Worst Breakeages

Being hit by jeffers was a good one, but not my best. Sailing in to replace a broken trapeze wire at the Laser 5000 nats in Plymouth about 6 years ago. 2 sail reaching in about 3 foot waves, overtaking all the cruisers like they were standing still when we pitch poled it. Both of us went forward on our wires, my crew jumped and ended up about a boatlength in front of the boat, I caught my ankle on the shroud, and swung into the mast, whacking my back.

Looked at my toes which moved, and just then an RN frigate came round the corner, steaming for us, we were in the middle of the channel, My brother righted the boat and pulled me back on board, no damage to boat but back was killing me.

We sailed in, an 80 year old bloke helped us up the slip, and packed the boat up, and popped a load of pain killers. After a pint things didnt seem so bad, so went to the prize giving party. Next day, couldnt move, but knew the orthopod on call at the local hospital, so went home. Eventually went to get an xray, had fractured 3 lumbar vertebrae,  stable fractures, phew. 8 weeks out of boat!

Spoke to Andy Richards about what happened, at which point he said, yeah 2 sail reaching is dodgy in a 5 tonner in waves. Took about 5 years to overcome the fear at Lake Garda.

Otherwise best actual boat damage was done by brother who while making a tight turn towing 18 footer wiped out the carbon no1 rig on a tree, fortunately not far from home, feel sorry for the team that did the same getting off the ferry in Sardinia a few years ago.

Andy

Solution 416

watching a 3 boat pile up on the end of our start line was funny, considering the post marking the line has a nice big rusty cross on the top. result, 1 ripped laser sail, great big dent in side of said laser, smaller dent in side of buzz, wayfarer on the outside, undamaged.