Just when you thought it was safe to go out!!!!!!!

Today started as I have shown you with dear little pictures, oh I'm sorry it was little deer pictures. Then we headed east through the flight of five. These are 5 locks, one after another in Waterford. Then an uneventful day locks 2 through 8. 

We had fought current all day. As we got to lock 9 we could see they were letting a lot of water out. Along with the water was a lot of debris. I headed for the lock slowly so I would not hit the boat or the propellor with any of it. Just as we got to the entrance our bow caught a current coming out of the lock. The stern caught a back current coming along the shore. The result was Irish Mist turned sideways. The aft end headed for the corner of the lock. I pushed the throtle forward and turned into the lock. Only one problem she did not turn. The currents where too strong.

The result was the mast ramed the wall at some speed. This stopped all 28000 pounds of yacht. We backed up got turned around went out in the canal and tried again. This time with more speed and made it in. Trish had dropped a boat hook in the water at impact, but other the that pretty much everything is ok. The mast has a cut on her bottom which will require a hammer and file. The autopilot stopped working, but I am pretty sure it was just a loose wire which I tightened when we got settled for the night.

Our good fortune is due to Jan and Gordon who designed and built my mast frame. This was a real solid jolt. The mast did move about a inch and a half. The frame stands and the mast is unharmed and still in the frame. Trish and I thank you again for your kind word.

Here are a couple fo pictures from today. None of the lock pictures are of lock 9.