Posted on 07/09/2009 11:02:41 AM PDT by GQuagmire
A veteran British yachtsman has been left embarrassed after attempting a daring overtaking manoeuvre that literally left him high and dry.
Arthur Manning's 36ft yacht Knight Star struck rocks near Saint-Quay-Portrieux in northern France, forcing the skipper to watch as the receding tide left his boat sticking up by its keel.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.ninemsn.com.au ...
If it hasn’t already, this pic will be showing up soon on Failblog.
“When your draft exceeds the depth of the water you’re in, you are most assuredly aground.”
Armed with a single MA-2 .50 caliber Browning, this much feared naval vessel carries up to 30 rounds of armor piercing ammunition. It is the first in an entirely new naval architecture class -- technically, “clitoral” (not to be confused with “littoral”) -- being pushed on the Pentagon by the defense minded wussies in the Obama Administration as a cost-saving measure. If you look closely, you can see the heavy-duty seat restraint which prevents the pilot/gunner – Kamakazi Kowalski – from leaping from the vessel prior to engaging the enemy. The 12 V trolling motor – which lacks a reverse function -- propels this sophisticated craft forward at a top speed of 4 knots. Reverse travel – at approximately 35 knots -- is achieved by firing the Browning.
The no-bid contract to build 200 of these fearsome warships was recently awarded to Obama-Soros-Emanuel Shipbuilding and Stormdoor Manufacturing (formerly General Dynamics) and will be administered by trusted Obama associate and Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel who commented that, at $12 million each, they are a bargain. They will be constructed exclusively at the company’s facility in Kenya with major subcomponent production (rivets and miscellaneous fasteners) at the company’s Harlem and Skokie plants. Delivery is expected to begin in 2024 (or as soon as the subcontractor's funds are safely in the contractor's Swiss account).
Ping.
Yes, I hear John wants the French to build a bridge to that rock so Manning can safely visit his boat.
Good thing he got it anchored. I would hate to see it drift away.
LOL - timely update.
Mr Manning and his crewmate, who had been racing in a Royal Channel Islands yacht race, had earlier abandoned ship following what they described as an "embarrassing misjudgement".
"We'd consulted local charts but didn't take into account the height of the rocks, or whether there was enough water," he told the Daily Mail.
"The boat ground to a halt and we realised we were grounded — we immediately pulled all the sails down and put on our lifejackets.
"We both feel terrible … nobody likes hitting rocks, so this was very embarrassing."
The boat was later rescued from the rocks having apparently sustained only light damage.
The Knight Star was back floating again at high tide.
A French crewman involved in the rescue of the two sailors said the boat had escaped remarkably unscathed.
"We got the two Englishmen aboard and out of harm's way, but could do nothing for the yacht as it rose higher and higher into the sky," he said.
"The two crew members were uninjured, although I do think their pride might have taken a bit of a battering."
Someone failed to follow the first three rules of navigation:
1) Check the buoy
2) Check the buoy
3) Check the buoy
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