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No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I know the boat was designed as a 3 man boat...

I know it shouldnt be sailed solo...

Especially in a force 6 wind...

With gusts of force 7+....

But....
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I turned the boat and pushed it in.

Getting back off the ramp, into the wind on my own was er....interesting.

Managed it though.

I set the boat on a screaming reach off the slip, heading out behind Brownsea.

I tore past Mr Captain who turned and headed back into Parkstone Bay.

I kept going for a couple of miles before turning and hammering back.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I was seeing how fast I could get it to go.

I pulled the front sail until the tell tales were streaming back...

I was sat up on the side, with the tiller extension in one fist so I could reach to steer....

I had a fist full of main sheet - the rope thatpulls in the back sail in the other fist and was leaning back trying to get enough pull to keep the sail in...

I had to move out some more. I had my toes stuck under the lip on the centre case. My rear completely off the side and was almost hanging off the rope.

The nose of the boat would hit a wave and send spray 6 ft up the sails and all over me.

It was like hammering through clouds....

Any mistake would tip me over.

Exhillerating!
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
The boat was banging over the surface like a speedboat.

Planing.

I thought about it.

I decided that if I shifted my weight back another foot, it would lift the nose a bit more and would probably make me go faster.

I was still 3/4 miles away out from the slip...
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I shuffled back...

As I did so, I moved my feet back a bit more.

I had forgotten there was no lip that far back on the centre case, as it tpaers off towards the floor.

340.jpg
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I started slipping off the side of the boat.

I yanked on the steering stick, which was already bending where I had the boat so far out of shape...

I sort of spun round on the side of the boat on my rear and managed to swing round on to my back on the side.

Too fast.

My head smacked into one of the mainsail rope brackets on the back of the boat.

(see the fittings on the rear corners - this pic is of a different trip).

4463.jpg


I think I knocked myself out.

Next thing I know was the shock of the water going up my nose as I sucked in breath.

I was in the water off the back.

The boat was sailing away without me!

I sill had the rope in my fist.

I panicked and gave it a huge yank to try to pull the boat back.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I knew I wasnt thinking straight, but curiously, wasnt actually very concerned.

I had never tipped it over before and had never done a capsize drill, where you get the boat upright again and get back in.

I looked round and watched Mr Captain tip his over as well.

He was about half a mile away.

The centreboard was stuck out the bottom of my boat, which was on its side.

I grabbed the board and pulled, trying to turn the boat back.

It moved a bit but looked like the board would snap first.

I had to stop to cough out some more water. It was mainly coming out of my nose.

When you go to pull your boat up again, you should always turn it into the wind first, so the wind doesnt just stop it by blowing it flat again.

I wasnt consious enough to work that out.

There was a rope from the big front spinnaker sail hung over the side of the boat by the shroud.

It was only a 6mm, quarter of an inch thick rope, but....

I wrapped it round my wrist and pulled.

It moved a bit.

I sort of stood on the bottom of the boat, lying flat on the water and pulled.

THe boat started to move.

It took several goes as the waves kept going over my head, and I just didnt seem to be able to get the hang of not breathing while I was under.

I was really cold.

I managed to drag it upright, despite the wind hitting the sails as it came up.

I managed to wrap my arm around the shroud - the side wire that holds the mast in place.

I couldnt drag myself over the side.

Each time I tried, I would sort of end up under the side of the boat, which was leaning away from me.

Mr Captain had tipped his boat over onto the other side and was still in the water too.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Brainwave!

As the other side was lower, I would swim round that side and get in!

Still no thought happening as to why the other side was lower....
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I let go and swam round.

This took a lot longer than I sort of thought it would.

Never occurred to me that the boat would start to blow away from me as soon as I let go of it.

I stopped feeling cold and started feeling warm again.

I got round to the other side.

It was a lot lower. I could almost swim in.

Not quite though.

I grabbed the shroud on this side and pulled myself towards it.

I watched as the mast kept getting closer and getting faster as it aproached.

Still no thought about what was happening.

It hit me.

Hard.

On the top of my head.

With a clunk.

I took a quick breath to swear at it as it sort of shocked me.

The water I breathed didnt burn as much as the earlier stuff...

