Sunday, May 31, 2009

catastrophy

Today my mast cmae down as I wass doing tacking practice down by the island, and I was getting somewhere when I did one last tack from port onto starboard, so I could be on the layline back to the club. But that was not meant to be, I tacked across, catapulted myself onto the new side, when I hear a bang and a screech and see myself going into windward and my mast going the other way.

First thought, oh shit, I was nowhere where anyone could rescue me, and therefor spent over an hour de-rigging my boat in the swell, and using the windward trampoline as a sail to slowly but surely make my way to the beach, about a half a kilometer away, the only fault, I was being pulled into the bay area from the suction flow, so as I got closer to the 'ladies beach' (where I am not allowed) I had to turn more upwind and attempt to get to the beach club next door.

Whilst I was drifting I had 4 boats come past, who neither were bother helping me, and even a coast guard helicopter hover above me and then do nothing.

Once I got to the beach I had to fight my way over a restriction line to stop swimmers going to deep, which wasnt easy with my foils still being in!

Once at the beach, three helpful lads came over to help me lift the boat onto the beach, after completing that effortful tast, as they had no-idea what to do, I went with one of them to borrow their mobile. There I called for help.

Joel our sailing manager then arrived on a rib, and we loaded the boat and gear up and drove back. At the club, I investigated the damage, and it didnt seem too bad. I only have to replace the shackle, bend the bracket back and find a new boom gooseneck shackle.

On the bright side, I tried my new 4-1 mainsheet purchase, and it is definetly the way to go!

-m

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