30June2017, Friday –
A mariner’s responsibility to offer aid to other seafarers in distress can be tested at any time. We had a long holiday weekend underway on the Chester River planned. It began with a storm brewing and, unexpectedly, offering aid.
As we pulled out of our marina at Kent Narrows, a little bit of weather was brewing up. We weren’t worried as we had checked weather reports and knew it’d be well within what our strong little boat could handle. We also expected to be well into the river, and more protected waters, before it hit in earnest.
About the time we reached the mouth of the river, there was some real chop coming up in the water and we came across a group of young men in kayaks, who obviously hadn’t checked weather reports. This was not weather to be out on a kayak in. The waves were taller than these poor young men’s boats. To be fair, their boats are only inches taller than the water. Regardless, these were mariners who needed aid.
We pulled up near them and shouted “Do you need help?” knowing full well the answer was yes. “Can you help us dump the water out of our kayak?” With two boats and three young men, the water had swamped one of them. He climbed up on our swim platform to try to haul the end up and dump it. We could already see this wasn’t going to work. After much bailing and up and down and “try this” then, “try that”, his boat was empty enough to get back in and paddle away, but we had the presence of mind to not leave the area until we we’re sure the young men would be alright…and we knew they wouldn’t be.
All the while the wind from the brewing summer storm was increasing and within minutes, a hand on the other boat went up and shouted to get our attention. We’d been watching and knew they needed more help. The second kayak had now been swamped and turned over. They were trying to right it, but as fast as they got the water out, more waves splashed back in. Even if we could get their boats righted, they had a long paddle, into the wind, to get home. Recognizing this wasn’t working, we said, “Let’s just get these guys on board and call the Coast Guard.” Watching the overturned kayak bob in the wind and waves, we informed the Coast Guard it was adrift and knew we’d all made the right decision.
The young men safely on board and Coast Guard informed, we waited. Then waited more… and then waited more, knowing it would take some time for the Coasties to get to us. With the storm petering out, Bill had discussed the situation with the young men, found out they live nearby, right across the mouth of the river to the south, and decided to just take them home.
We reached the waters a couple hundred yards off their house and after wishing them well and receiving their thanks, the guy with their remaining boat paddled away. Our strong 2nd mate, having recently earned his Maryland Boater Certificate, piloted our dinghy and the guys from the overturned kayak into shore. We wished them all the best and they paddled in under our watchful eye. Then, with 2nd mate back on board and our good deed for the day done, we resumed our journey up the river.