Now it was time to return home. For me, the situation was complicated by the fact that my first mate Yura had run out of free time. By 20-00 he should be in Kyiv at the station. The lock was booked for 18-00. Even if by this time we would have safely reached Vyshgorod, he was at great risk of missing the train. Five sailboats were going down to the lock, including us. Although it seems not difficult to go with the flow, but in order to be in time for the lock by 18 o'clock, we were offered towing. Those. everything seemed to turn out simply and beautifully, I went down in tow alone, and Yura left by bus. Perebefore leaving, he took a couple of photos:

Our wet and cold departure from Energodar had been forgotten by this time, during the trip we had already managed to enjoy the summer warmth, and although the temperature in the morning was about 12 ° C, I took the upcoming event very lightly, which I later regretted. In addition to drizzling rain this morning, while towing at 7 knots, I was instantly soaked with spray. The rogue was powerless. When moving independently, I would secure the tiller with a tourniquet and could change clothes, drink hot tea or vodka, but at such a speed let go of the tillerit was not possible. The towing lasted 5 hours and ended at the exit to the Kiev Reservoir at 10:45. By this time, I was so cold that I could hardly move. And then another trouble awaited. East blew on the reservoir, i.e. side wind about 4-5 m/s. At the same time, there was a half-meter wave. The width of the reservoir is such that both the windward and leeward banks are barely visible. For some time I sat in a daze, arguing what was the best course of action. First, lie down in a drift, change clothes, take a warmer, and then brto sail, or first start the engine and lie down on the desired course, and then engage in "resuscitation" measures and sails. From a state of thought I was brought out by a blow to the bottom. I look in one direction - "Perun" and "Odyssey" started the engines, cheerfully run away into the wind and go to the fairway. I look into the other - "Share" and "October" neatly lay down on their side. This situation brought me back to life and instantly dispelled my doubts. I managed to start the engine before I finally landed on the keel, and I managed to break out on the crests of the wave into deep water.. Ahead, at full speed, Perun and Odysseus were moving away from me. Behind, sat aground "October" and "Share". What to do? Go to the airlock or return to help those in distress? And how can I help, especially since I myself was still barely moving? Decided so. I will go along the fairway towards the lock, but at the lowest speed. To begin with, I will try to warm up and come to my senses, if during this time the kilevki do not cope on their own, then I will return. Decided - done. He undressed, rubbed himself with vodka from head to toe, and did not forget to take it inside. Put the kettle on. While drinking tea, I look at"October" set the sails and, although sideways, they are clearly moving. Five minutes later they were on the fairway. Well, since they did it on their own at October, and there were only grandfather and a girl (here he is class!), Then on Dol six strong men simply have to do without my help. That is why I add "gas" and go to the tank to put the staysail. About half an hour had passed since the end of the towing. The "share" was afloat in another 20 minutes. Why am I all this in such detail? I had to hang on a rope when in calm someone kindly offered to reach the shore. But such aIt was the first time that a long journey in tow had happened, and I was clearly not ready for it. Therefore, I want to warn others - long-term towing, and even as part of a large number of boats, is not at all such a simple and harmless event as it seems at first glance. If you are offered towing, think hard.

By 12 o'clock in the afternoon the wind died down to calm. Almost catching up with me, "October" began to lag behind, until it completely disappeared from view. The clouds dispersed and the sun began to shine. Life got better again :) Traveling in calm, but under the engine, did not cause problems. Finally relaxed and had lunch. The phone rings. A stranger introduces himself - Leonid, the sailboat "Tatiana", I am based in KKRYAK, I really want to meet and get to know each other. He asks how he can help. Yes, I don't need help. We agreed that he would bring a can of gasoline for me to the sailboat club. Happenssuch! At 15-20 "Share" passed by. He asked where the "October" had gone - they say they are waiting for the wind, they have no gasoline. So, they definitely won't make it to the gateway. Now I am closing. It's good to relax. I'm going full speed. The body of the dam was already visible on the horizon, when a cloud began to form low over the right bank. Small, less than a kilometer in diameter. The cloud rotated in one place until it turned into an ugly black cloud. And then quickly flew through the reservoir. It was 500 meters before him. There was complete calm near me, and under the cloud the waterboiled. I wouldn't want to be there. After about ten minutes, the cloud dissipated over the opposite bank, and a new one began to form over the right. The second such formation crossed the reservoir already behind my stern. At 17-40 I went to the outport of the lock. They have already been waiting for me there, but "October" will not be expected. For half an hour we were spinning in front of the airlock in complete calm. At 18-10 the long-awaited green light came on, and we headed to the cell. At this time, a light breeze blew. The dispatcher ordered me to become a lag to the "Dole", and "Odyssey" and "Perun" to the free eyes. To this inThe breeze turned into a powerful flurry (apparently, one of the clouds I observed earlier decided to walk over the airlock). The wind almost did not reach me, but on the high mast of the Doli, the rigging made wild sounds, and the boat itself lurched and tossed a lot. In the end, the Doli shrouds cut off my right spreader. In the evening, the Kiev News reported that a terrible squall had passed over Vyshgorod, and they showed trees uprooted and roofs torn from houses. Probably a lost spreader, not the worst thing that could happen in such conditions, so Ieven glad than upset :) But what I still don’t know is where “October” was at that time? Did they get it or did this flurry bypass them? To the credit of George, the captain of the Doli, it must be said that immediately after the incident, he sent one of the sailors to me. "Dolya" with the rest of the crew will remain at Obolon, and this guy (alas, I forgot his name) should help me get to KKRAK, moor to the regular place of "Dolya" and organize the repair of the spreader. When we went down, the squall was already subsiding, and soon it was calm again. Here's a call from Leonid. Gasoline is already in the sailboat clubThat is, Leonid himself is leaving, but they will meet me and hand over the canister. In addition, he heard on the radio about a squall, he asks what and how. I talked about the paintbrush. "Don't worry, we'll organize everything now, you will be met, helped, tools, materials - no problem." And indeed, we met! I'm just amazed. The only thing is that I was very tired to do the spreading now, and it was already dark. And at the gates of the club, Sergei was waiting for me with a couple of former classmates. So I thanked everyone for their willingness to help me, left the boat at the sailboat club and left.

