My Hero
I always admired my father
My hero will always be my father
a brave moment I will never forget
I was only 16 when we were shipwrecked
young inexperienced frightened and wet.
I always admired my Dad
he taught me skills I have to this day
he instilled adventure in my blood
particularly one night at Batemans Bay.
The sea is an unpredictable element
and when mixed with a southerly gale
this fateful night in October
my Dad was ill and deathly pale.
We were sailing in an ocean race
Sydney Montague Island and return
dad was laid low with a stone in the kidney
much to my own and the crew’s concern.
We’d rounded Montague Island
and shortened sail as the wind raged
then set course headed for Sydney
and the young crew all visibly aged.
Wet and cold and windy
the sea and the sky black as ink
we were shocked to hit a sandbank
and I thought we were going to sink.
Then Dad emerged from his sick bed
and took command as the yacht slewed
and slid off a sand bank
and re harnessed the elements mood.
He found a winch handle next to the compass
and set a new course out to sea
to avoid the treacherous shoreline
the yacht Dad the young crew and me.
Dad then disappeared down below
thinking the peril was past
but how wrong he was the song of the wind
was soon to be the yachts last gasp.
We only saw the rocks the last minute
that we hit at considerable speed
tearing the keel and bottom to shreds
that’s when I knew Dad was one of a breed.
We were shipwrecked on Tollgate Island
at the entrance of Batemans Bay
the yacht sunk almost immediately
and Dad held me as we were deluged in spray.
I said are we going to drown
he said of course not you’re safe with me
I must say I never believed him
and felt we’d all be claimed by the sea.
The wild waves clawed at our bodies
clasping to the rocks for dear life
my father was calm clear and unrelenting
with wit and strength as sharp as a knife.
In the morning on the dawning
we all took to our life raft
and paddled to the lee of the island
then with sheer delight Dad laughed.
There were two fishing trawlers
sheltering from the gale and seas
and we were soon taken aboard
away from the waves and breeze.
Later they took us back to Ulladulla
to the port below where I sit now
and to my father who now has gone
I take a final bow.
He will always be my hero
above others my father stands out
he taught me that what ever the odds are
never for one moment doubt.
So that’s the story of my hero
he was selflessness brave and bold
a story that just seems like yesterday
through the years I have retold.
©
David Rudder
21st July 2015
Thanks for reading.
