Since this cruiser-wake-caused ejection in 2003 (from my Hobie-cat-18), I've had a total of three memorable "events".
Quote:
"I was thrown out of my 18' sailboat this morning.
"Fortunately, I had sailed a good 3-hour "pre-anarchy" morning sail, was wearing my usual PFD, the water was warm, many boats around, not far from shore -- and my boat didn’t sail off without me.
"Not that it could -- my left ankle had gotten wrapped in a rope and I was being dragged behind. The moving water made a sea-anchor of out my PFD, though, and had caused no end of exertion to unwrap my ankle.
"I paused for breath before dragging myself back into my boat. The whole episode lasted about 1½ minutes from full-gainer to belly-on-board, but Yellow Boater (+dog) stood by until I waved him “OK”.
"The MP stopped by about five minutes later, and ticketed a nearby sailboat! The day wasn't over yet, though, as my boat was later driven against the dock and shattered my trusty 2X4 rafting fender. (The fender gave its life to save my boat).
"There’s definitely more “throw-weight” out there this year than last year.
"Thanks again, Yellow Boater (+dog).
"I.R. (grateful)"
|
A year or two later in
The Broads, a sudden wind-gust caught me in my smallest (and most demanding) sailboat: over I went, and began to "upright" my boat.
Along comes this pontoon boat, whose captain asks, "Do you need help?" I answered, "No, but thank you for stopping." It didn't do any good, as a passenger dove right in!
Upright again in a few seconds, I waved a "Thank You", and continued on my way—
uneventfully.
The second occasion, having furled my sail tightly during a sudden drop in the wind, I was a few minutes from home—while paddling "energetically". Even though a huge black cloud was approaching
a PWC asked if I needed a tow.
I accepted, after pointing out that they were
also about to suffer some inconvenience from the same approaching thunderstorm "event".
Everybody got home OK before the skies opened up—so
my experiences, at least, have been very heart-warming.
FLL, you need to capsize more often! 