Inspired by Sir Robin!

This year I tried to sail to the Shetlands in my Carter 30 Vic from Łeba, in Poland. The forecast stopped me going through Skagerrak, so I chose Limfjorden. I missed the last Oddesund bridge opening before it closed for maintenance and, with only one or two days to spare, I had to head home.

Halfway back through Limjorden, I ran aground. I noticed a couple on Danish boat, asked for help and they sailed over. The couple, in their 70s, were keen to help but didn’t know how to give a tow, and wrapped the rope around their prop. To rescue my boat, now I must rescue theirs.

I removed three or four loops but the rope was jammed round the shaft. I had almost given up when I remembered Sir Robin Knox-Johnston diving to clear a fishing net from the keel of Saga Insurance during The Velux 5 Oceans Race.

If he could do it in the Southern Ocean, I could do it here! I asked the Danish skipper for a knife, freed the prop, swam to and fro for 15 minutes to rig the tow and then I was towed off.

The Danes were very helpful, but Sir Robin’s psychological boost was priceless. Marek Rissmann