Learning under panic attack is hard

So…remember when I said this week was gonna be tough because boss didn’t go to Caribbean? I woke up at 7am, had my coffee, showered and got ready for my day. At 9am my boss texts me and says “we’re going out, departing at 11am” I reply okie dokie, how much water do you want in our broken tank?”

I have to uncover everything…I mean everything is covered as if it’s put away for the winter. Ofcourse that also means it’s gonna be a bit dirty under there, so it will need cleaning as well. I start on that, it’s humid, I’m sweating so bad, my eyes are burning.

Then he texts me, go by the store and get stuff for guests. Cheese plate and snacks and wine.

Sheesh…how am I gonna get all this done in 2 hours. I need to change out of “wax the boat clothes” into guests are coming clothes.

I uncover and clean everything. Race up to the Jeep…argh..it’s covered too! Start it up, it needs fuel! Ofcourse! The other windy night. We lost our throwable flotation device, that is required to be on a boat underway. Ran by west marine, then fuel, then groceries. Came back to the boat, started the cheese plate, changed clothes, filled water tank, unhooked power and dock water, generator running. Navigation ready. Guests and boss arrive…and then the stressful part happens

We are driving to our restaurant and I see this building. And I think wow, how do I get that crown?

We get to the restaurant. I start setting up fenders and lines. Boss says no…we anchor. I said for a restaurant? He says yes, they bring a boat to pick you up. We anchor…we are in 7ft of water which means our prop is only 2 feet from ground. Whenever we anchor, I ALWAYS like to verify our anchor is holding…my boss waits until we have floated into a situation before he says “oh..I don’t think our anchor held”. Before I can verify our anchor is holding, he’s off the boat.

Totally cute beach restaurant. I’m worried, staring at my focal point of where we started and my charts, that track the boat. We are moving…slowly, dragging anchor, but slow enough, I have room to play with, I’m not concerned. It takes 2 people WHO KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING to pull the anchor up. But I’m not worried. As slow as we’re moving, we’ve got hours before I float too far past the restaurant. Now, all of a sudden here comes a rush of other boats that want to anchor and go to the restaurant. Now I have obstacles as I float aimlessly. I get so close to one boat, that I have to text my boss. I’ve NEVER interrupted him during a meal. He says “I see the boat. You are not moving, and if that guy wants to anchor that close, then that’s on him”

Umm no! It’s on me! I’m the one moving. After about 30 minutes I am now so close to this boat if the wind changes, we will collide. I’m bout ready to have a heart attack. I text my boss and said “ya worried yet?”

He calls me and say ok, yes, start the engines, and pull forward

He’s been drinking, obviously I have not. You don’t drive over an anchor in place…but I have to go forward. So I slowly pull the anchor in and drive the boat forward. Gently work both things together. I get up and run all the way around to see where the anchor is in the water. It was already up and almost secure. So I felt better about maneuvering…IN MY 2FT OF WATER! Finally boss and guests connect with me. Now i feel in control and the need to handle the situation. They are all enjoying their time and thinking about their next drink. I told my boss “ok. You guys hang on we are floating towards buoys. The boat is going to be underway. Boss laughs..look at her go!

So now, I’m driving us out of here, relying on my trace line (following how we came in) then I realize, he’s not coming back to the helm to take over. They are upstairs enjoying their time..it’s on me to get us home. Up ahead I see our turn where we enter the ocean..I pick up speed to fight the current, winds and choppy water, from all of the boats entering and exiting the inlet. We hit open seas! I did it! I’m loving it! Set her on auto pilot and head home!

It’s now pitch black dark. I’m totally relying on my Nav charts and other boat lights to get me home. WE MADE IT!