Dockwise Adventure

Captain Dennis and Larry

Yesterday we participated in a new experience. We went along as crew (really, line handlers) on a boat which was being moved to California via its own boat transport, Dockwise. When we first liked, then decided to purchase Milagro, it was suggested by the broker that we have the boat shipped to Florida via Dockwise or Yacht Path.  Now Milagro is a full keel 44 thousand pound boat, and while it is definitely not the biggest kid on the block it staggered my imagination to think of loading that baby onto another bigger boat along with many other boats.  I couldn't imagine how it was done. Yesterday we got to see it first hand. A total of seventeen boats were to be loaded onto the Dockwise ship Super Servant III.  A sailboat which has been docked on our starboard, Sweet Jane, was being captained by Dennis Ross whom we have known both professionally and as a friend. Dennis was actually responsible for getting three boats on the ship so his wife Susan captained one and another couple took care of the third.  Besides the captain each boat needed at least a couple of line handlers on board and Sweet Jane had three.
I set my cell phone alarm for 6 a.m. This is only the third time since our arrival I've used an alarm to wake us before the morning nets, the other occasions being wake up calls for early flights. We sipped coffee as we gathered a few essentials and dressed, then went up on the dock where Dennis had already begun preparation for departure.

We cast off lines and backed out of the slip, followed immediately by Quoddy's Run, our neighbor on the port side.  Quoddy's Run was headed for British Columbia with the captain and first mate, two delightful ladies from Nova Scotia whose company we have enjoyed this past week.  It was a beautiful morning, in the mid sixties, the water was flat and there was just a slight breeze.  We motored out of the marina and into the channel, looking like the mother duck as most of the 17 boats followed us up the channel to the turning basin near the Pemex plant where the Dockwise ship was anchored. As we made the trip Dennis explained how we would enter the ship and what we'd do when we got there.

Boats being loaded...

Now here's captain Larry's explanation of just how the transport ship works: the Dockwise ship is designed such that with just the right depth of water, the ship can be de-ballisted, or in other terms, sunk, so that it rests on preferably a sandy bottom.  The stern of the boat opens up, and all the boats to be transported are brought inside the ship, and very carefully positioned, and tied into place.  Divers are then sent below the boats where they weld, under water, temporary stands to support the yachts to be transported.  Then the Dockwise ship is refloated as the water is pumped out, and the yachts are supported by the temporary stands as the boat lifts out of the water.  When the yachts are stable and all high and dry, additional welders come in and permanently weld the stands under the yachts.  The whole process is computer monitored and is very scientific.  It was also very impressive and fully defines thinking outside the box.

Boats or sardines?

We arrived  with time to spare and just circled for 20-30 minutes.  We were fourth in line, right after Lily and just before Quoddy's Run. As our turn came up the Dockwise loading master called Sweet Jane on channel 17 and gave the captain instructions on where we were to enter the ship, which side we'd tie off to and how many fenders and dock lines were to be in place. Dennis is an experienced and expert captain and he placed the boat beautifully; then we handed over lines to the  Dockwise crew and they pulled and maneuvered the boat into place.  Just to make things interesting the Dockwise crew spoke no English, either Ukrainian or French!

Anyone speak Ukrainian?

We stayed on board adjusting lines and fenders, Dennis closed up the boat and we all left Sweet Jane via a very narrow catwalk which was littered with ropes, straps and other debris.  We were packed in like sardines as we waited for the other boats to come aboard, but Dockwise did host a spread of tea, coffee, cold drinks and water as well as doughnuts and bologna and cheese(?) sandwiches. I turned down the food, despite skipping breakfast, as we'd been told the whole process would only take a couple of hours and I was looking forward to a big Mexican breakfast.
Dockwise arranged for a panga to shuttle captains and crews back to the nearest marina, but we watched two loads leave the ship before we got near the front of the line and that left us standing in the sun in what was, by now, around 90 degrees.
We finally managed to be the last two to board the third panga and arrived at Costa Baja marina around 11 a.m. From there we shared a taxi back to our own marina with the captain and crew of Quoddy's Run. At that point we decided to drive to Rancho Viejo for "breakfast." The six of us shared a table as well as lots of stories and laughter. I was talked into ordering jugo verde (green juice) which turned out to be a delicious combination of pineapple, grapefruit, nopales (cactus), celery and parsley served chilled in a huge margherita glass. Then I devoured the best huevos rancheros I've ever eaten...or maybe I was just really, really hungry.

Goodbye to good people

We said goodbye to our new friends as they were leaving for the airport for 20 hours of travel to Nova Scotia. One aspect of this life that troubles me is that after we meet and get to know and like other cruisers they just sail out of our life.  We're told that cruisers are constantly crossing paths with each other and will meet up again somewhere in their travels. We all exchange boat cards with contact info but for a person who doesn't like saying goodbye.......
Anyway, it was an interesting day, a fascinating trip and a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday in beautiful Baja California Sur.