Speaking of taking things out with a mast... my buddy rigged his Hobie Cat and realized he did it in the wrong spot- there was an overhead line between the boat and the ramp. He thought he could clear it... he was wrong. He hit the line with his mast and took out a good chunk of power on the military base where the ramp is. I got a chuckle out of that... but I knock on wood.
On a related note- the first time I took the boat out I forgot to put the ring ding in the forestay pin. After 10 minutes of sailing the whole rig came down in slow motion. No one was hurt. I was able to get everthing together and in the mast crutch (which was in fortunately). Now I double and triple check everything and know what to look for. It did take a small chunk off the companionway hatch. My wife was real impressed with me too. She still looks at the mast with some remaining doubt that it will stay up.
This whole thing happened after some color at the dock trying to launch not realizing the shift cable was broken and the boat was stuck in forward- so I start up and go forward at the ramp, then I try to back up- forward, add power in reverse- forward even faster. What fun. That was the first trip.
The very next trip I went into really rough waters, ran out of fuel and watched the whole family (wife and 3 kids) projectile vomit down below as the bow submarined through every other wave (really choppy). Going upwind she would scream at me to stop healing so I had nothing to move us- getting dark she threatened to call for help on the radio. I knew she would sound crazy so I called the coast guard. We anchored and the coast guard came and got us- nightime rescue- a bit surreal. I think I am a better sailor now- I hope so anyway. (There is also the time I got stuck a mile from shore on a windsurfer I didn't know how to use and swam back pulling the windsurfer through jelly fish infested waters as it got dark.) Why is it on the water stories seem so dramatic?
Jeff S
