Re: Lost Board

From: Ed Scott (edscott@best.com-DeleteThis.com)
Date: Tue Jul 17 2001 - 16:27:00 PDT

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User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 16:27:00 -0700
Subject: Re: Lost Board
From: Ed Scott <edscott@best.com-DeleteThis.com>
To: <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>
Message-ID: <B77A17D4.5B03%edscott@best.com-DeleteThis.com>
In-Reply-To: <200107162142.f6GLgHw22109@scv2.apple.com-DeleteThis.com>

on 7/16/01 2:43 PM, Francois Jouaux at fjouaux@apple.com-DeleteThis.com wrote:

> The same thing happened to me a couple years ago in the channel at 3rd. This
> is is the breakage that freaks me the most. People say that you can swim fast
> and catch your board but I seriously doubt it, especially at the conclusion
> of a jibe, wearing a life jacket, etc...

I broke a uni on a 3.5 day *inside* the channel marker at Third sailing on a
3.9. I ended up holding the rig while the board skated away from me at top
speed. I only thought for an instant, ditched my rig and swam after my
board. I figured I needed the flotation more than the sea-anchor, and it
was almost a reflexive response. I don't wear a PFD and my board didn't get
caught by a gust, so I was lucky to catch up with it. My rig disappeared in
the swells shortly thereafter and it's probably resting comfortably at the
bottom of the Bay. Thankfully, it was a flood tide and I was just carried
down to one of the bail-out beaches. As Pierre says, "the flood is your
friend."

I'm glad I swam after my board instead of holding onto my rig - this was
around the same time that we almost lost Carlos when he held onto his rig
while his board blew away. He was lucky to be found by his buddy later on
after finally ditching the rig and rescued by the Coast Guard after becoming
quite hypothermic.

> Luckily someone found me and then the board and we reattached after 30 min.
> That's a reason to not give up your rig too soon (except if it decides to
> sink!!).

That is lucky!

> Since this incident I use double nut bases and an extra tie between the mast
> track and the sail. I just have to succeed as many jibes on one side as the
> other...

I, too, use double nut bases, but you want to check them frequently, since
most of use just put the plate on the board and leave it on. I had one
loosen up and almost come loose at the Delta one time. A buddy recently had
a similar experience at the Coast.

> You definitely do not want to swim from a mile out in the bay without a board
> !

Amen, brother!

For what it's worth, a harness line breakage is almost as bad as a uni
failure, though you are not faced with the dilemma of what to save. When
you're hooked in at warp speed and your line breaks, your gear can go
flying. Happened to me one time on the outside at Davenport. You've never
seen someone swim so fast in your life!

-Ed

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