 20kt wind and a strong ebbing current when the engine's RPM dropped off precipitously. Normally an event like this is followed rapidly by the outboard's deafening silence. At this point I'm thinking "No tools and no VHF radio--great." Luckily the Yamaha kept running, albeit at greatly reduced power. The closest refuge was a desolate area of marsh. We headed for it; any port in a storm. Only after getting to within rowing distance did we parallel the marsh and continue heading in Nellie's general direction. After what seemed like an hour we reached a more populated area. Here, just in case, we motored close to the ends of the docks. Nellie never looked so good as we approached. Ok, so realistically our chances of getting swept all the way out of Charleston harbor and into the open Atlantic were slim and none. However, knowing that doesn't keep the adrenalin from flowing when the RPMs drop unexpectedly. The engine's autopsy is inconclusive thus far. Anchored in Wappoo Creek, Charleston, SC. 0nm today, 569 nm to date. DBH
