Helpless

Right after last full moon and after a little more work done in port, we anchored on the southeast coast of Mallorca in Ensenada de Rapita. It's a favorite bay of ours for it's long sandy beach and crystal clear water. There is plenty of room for a lot of boats without feeling crowded and the swimming is great. But we awoke early the first morning to rough, big waves and wind rolling in and making it a lee shore. Quickly climbing up into the cockpit we saw a boat already beached on shore and the people scurrying back and forth to the boat unloading it of their possessions. Then as we sat there watching and accessing our situation, another boat lost their anchor and began to drift  ashore. And helplessly we watched as that boat pounded into shore and the people all jumped into the water and scrambled to the beach. No one was hurt, but everyone lost so much....
Before we could lift our own anchor and head out, two boats directly behind us got into trouble---one couldn't get their anchor up and were out of control and the other lost their rudder and couldn't control their boat. Once again we were unable to help them as we couldn't leave our own boat in such rough conditions. Thankfully, both were finally able to control their boats before hitting us or going aground. We pulled up anchor and headed into the pounding wind and waves, but safe and sound.
We never get used to the feeling of helplessness that is often the reality of life on the sea. It's not as though you can just stop, get off and help those in need. Sometimes yes, but more often no. Our foundation is the ever moving sea and nothing is stable. Which of course, is also our constant learning and reminder of the ever-changing, transient nature of life itself. A great teacher, a up-in-your-face kind of teacher, that you can't ignore when you live in such close quarters with Mother Nature herself. And for that learning we are always thankful.
As far as the "helplessness", that is something we must experience from time to time, but we always remind ourselves that we are not "powerless". There is a difference....