“I Just Wanted a Sandwich”

Local knowledge can be a precious thing. Take for example the owner of the 35-ft Brisbane-based Dionysus: Feeling a little peckish around lunchtime a couple days after Christmas, the sailor decided to stop at Oyster Point Marina to grab a bite at the Bait, Tackle & Deli. "The poor guy had always tied up next to a friend’s boat and used his key when he came to visit," reports Ken Shuford, who keeps his DownEaster 42 Danser Nu at Oyster Point. "But the friend had sold his boat so he tied up at the public boat launch . . . on an ebb tide."

Dionysus‘s skipper was surprised to find that, when he returned an hour later on a full stomach, he was hard aground. Nothing would budge the boat, and she was now starting to list.

"Oyster Point Marina officials were quick to respond," noted Shuford, "but no one dared drag Dionysus backward, as she was soundly stuck and they were afraid of damaging her." Everyone did their best to secure her, then settled in for a long wait.

"The owner was a good-natured soul," Shuford said, "and not only took the kidding of the gathered marina tenants in stride, but joined in on the joking." One by one, the jokesters went back to minding their own business, leaving Dionysus‘s owner to await high tide — and freedom — with a friend. Freedom came just before midnight with no apparent harm done — other than a battered ego, that is.

Dionysus‘s misstep is a good reminder to check your tidebook when stopping for a spell. Don’t take for granted that, just because you’re at a dock, you’ll be able to get out on your schedule — high spots abound in some Bay Area marinas. But if you do get stuck, take a page out of Mr. Dionysus‘s playbook and just go with the flow.