Another Safety Comment + Maui Near-Drowning

From: David R. Fielder (dfielder@cooper.cpmc.org-DeleteThis)
Date: Wed Apr 15 1998 - 18:11:11 PDT


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Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 17:11:11 -0800
To: wind_talk@jr.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
From: dfielder@cooper.cpmc.org-DeleteThis (David R. Fielder)
Subject: Another Safety Comment + Maui Near-Drowning

Got back from Maui late Sunday but just got thru all posts re the Carlos
incident. Am firm believer in redundancy re safety gear and am further
convinced after reading all responses that Chinook base with two bolts into
mast track is only way to go, having had single bolt star base slip out
once many years ago (am aware this was not what happened to Carlos). Short
of board mast track disintigration, almost inconceivable that Chinook base
could ever come loose or both bolts break. Of course, that makes it harder
to remove and essentially impossible to adjust on the water, because, even
with built in bolt wrench, wouldn't want to disconnect base mechanism to
adjust it (if possible in chop, anyway!), plus maybe it's one ounce
heavier.

After severe face plant into boom in Kanaha/Camp One waves gave me the best
black eye ever, with helmet on, am considering the metal face protector
addition to Deluge helmet. Very glad I missed eating it or would still be
at dentist.

Last item is that the final Maui newspaper I saw, dated 4/12, had front
page article on near-drowning of windsurfer at Kanaha on 4/10 - a
wild/windy/rainy day. A "very accomplished" windsurfer (Hi-Tech employee)
was found floating face down near his gear in Kanaha surf by another sailor
who proceeded to hold victim's head up for 30 minutes in the surf until
helicopter rescue, prompted by someone on shore noticing problem and
calling it in. Rescuer had to abandon his own gear to save the guy (later
recovered in downwind harbor). Victim was given CPR and was in intensive
care - not good sign. Update from anyone who knows more would be
appreciated. Obviously, there are significant risks in any
conditions/circumstances.
        David

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