Hey, this is rather embarrassing for me, but I had to ditch my rig this arvo at wello. I wasnt able to get waterstarting again and the wind had really dropped right off plus it was getting dark.

I had to ditch my Sailworks NX2 9.0mtr on a 100% Sailworks Speedstick with a Prolimit Boom. all rigged etc etc I just ending up paddeling in on my board with a tear in my eye... This is the most embarrassing thing to happen to me on the water.

It was on the western side of wello about 500 meters out at mid tide. Im guessing at high tide it would be quite a way out.

If any one finds it please feel free to call me, Im prepared offer a reward if its recovered. 0422953909 anytime.

the really good thing is that hobie made it back to his computer.

Comrade Hobie
Sorry to hear of this for you, I hope this rig turn up and someone call for you telling them they have finding of it.
In the past when i have been force to paddel in (gear breakage or wind drop) I have de-rig gear in water and tying of it all together on boom.
roll up sail with mast inside and then sit the sail on boom and tie with out haul rop at one end and uphaul at other.
Leave mast foot and extension on board and then put boom on top (with extension sitting between boom.
You can then be lying on the gear and paddel board in.
It not overly comfortable and you will also have to be either taking of your harness off or turning it backwards so hook not stick in board.
Sail may get a few crease but at least you still have all your gear !
I also keep length of outhaul rope on my harness spreader bar for tying of things together in emergency

Good news took my canoe out this morning with a mate and we recovered the rig nothing missing or broken. Never thought I would see it again atleast in one peice.

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How'd you go with the wide board Hobie, I wore the insides of my arms raw on the non skid.

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My board is 74cm wide, I didnt find it had to paddle in at all.

Good to hear Hobie,

Was it still floating?

If anyone hasn't read the pages linked to on the following page then spend half an hour, it could save your gear from getting lost!
http://www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=6&article_type=11

and also some ideas on towing:
www.boards.co.uk/articles/index.asp?ID_A=23&article_type=11

Hey Nebbian, thats great info in those articles, I just wish I had read them before , I had never thought of putting my sail inside my mates and getting him to sail the two rigs in at once. That would have been perfect.

When we found the rig the tip of the mast was just sticking up out of the water about 20cm high, the mast base had sunk to the bottom. I measured the depth using the mast and it was exactly the length of the top half of my 490. So it wasnt very deep although we were about 800-900 meters off the shore line.

Im just not going out in light winds like that again, I knew I shouldnt bother but I did. My mistake - one I wont be making again. I might get myself another formular board and use that as my light wind board, one day down the track....

Man your a Lucky bugger Hobie better buy a lotto ticket I recon.
I had a mate ditch his gear once a bit futher out.
He went back the next day with his boat but never found it..
Once my board seperated from my sail I left the board swam my rig in derig and drove around to birkdale and there was my board pretty lucky.

Part of a reason i always sail floaters

Id thought about not posting anything until I had had another look for the gear this morning, but from all the responses you guys are giving its a good post in terms of making people aware of the best ways to get back in (with your gear). In my opinion also choosing the right gear for the day was a big thing, I should have been on a bigger board which I could have been on.

Thanks for the responses guys. Especially nebbian for the links to the articles, they are awesome!

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Once my board seperated from my sail I left the board swam my rig in derig and drove around to birkdale and there was my board pretty lucky.

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How did that work for you Vando, swiming your rig in? that must have been a challenge? Isnt the golden rule to stick with your board no matter what? But having said that, the board will float and be easy to spot for a recovery later on. I dont think I would be game to be swimming my rig in from open waters...

Stick with your board - ditch the rig if you have to!!.

Your life vs cost of rig - simple choice in my books!

- J