Boat Rides

Let me tell you about my harrowing experience tonight - May 12, 2010.

Background: Let me explain that rainy season is almost here, so the ocean is getting rougher each day it seems. Yesterday (not the experience I am going to tell you about…but stand by for that), the ferry ride to Male was even questionable. As we did that 25 minute slow ride, it sounded like something kept hitting the boat. During this time, I was contemplating how far I would need to swim to some shore or how to kick out the plastic windows if we overturned and had decided I wouldn’t be able to save anyone but myself with the distance I would have to swim. Yes, maybe I was over-reacting some, but the banging was unusual and the seasonal waves were really washing us around. Eventually, I ignored it since no one seemed to mind much. Then about 5 minutes from Male, we stopped in the middle of the water, far from things! It was unsettling at first since it was just out of the ordinary – everyone was quiet, the shipmate did something to the propellers I think. Anyways, after about 3 minutes, we were back in business.

About the other two boat rides to the resorts Tuesday and Wednesday were really rough! Tuesday we had this long open boat with benches along the side and it is not enclosed. (see random photo I had above – not the FedEx boat) The waves spray right up on anyone on the front half of the boat, but since there are about 24 on the boat, everyone can’t cower in the standing room back area. Anyways, that ride was wet for some and rough as we bounced along. All I thought was, “People pay Six Flags and other parks for wet log rides; I get it for free. Enjoy!” So, I tried to think of it like that – bouncing and being sprayed.

The ride on the speedboat today was really rough!! I thought then, “This ride is not for people with back problems.” - As the signs at amusement parks warn. It just bounced and jarred us terribly! About twice, it seemed to knock us unconscious for a second - that feeling of “pow!” and then your brain is jarred and everyone looks at each other with wide eyes, like “Wow, that was hard.” I just tried to stay off the wall since it seemed we were hydroplaning and then we would hit the surface every ten seconds or so and you didn’t know how hard you would bounce. My tail bone has felt it the last two days!

Now, to my boat ride home from the resort to Male tonight– we had a very old-fashioned styled boat with the curvy nose that might have something like a dragon painted on it, if they did such things here which they don’t, and the curls of tails on the back end which are the wooden paddle/guide (sorry I don’t know the names of things on boats). And luckily, the front is glassed in although it only protects the first 2 people in the front seats…except for what comes in around the door edges as waves hit it. I haven’t ridden in this style of boat before, but it is what came for about 30 of us staff members. It is the slowest of the slow ones. It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes on it compared to the speed boat which takes 25 minutes. We have some that fall in the mid-range of those. The captain was doing yoga like poses as we boarded since he would use his foot to move the paddle behind while he did things with his hands to work the engine. Then we were off. And again, we bounced a lot and spray came in all around, and the floors in the back were getting wet as it drug in the rear just above the surface. And, the big difference was the tilt! We rocked especially to the left like 45 degrees so many times I thought we would roll over! When you looked out the back behind the captain, the horizon was left, right, out of sight, in sight, tilted this way and that! Then the engine began sputtering about 55 minutes into the ride (20 from shore) and that is when I finally turned off my music and came out of my little world I was retreating to where I just thought of riding horses - “go with the rhythm of the ride and don’t fight it or you will just make your back hurt more” or with thinking of how I was flowing on a dance floor or cruise ship – just trying to escape and stay calm. But, when the other staff began chattering after one big tilt that brought the 2 brave ones from the roof racing down the ladder, I paid attention. And we couldn’t see out the front well and suddenly the guy next to me shouted and they cut the engines on purpose that time since a boat crossed right in front of us! We had several big rocks to the left and engine weak sputtering which were really scary. I had my eye on the coast guard ship in the distance, but knew we were too far from them for help if needed. And I had seen the lifejackets overhead when it was daylight and was hoping the shipmate would come by me so I could ask for one, but he never came and I was scared to stand up and not sure how to get them down. And, the canvas they had lowered over the windows on my side couldn’t keep the spray out any more and my side was sitting on the edge of our seats and leaning forward each time we saw a big wave coming. But, we made it to shore obviously! Though my hair and back were wet from the trip and it made the 3^rd day in a row I had to come home to wash the ocean water out of my hair after work!

From there, I walked to the ferry with my student Arey who visits his family once a week just past my jetty. I was just excited from the fright, but he said he wasn’t scared. However, he is 20 years old and probably not afraid of much! I know I am supposed to ride the staff boats, but I will ask for boats going with the guests from now on if the water looks rough. The guests get the speed boats - and life jackets are mandatory for them!! (We staff are dispensable?!) I noticed one guest boat leaving at the same time we did. I think it went to the airport but even though that would cost me triple the ferry charge to be dropped at the airport, it will be worth it. I will inquire about that next time!

So, I don’t know if I could convey the fear I have had on several occasions the last two days, but it has been “exciting”?? Scary for sure in my opinion.