Ry, you reminded me of another of my sea stories, when you told me that you tied up to the bridge, hope no ones mines.
In 1991 hurricane Bob was bearing down on the Rhode Island area and I brought my boat up the bay and tied it
parallel to a foot bridge at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA.
My lines and chains were tied to pilings; rocks and trees. About 30 minutes before the storm hit a government official who was head of the State Park there came down and told me that I couldn't tie up to his trees. I went wild and told him that at this late hour that I was not going to untie the vessel. He wanted me out of there completely. I told him to call the State Police or whoever he wanted but I was not moving. He informed me that it was his duty to protect the trees or something and I pointed out that I had wrapped the trees trunks with rags so as not to damage them. He said that I might pull one over and said OK you can stay but remove your lines from the trees and tie off to the foot bridge.
I figure the foot bridge is worth about $5 mil. And the tree about $1,500. No way do I want to tie to the bridge. We argue for a while and then finally I tie to the bridge abutment with one line to get him off my case. One other line stayed to a tree.
When the storm hit the winds went up to 90-100 mph and the boat laid over right on its' side with the rail in the water, even though I had removed the sails and all the windage that I could. I figure that boat at 15+tons would have pulled that bridge over and guess who would have been liable?
Another case of government incompetence? By the way it is my interpretation of Maritime Law that no one can deny you safe harbor in an emergency which I believe this would have qualified.
Be safe tonight friend.
Last edited by ragman; 10/29/12 05:02 PM. Reason: explaination
AmbergrisCaye.com 
Boat, tree & bridge made it through without a scratch. Me, I just got a few more gray hairs.