I started sliding under.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I still hadnt worked out I ws in trouble.

Serious trouble.

In fact, I wasnt going to make it.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
Tere was this voice that sort of jogged me....

"I say..."

"Do you require any sort of assistance?"

How does anyone sound that upper class?

I sort of rolled over and pulled my face out of the water...

There was this mostache peering down at me.

It was fixed on a face that was looking down at me.

It was on a yacht.

This stuff was taking a while to make it through my stupor.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
"Er....yes..."

"I seem to be having some difficulty pushing my boat back to the slipway...er...."

Brains definitely not working.

"Well, we should be able to manage that, but first, we do need to get you out from under there as you would be in the way."

Er.....No Idea what hes talking about.

"We really should try to get you up here out of the drink. It must be rather cold. Do you feel cold?"

"Er...Cold?...Er no Im feeling warm....Dont know why...Er...."

There were two women who apeared and stared at me sort of fussing. They all seemed in agreement that I needed to get on their boat and drink some tea.

Tea with sugar in.

Er....but I dont like sugary tea...

Worked out I wasnt thinking very well.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
How they managed to get my bulk onto their yacht, I have No Idea. Somehow they managed it. Not sure I was any help at all. I didnt even know how close I was to passing out and not waking up again.

My skin was a sort of grey colour. I suppose only wearing a summer wetsuit with short arms and legs didnt exactly help.

They insisted I drink the tea, and sit down. I started shaking so violently that tthe tea started jumping out of the second cup they insisted I drink. I couldnt hold it for very long as it felt like my skin was catching fire, as well as the coughing nearly knocking my head off.

I didnt feel too good.

Turned out one of the women was a doctor. She said I had hypothermia. I was trying to think about that. Couldnt quite make up my mind if it was a disease or a drug. EIther way I decided I sould deny all knowledge.

Would have been good if I could have stopped shaking.

The man managed to get hold of my boats painter - a rope thats tied to the bow to moor it, and was trying to tow it.

I noticed that mone of my paddles had come unfastened and was drifting away.

This really upset me. FOr some reason I was terrified I might lose it.

I noticed another boat arrive.

It was Mr Captain. I didnt know he was out today! What a nice surprise!. He was really good. He stopped and got my paddle. Iwas so grateful, I was nearly tearful over it.

The fornt sail started to come out of its tube and spread out over the water.

I decided I needed to do something about it and was half off the back of the yacht when the man grabbed m and made me sit.

I growled at him. He threatened to kill me if I didnt sit still and drink some more tea. He said I wasnt thinking straight and I must Sit.

I had sort of worked out I asnt thinking very well, so I sort of did what I as told. Decided that once I could think again, I would go sort out my sail.

He cut the ropes to the sail, bundled it up and put it on his deck.

Mr Captain arrived.

We were near the shore by then.

He parked his boat, droped his sail, then dived in and swam to my boat.

He somehow managed to right it.

It was really low in the water, but within 40 yards of the shore.

I thanked my rescuers and grabbed my sail and jumped overboard and waded back to my boat.

Mr Captain and I dragged it back to the shore.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
We pulled it up onto the beach and tried bailing it.

The effort actually got me feeling a hell of a lot worse.

I ws still coughing out water - most of it out my nose, and I was still shaking like i was going to fall apart.

And hurting like I had needles stuck in me everywhere.

Mr Captain said I had to keep moving or he would sink my boat.

Didnt understand why at the time.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
The boat was sort of floating with just the front deck out of the water, and the back under.

I decided I would just drag it back as it was as I was now about 300 yards from the slipway.

100 yards to go...

I was thinking again. Nose was still leaking and I was still shaking, but getting stronger.

There was this voice...

"I thought you had gone and left me here"

The boyfriend. Seems he had drunk his coke and was worried and bored.

I gave him some more money for another coke and he went off all happy.
 

No Idea

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 18, 2010
2,420
0
Dorset
I got the boyfriend to help me get th boat back out as I just wasnt strong enough, and to get it packed up.

There was somethign seriously wrong with the boat, but I didnt have the strength, brainpower or inclination to deal with it.

I just started the car and dragged it home.
 

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