2 Mishaps in 1 Day
Sunny, 80 temp, and super windy all day. This is the stuff dreams are made of! I can't believe that days like this really happen in New England. I was there and I still don't believe it. Windsurfing mishap- Gerry and I stopped to help a fellow windsurfer who was down on his luck. His mast base had separated from his board while he was sailing. It was a star base and I'm sure it got loose, slid back and came out of the opening to the mast track, which was in the back of the track. It was really hard to get that bugger back in while bobbing around in the water. This has happened to me too but I haven't had the problem since I started using 2 bolt bases. We got it reconnected eventually and no one was any worse for wear. The unfortunate windsurfer was very appreciative. Kiting mishap- I saw my first kiting mishap and I wasn't even kiting. I met Jason, a kiter who was waiting for his no-show slacker friends. I offered to sail up to kite beach and help him launch his kite. He walked his gear up. When I got there, I realized that there were plenty of other kiters to help Jason. He offered to let me try bodydragging with his 11M kite but a voice of reason, which is sometimes almost silent in my head, spoke out loud and clear. "Thanks but I think it's too windy for me." As I was about to head back out on the water I heard a shout. I looked up to see someone standing in the middle of some kite lines, helping to land a kite that was barely in control. As I watched, the kite blew out of his grip. The lines were taught, the guy was trapped, and I knew that if the kite took off this guy could be sliced and diced. I thought to myself, "that is a position that I really don't want to be in". Fortunately, Phil of Inland Sea grabbed the kite along with Jason and averted a disaster. Lesson learned. Windsurfed, West Dennis, WSW 15-30, 5.2/RW85, With Gerry, others, kiter Jason. |
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8 comments:
Wow, that guy was using an 11 meter kite on that day? That sounds awfully big for those conditions! The guys I know who were kiting were using 7s and 8s.
Glad nobody got hurt. Geez.
Wish I could have gotten out a third day in a row, but I paid some domestic dues instead, which was nice, too.
Oh yeah, 1-bolt bases. Warning, Will Robinson! Danger! I haven't been doing this sport long, but I've already seen mast base separation 3 or 4 times. I've decided that 2-bolt bases are as essential to safe sailing as checking your gear every time you go out. Yeah, you can't adjust them quite as much, but really,
2 or 3cm in each direction from the center is plenty of room to radically alter the board's performance.
Two bolt bases are always the call, and make sure the safetly line between top and bottom is in good condition (they're selling unis now with a web strap...looks even more robust). If your uni breaks, stick a bootie under the mast base extension to try and minimize deck damage while you sail back.
Kites are dangerouser than windsurf stuff.
Seems draconian I know, but I never help kiters, and avoid them like the plague. I don't want their widows sueing me. period
Seems draconian I know, but I never help kiters, and avoid them like the plague. I don't want their widows sueing me. period
Sunday I was caught between the rock and the hard place with kiters dominating one end of the pond and boaters all of the rest. However, I prefer kiters to boaters/jetskiers. Once I was caught between the lines of a run-a-way pair of kites that hit my rig and knocked it over. The best approach is to drop everything and take a deep dive. Unfortunately for me at that time, the water was shallow. The best approach would be to do a little kiting yourself and then you know some of the dynamics. Whatever, I use the two bolt 90% of the time now. Recently I bought a brand new Chinook star for my older Mistral Energy. It screws right into the adjustable mast track. This way it won't slip out. Otherwise, one must make sure the screw-in is super tight. I carry a rubber hammer to loosen one if I do use it.
Hey Steve - I knew that you were going to get a kite sooner or later ;)
Glad to see that you're having fun while optimizing New England's infamous summer winds...
Here I am in Chicago, one 6.5 sesh so far, and a bunch of WSers that told me about all these spots that I should check...
Have fun!!!
Juan
Juan It's great to hear from you! The weather and wind have been so bad here that some of us are looking for alternatives, such as frontal labotomies, kiting, etc. I hope you get your loops in windy Chicago!
Snowy Guy- It sounds like we have the same kite, Ballstic Burner 3.6. I love the kite for land use.
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