The next day, Sergei and I arrived at the sailboat club at seven o'clock in the morning. At the gate they met already well-known Alexander Filatov, who immediately offered to help. "Pochaina" - an iron schooner over 20 meters, with topmasts, linens on the shrouds and other attributes of an "adult" ship. We approached her with a lag, tilted the tar for the main halyard, and I climbed along the blemishes to the attachment point of my spreaders. The entire repair procedure, together with a tour of Pochaina, took an hour and a half.

True, the right spreader has become 40 mm shorter than the left one, but this will not prevent us from safely returning home. Nothing else stopped us. At 8-30 we left the hospitable KKRYAK and set out on the way back. The new chief officer takes up his duties.

At first, with a light headwind, we went under the motor. But an hour later the wind turned to fair, it became possible to set the sails. I previously had to ride people who are far from sailboating, usually working with a tiller causes difficulties for them. I was pleasantly surprised how easy Sergey became to manage the boat. From the first hour it became clear that, at least under the engine, I have a reliable assistant. By noon, when we passed Ukrainka, the weather began to deteriorate. The low pipes of Trypilska TPP were covered by clouds

Then they went through a series of thunderstorms. Within three hours we hoisted and tucked the sails ten times, so that on the first day Sergey got an excellent practice, and also made a series of beautiful photographs.

At about 5:00 p.m., everything stopped. The sun, a light tailwind, high blue sky - it's even hard to imagine what cataclysms happened here just a few hours ago. "Pereyaslov" boys

They approached the Kanev lock after sunset, although it was still light. Shlyuzovka small size at this time is already prohibited, but they remembered us here, reacted favorably and let us through. When they left the cell, it was already dark. According to the plan, we were going to spend the night at the Kanevsky pier, but it turned out to be very crowded and noisy there. In addition, complete calm came with darkness, and with it hordes of mosquitoes appeared. After some discussion, we decided to move on. Distributed watch and went. Of course, I was afraid to leave Sergey alone, so I dozed in the cockpit during his watch. NightIt was quiet, moonlit, everything went off without incident.

Only in the evening over the left bank began to appear thunderstorm formations

Although at the same time everything remained beautiful over the right bank

At seven o'clock in the evening we safely entered the chamber of the Kremenchug lock. We were already half way down when another thunderstorm started. In such weather, I did not want to go into the night. On the right side, just below the gateway, there is a bay. We dived there, dropped anchor and stayed overnight.

It was the last "meteorological cataclysm" in this journey. The weather was fine the whole way home. They sailed only during the day, anchoring at night. Tailwind (from backstay to full haul) wind, changed from calm

up to 10 m/s

Sergey learned to work with sails and lock

And I enjoyed a pleasant, carefree sailboating :)

and looked at the local beauty

None of our old acquaintances were in the Dnepropetrovsk Yacht Club, but, nevertheless, we were again greeted very warmly and cordially

Again Zaporizhia Gateway

Museum of "Cossack History" on the island of Khortytsya

By the way, who will pass by, I recommend a visit. And those who have not been able to visit here on their own yet can see with my eyes :)

By the evening of the ninth of June, we broke out into the expanses of the Kakhovka reservoir

and at sunset they moored in their own sailboat club.

This is how our journey of 16 days and 860 m came to an end and ended successfully with a festive banquet :) Separately, I would like to express gratitude to the sailboatsmen of the Dnieper region, to everyone who met us, saw us off, and rendered all possible assistance. Guys, thank you for being you! And yet, do not be shy, tell us about your trips here, even if they were very short and seem insignificant to you. This will be appreciated by others who may benefit from your experience, help in a difficult situation or warn against unnecessary mistakes. Sohelp each other. Text author Alexander www.forum.katera.ru/index.php?/user/12719-alexandr29/