BigD
Log Started:
Monday July 12, 2004
Total Records: 265
This Year: 11
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Saturday March 18, 2006
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Ross Bay, Windsurfing
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Saturday March 18, 2006
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Conditions
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TOW
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Toys Used:
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Ross Bay, Windsurfing
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SW 18 - 24
flat except near clover
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2.50 hours
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Starboard GO 190L
Sailworks Retro 8.0
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Perfect 8.0 weather. Sunny and flat. New boom and new harness so the first few runs were spent fiddling with harness line placement and length. Finally got my groove on and played around out past clover point where the wind was steady and the water flat. The new 2005 Retro is a huge improvement from the 2001 model.
Decided to cruise in a bit closer to shore and SNAP. My 480 North Xcellerator finally packed it in just above the boom. My first concern was my new 8.0. Looked OK so I swam around and untied the clew from the boom and put the boom up on the board and tied it to a foot strap. I pulled my new three piece mast out of the luff and wedged the pieces under the footstraps. Next I rolled up the sail, leaving it connected to the mast base and rolled it right up onto the board. OK gear is fine but I have a good 20-30 min swim ahead of me to shore. As I got closer to shore I noticed that there are a good 10-15 people standing around watching me swim in, one lady is waving a white towel at me. I decided just to keep swimming because I was making progress and I didn't want to alarm anyone further with a hand signal that might look like I was asking for help. I know what the distress hand signal looks like but I didn't think the 'thumbs up' would have much effect from a few hundred feet away.
When I got to shore several people asked if I was OK, one guy offered me a sleeping bag but I sheepishly thanked them let them know that I was fine and that my main concern was finding a new mast. A few seconds later the police showed up, the cop told me an ambulance and boat were on the way. Once he realized I was fine he called them off and took down my name. I thanked him and apologized for causing any trouble and he left.
Not sure what the moral of the story is. Sail with a buddy? Don't use 10yr old masts? Stay close to shore? I was just glad I have a good 5-4 wetsuit and a life jacket and that the tide was just starting to come in. I may have needed the boat if the tide was going out although clover point was pretty close...
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