December 14, 2009
“Imagine that you’re driving down the interstate and an 18-wheeler is coming at you,” said Nathan, “And your steering wheel comes off in your hands.” That’s what it felt like on the river today when Waltzing Matilda’s rudder ripped loose and three giant barge trains were coming at him.
Previously Nathan talked about Mattie the dog’s bad attitude. Mattie’s attitude caused a problem today. Talking to the dog trying to coax her aboard the boat Nathan apparently got distracted and Waltzing Matilda ran aground on a sand bar and did some damage to the rear of the boat. Also, the water on the Mississippi River is high and it has a lot of debris. Three times today Nathan hit submerged trees, one of which hit his propeller and apparently in the collision the rudder got hit ripped from its lower bracket. Bad situation—adrift without steering in a fast river. “Did I mention that three barges were coming at me?” Nathan said. They were two miles away. He got on the radio and called one of the barge towboats. “This is a broken sailboat ahead of you. Please don’t run me down.” The towboat responded: “Hey, broken sailboat, are you okay? Do you need assistance?” Nathan said he didn’t and using an oar as a rudder regained control of the Waltzing Matilda and got out of the way. He was then able to do a makeshift repair on the rudder.
Approaching Greenville, Mississippi, there were other problems: a storm was coming and Nathan had to avoid three barge trains of 45 barges each that were running a half mile apart. Keeping out of their way he noticed on the river chart that he was getting hemmed in against underwater riprap capable doing serious damage to Waltzing Matilda. He saw ripples in the water caused by the riprap. He couldn’t stop, he couldn’t go out in the main channel because of the barges. He realized he had no choice but to turn his boat upstream. While the diesel engine could not fight the current, he could use his sails to run with the 20-mile-per-hour southerly wind up the river. He came about, had two sails set wing-to-wing, ran the diesel full speed and with the boat rocking and the current fighting him and the dog crying he made it a mile upstream.
Tonight Waltzing Matilda rests at anchor on glassy smooth water between the Jubilee and Lighthouse Casinos in Greenville, Mississippi. Nathan plans to be there for a few days: he’s got to make repairs and he also plans to wait for the water level to go down.
Although parts of today’s sailing were fun, the Mississippi River gave him a bit too much excitement.
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