Chapter 1 of the Dingy Diaries…The Ultimate Dingy Experience Award

Categories

Worst Experience/Most Painful/Best Cruise/Wettest/Funniest

Wettest--- Cara

The gang is excited for their first night on the Boat. The girls are getting ready by putting on their cute dresses and a little glossy lip. As we wait for the group to return from the airport, the boat gets a rockin’ and so do our stomachs. We want to get to land! As soon as the group gets back, a bunch of us are ready to get to experience their first dingy ride. The waves are at least 4 foot and growing. As the boat sways and rocks, the guys hold tight to the dingy. Last one in… Cara, in a gorgeous blue dress, sits up front. She feels safe to know she is off the sailboat and heading to land. Oops… Guess we should have warned her that wettest part of the dingy ride is the front. Soaked head to toe, Cara steps off onto the dock to help find a place for more cocktails. She smiles and walks away from the dingy as fast as a soaked girl can! Sadly, she sloshes around the town looking for a Pina Colada and a lobster. Well, we’re on the wrong side of the bay. The pour girl has to get BACK in the dingy to make it over to Lady C’s and Pineapple Pete’s for some great Mahi and a bucket of Carib. Cara, Thanks for smiling through the WETTEST dingy experience.

Funniest --- Nina

We spent all day enjoying the sun and sand at Prickly Pear Cay after a trying dingy arrival. There was a pretty good swell crashing on the beach, and we watch the young captains master the waves as they landed safely ashore. We can do this! Well, probably not! We load up the dingy, the boys holding it steady as the girl climb in. Scott’s started the engine. Last one… “Come on Nina”… “You can do it”… “Jump”. As Nina was getting left behind, she was up to her shoulders in water but was saving Scott’s driftwood by holding it high above her head. Scott screams, “Don't get the driftwood wet.” Nina's reply, "Take your fucking driftwood!" Justin hoisted Nina into the dingy. This trip back to the boat was full of phrases and laughter. “We were roofed by Elvis;” “You don’t own the ocean;” “Stop gyrating, you’re embarrassing our WHOLE family!” The laughter brought tears… what a great day! And best of all, the driftwood made it safely back to the boat.

 Worst --- Scott

After relaxing on the shores of Sandy Island, we’re headed back to the boat. I look down to see the dingy gas tank is on “E”. CRAP! Where are we going to get gas? We tried to get it in Marigott, St Martin, but since it was Ash Wednesday EVERY thing was closed. As we sail to Crocus Bay, Anguilla, Scott and Nina are looking refreshed and ready to scope out the best place for island fair. They head to shore dressed to the nines (well, for sailors), scope out the only restaurant on this side of the island which is BEAUTIFUL, but a little out of our price range. They ask the guys playing dominos “Excuse me sir, where can we get gas for our dingy!” From the boat it looks like the locals are having a good chuckle at our expense. A random stranger helps Scott pull the dingy further onto the beach, and then they walk towards a black car. I get a text from Nina…

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   Nina - “Had to hitch a ride. Lic #P7588 – Just in case you don’t hear back from us. The car is a black Honda Accord!”
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  Me - “HOLY SHIT! Are you guys okay with this… It’s not that important!”
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  Nina exclaims… “We’re in the car now – his name is Junior!”
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  Me - “Please Please Please be careful, We saw u drive up the hill!” I’m now freaking out (again).
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  A few minutes later, Nina - “We just got the gas!”
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  Me - “Awesome! Same guy bringing you back?”
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  Nina – “Yeah, we had to pay him $10. This island isn’t very island like”
• 
  
  Me – “I think I see you”
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  Nina – “You do, we’re safe!”

 Junior helps Scott yank the boat back into the ocean. Nina is holding the boat as Scott cranks on the starter rope thingy-ma-bobber. The water is at her knees;, it’s at her thighs;, yep her underwear is SOAKED… her skirt is around her neck. Finally, Scott gives up. ; Nina jumps in the dingy as Scott hands Nina a paddle. To have a picture of Nina’s face at this point would have been priceless. We watch helpless from the Oceanis 52.3 as they begin paddling back. Thankfully, the light goes on and we untie the kayak. Chris volunteers to save the day by kayaking to help them. With a little man power the boys got the engine started. Finally, the dingy fully loaded is back at the boat with everyone safe and sound. Well, until we heard Nina say, "When the motor didn't start, he almost drowned." Scott, we hope you and Nina are still a happy couple.

Best --- Chris

We’d like to make a special thanks to Chris for always having the oars, life jacket and light in the dingy as he shuttled the gang to and from the boat, beaches, and bars. It was a lovely calm Tuesday evening. We had just enjoyed a great meal on the streets of Grand Case, St Martin, watching locals and tourists shop and dance. The dingy ride back to the boat after a few Mojitos at The Blue Martini was beautiful. With the music of Mardi Gras festivities as background, we traveled over water like glass to return to Merci. Thank you, indeed!

Painful --- Jeannine

My brother and I always say that “blood on the boat is fast”. It seems every time we hurt ourselves on the boat, we seem to win a race. So, Jeannine, thank you for taking one for the team and leaving a little blood on the dingy in St Barts. We come cruising around some mega yachts to dock in St Barts. I’m lugging all our passports and the boat documents to go to customs. John hops up on the pier. He’s holding the painter (bowline), and as a true gentleman, hands Jeannine his right hand to help her off. There’s quite a climb to the top of the pier, the boat slips from the dock, and so does Jeannine. Hanging from one arm, soaked to the bone, Jeannine scraped her entire leg and the bottom of her foot. She gets dunked in the water. We finally tie up and get her on dry land just to find out that the Custom’s Officer is on a French version of a Siesta. She hobbles down to the Le Route de Buccaneer, asks for some alcohol for both her foot and her mouth. We clean her up and make our way back to customs. Jeannine, thanks for showing us that a little blood can’t stop ya.

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