Easter Island by Douglas

.O.K. THIS'S WHAT SAILING IS REALLY ABOUT. WE WENT TO BED IN ANAKENA BAY EASTER I. AT 3:00AM DAD AND MUM WOKE BRONWEN AND I UP AND SAID WE HAD TO UP ANCHOR. HAVING NO MOTOR WE COULDN'T RUN THE WINDLASS. SO WE HAD TO LEAD A SNUBBER LINE FROM THE CHAIN TO THE JIB WINCH. BRONWEN AND MUM WERE UP FORWARD DEALING WITH THE CHAIN AND DAD WAS STEERING AND CRANKING THE JIB WINCH AND I WAS DOING THE SHEETS, RELAYING MESSAGES AND DOING THE ANCHOR LOCKER. THE CHAIN WAS IN THE GYPSY BETWEEN HAULINGS IN AND THE WINDLASS SHAFT BROKE SENDING THE CHAIN ROARING OUT UTIL MUM GOT THE CHAIN HOOK ON IT. LATER ON WHEN I WAS RELAYING A MESSAGE WHEN MAGGI DREW UP SHORT AND THE 9/16'' SNUBBER PARTED AND WENT WHIPPING UP AT ME I CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH IT HURT SO AFTER THAT I WAS OUT OF COMMISION. WE HAD A SPARE 5/8'' SNUBBER ON IT SO IT STOPPED. DURING THIS IT WAS BLOWING 20 KT'S AND IT WAS RAINING UNMERCIFULY SO WE TIED A BIG JUG TO THE END OF THE ANCHOR LINE AND LET IT ROAR OUT. TACKING OUT OF THE BAY WE CAME SO CLOSE TO HITTING THE ROCKS THE MAN LIVING THERE WAS PRAYING FOR US. DURING ALL THIS EMMA WAS COZILY IN HER BUNK. WHAT I'D GIVE TO BE YOUNGEST AGAIN. LATER COMING BACK TO GET OUR ANCHOR WE HAD TO DIVE FOR IT [THE JUG GOT BEATEN ON THE ROCK AND THE LINE BROKE SO THE MAN WHO PRAYED FOR US HELPED TO GET OUR ANCHOR NOW WE HAVE OUR ANCHOR BACK AND ARE HAPPY AGAIN BUT WE WON'T FORGET THIS INCIDENT FOR A LONG TIME. DOUGLAS