A memory for my best friend -
It was a sunny and windy morning. Just the kind of weather we enjoyed for a brisk sail. Today was going to be different because we were going to go on a longer journey than usual. In fact, we intended to sail over to the Isle of Wight,
The day started normally with us pulling our Hornet dingy through the mud from the Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club, where we never failed to get the tides wrong and paid the price. Eventually we were afloat with Lindsay at the tiller and me in my usual position at the end of the slide. We were scarcely out of the harbor when the wind strengthened, and we were able to gull-wing the sails and crest over the waves. We were going at full speed and loving every moment of it.
We had a couple of small escapades along the way, but life was good, and we careered on merrily towards the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side however, and a couple of hours later, the sky darkened, and then darkened some more, and our sunny day turned into a full-blown storm. Hot heads quickly got cooler and we turned around and bolted for home. But we were not fast enough. The waves we're now coming over the transom and the boat was filling up fast.
We almost made it into the harbor, but now with the heavy boat and the tide against us it was too much for the boat and our much-vaunted seamanship. Luckily, somebody spotted us, and a lifeboat was sent to bring us in. We had to abandon our little Hornet and wet and bedraggled and somewhat beaten up by the weather, we eventually made it back safely to The Forge where we showered and attempted to bluster and laugh the whole thing off.
Weeks later, we were told our Hornet had washed ashore further down the coast and we went to retrieve her. "Kathy Come Home" was damaged but repairable and we spent the next several weeks painting and polishing her.
I know it's not supposed to be done but we renamed our boat anyway and “Kathy Come Home” became "Kathy Came Home" and continued to give us many more weekends of excitement.