Coast rescue

windward1 · Joined: 18 Jun 2000 Posts: 1400

So CHOPHOP, where was the mast breakage point?

prevett · Joined: 25 Jun 1997 Posts: 65

chophop · Joined: 16 Apr 1996 Posts: 230

The break was maybe one foot above ferrule. No prior warning or mark, Jybed and bang! OOps... shit Sad

chophop · Joined: 16 Apr 1996 Posts: 230

News Flash! Just got a call from a Lady in Monterrey. She found my boom while jogging on the beach in Monterrey.
I had de rigged and put the boom on top of the board. That means that the board, with boom on top, drifted all of the way to Monterrey!
I think that is 65 miles!

No sign of the board I'm guessing someone grabbed it off the beach.
Smile

higgybaby · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 149

You obviously didn't do a lot of paddling if you still had your boom on your board. That's pretty hard to understand considering the water you were bobbing around in.

It doesn't sound like you were trying very hard to save yourself. You should try harder next time.

boggsman1 · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 9120 Location: at a computer

Chophop
Two questions:why did you lose your board? did you ditch it when the coast guard picked you up?
How hard was it to operate your radio? with 30kt winds, freezing water, big swells, a touch of panic....
Thanks

rich1 · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 156

Boy, some of you guys are harsh!

I doubt there are very many of us on this list who haven't put ourselves in a spot where a broken mast, or ujoint could have put us in pretty much the exact same position.

My personal MO is to never sail farther out than I could swim back with out any gear, but that doesn't mean I don't end up reaching out a bit too far every now and then.

I for one can replay a few close calls where I got separated from my gear far enough from shore that if my herculean effort to barely catch it while the wind was taking it away had failed, it would have resulted in a very long swim. I've also had my U joint separate from the board a few times and still managed to get them re attached, but fate could have easily gone the other way.

The Coast Guard, water patrol, et al are there specifically for such eventualities, there is no shame in calling them in to save your life.

Chophop has nothing to apologize for to anybody.

Plus, he lost somewhere around 2500 bucks worth of stuff that day. That sucks!

Chris

loosescrew · Joined: 28 May 2001 Posts: 95

The key point is that this rescue situation was completely preventable, and should serve as a learning experience.[quote]

Prevett you have it all wrong... some situations are not preventable and yes you shouldn't sail out further than you can swim, however, how many of us take that chance every day we sail out on the ocean. I know for a fact that I am not a strong swimmer but I still go out in logo sets and hope for the best. Sometimes ego gets the best of us.

loosescrew · Joined: 28 May 2001 Posts: 95

The key point is that this rescue situation was completely preventable, and should serve as a learning experience

Prevett you have it all wrong... some situations are not preventable and yes you shouldn't sail out further than you can swim, however, how many of us take that chance every day we sail out on the ocean. I know for a fact that I am not a strong swimmer but I still go out in logo sets and hope for the best. Sometimes ego gets the best of us.[/quote]

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

Once upon a time I thought windsurfers were a great group of people. Very supportive and not judgemental. It appears that group died off or left this forum. I miss them.

Yep ALL windsurfing problems are preventable........ by not going windsurfing. But that isn't why most of us are here.

Poo happens. To all of us. I hope when it happens to you people are more supportive.

Glad you made it back in one piece and gained some experience.

As a NoLimitz user I am also curious about any information you gain about how your mast failed...