Received: from hplms26.hpl.hp.com by opus.hpl.hp.com with SMTP (1.37.109.8/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1) id AA00555; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 18:00:01 -0700 Return-Path: <James.Paugh@Eng.Sun.COM-DeleteThis> Received: from mercury.Sun.COM by hplms26.hpl.hp.com with ESMTP ($Revision: 1.36.108.11 $/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1S) id AA186280399; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:59:59 -0700 Received: from Eng.Sun.COM by mercury.Sun.COM (Sun.COM) id RAA14636; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:49:48 -0700 Received: from jurassic.Eng.Sun.COM (jurassic-52.Eng.Sun.COM) by Eng.Sun.COM (5.x/SMI-5.3) id AA06567; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:49:44 -0700 Received: from jalama.Eng.Sun.COM by jurassic.Eng.Sun.COM (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id RAA26574; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:49:41 -0700 Received: by jalama.Eng.Sun.COM (SMI-8.6.9/SMI-SVR4) id RAA24091; Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:50:53 -0700 Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 17:50:53 -0700 From: James.Paugh@Eng.Sun.COM-DeleteThis (Jim Paugh) Message-Id: <199509140050.RAA24091@jalama.Eng.Sun.COM-DeleteThis> To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis Subject: Re: "Mission control, we have a problem" Cc: justin@mcm.com-DeleteThis X-Sun-Charset: US-ASCII
Congratulations on your safe return! Breaking down in a peak ebb just before
dark is bad news.
I've heard someone suggest carrying an 8mm "eye" bolt, that has threads that
can take a mast track nut, and a washer. This can be carried in a safety pack,
and fitted and tightened into the mast track in case of such a break down.
This would give you something to tie the mast base to securely. I'm not
currently carrying one, but I think it would be a good idea.
Get an ACR Firefly II strobe at West Marine. They run about $60, but are the
most reliable and compact. There's a West Marine in So. San Francisco, as well
as other places.
The SFBA put together safety kits, which include tow rope and flares
(some other items). The flares have been modified (sealed) to withstand
the constant submersion of windsurfing. All contained in a small bright
orange mesh bag, with straps to attach to your harness. Available at
Windsurf Warehouse, Helm of Sun Valley, Sausalito Sailboards, etc.
~Jim
> From justin@booza.mcm.com-DeleteThis Wed Sep 13 16:59:19 1995
> Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 16:57:35 -0700
> Originator: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
> From: justin@booza.mcm.com-DeleteThis (Justin Gordon)
> To: Multiple recipients of list <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>
> Subject: "Mission control, we have a problem"
> X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
> X-Comment: Windsurfing Discussion Mailing List
>
> Crissy report, Tue.
> Good wind on a big sail and big board, fog came in around 6:30, shutting
> down the wind on the inside. It was a good session until...
>
> Until yesterday evening, I felt completely safe at Crissy on my Sputnik 285 and
> a big sail. Even if the wind dies, I have been able to sail back to
> shore in almost no wind. I often sail to dark and sometimes and I am
> the last one to shore.
>
> At about 7:10 last night, I was about a half mile out from Anita Rock.
> There were a couple of sailors still out, but none anywhere near me.
> With darkness falling, I was intentionally sailing pretty close to shore.
> I went for a port tack, fell, and then to my horror, saw that my rig
> had separated from my board. It was still windy enough that somebody
> could tow me, but I had to find somebody. Luckily, Dianne Portnoy(?) saw
> me, sailed over, and decided that her 4.7 would not be large enough to
> tow me. She managed to find Adam Darieau, a proficient racer, who was sailing
> a 6.3 VX and a floaty Mike's Lab. He sailed out to me. I had already
> tied the base of my sail to my tow plug at the nose of the board. With the
> extra cord, Adam started to tow me. At first, the sail was floundering on
> the sides and underneath the board, creating tremendous drag. I managed
> to lay the boom on the top of the board, with the base up a the nose of the
> board. This helped greatly.
>
> Not only did I break down minutes before dark, but I found out today that
> it was at peak ebb of 4.3 knots! Adam managed to tow me just west of the old
> Coast Guard station, where I swam the last 50 yards in complete darkness.
> I was very happy when I stepped on solid ground. :-)
>
> Just then, a coast guard boat appeared. They asked Adam if he would be okay.
> Adam sailed back to Crissy in the dark, against the ebb!
>
> As I walked east down the beach toward the parking lot, I could see a car
> pull into the Coast Guard parking lot. It was Dianne. She gave me a ride
> back Crissy. We were a bit worried about Adam, but he quickly arrived safely.
>
> If this accident had happened 15 minutes earlier, when I had made a few reaches
> out toward the north tower, what would have happened? I could have ended up drifting
> in the darkness and fog to Point Bonita. By some fate, this did not happen.
>
> Also, I was lucky that I was carrying safety line. Without this piece of line,
> which weighed less than a couple ounces, and fit inside the pocket of my harness,
> the tow would have been impossible.
>
> I looked closely at my base. The bolt which holds the rubber hour-glass
> broke. I've only used this base a bit over one season, and not
> all the time.
>
> Has anybody else had this bolt break?
>
> How could I have prevented this?
>
> Is there any way to self rescue when this happens? I thought about tying the base
> to the mast track, but with darkness within 15 minutes, I choose the tow.
>
> What is the preferred placement and attachement for the rig when being towed.
> Once I got the boom on top of the board, drag seem minimal. However, this position
> was a bit awkward. With only one piece of rope, I don't know if I had any
> option.
>
> What is the best safety kit? Should I make my own or buy a pre-built one?
> Where is the best place to buy a water-proof strobe? I think that I might want to
> carry one of these in the future.
>
> Lastly, many thanks to Adam and Dianne. By looking out for each other, we
> avoid a potentially hazardous situation.
>
>
> Justin
>
> -----------------------------
> Justin Gordon
> 195 lb., Bic Saxo 265 (71L), F2 Sputnik 285 (115L),
> Sailworks Bravo 5.5 and 6.0, Prisma 6.8
>
> email: justin@mcm.com-DeleteThis _/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/
> _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
> Mellon Capital Management _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
> San Francisco, CA 94105 _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
> _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/_/ _/ _/ _/
>
>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Dec 10 2001 - 02:30:13 PST