I managed to break a mast foot about 1km of Dutch Inn today (Sunday 24th Feb). This left me with little choice but to dump the rig and paddle in. Thanks to the 2 Windsurfers who stopped to try and help.
If anyone hears about the rig washing up (my guess anywhere between Cottesloe and Trigg) then I'd really appreciate the call - number below. I dunno, maybe it'll just sink!
Sail is a Gaastra Manic 5m 2011 (White & Red) with a Gaastra 4m Mast.
Cheers
Stu
0407 293 755

what a find!

big on the beer ecomony!!

It was half covered by sand. 7-8m deep.
After I pulled it out, it was easy to drag it slowly to the shore. Only a few 00 meters.

The mast is in brand new condition.

Stu , thanks for the beer

Thanks again Obelix.
I still can't believe you found the rig and managed to get it ashore. My lucky day!
Enjoy the beer!

Windxtasy said...
Obelix you must have been really excited to be able to return the rig to it's owner.
That's at least three amazing 'rig-lost-at-sea returned to owner' stories I've heard lately.
We should compile them into a thread/ book somewhere.

I have dumped my rig (powerex mast, 5.7 Severne Blade, Chinook boom) in Lano (somewhere outside between Mainbreak and Hole in the wall) in Novmeber and haven't reported my tragic loss as I thought that it had sunk straight away.
Anyway, now I feel encouraged - let me know if it has turned up somewhere between Wedge and Gero (or Exmouth).

Stu, You should post a link to the footage of your big swim to round out this cool story. Does the footage include the vomit at the end?

Looks like the tendon didn't break... what did?

Stu ,,why did you dump the rig!

deejay8204 said...

westhammer said...
Stu ,,why did you dump the rig!

Was it not possible to derig and paddle the lot in?

I did this once and derigged, paddled in. Took me quite a while, but I made it. Actually had snapped the mast.

Really enjoyed this read, also loved the GoPro footage. Glad it was a happy ending for you Stu.

I have had this happen several times over the years, de rigging in strong winds and choppy seas can be chaos trying to hold board then de rig holding mast,boom,extension, roll sail up, etc.

I found what has worked for me is to tie the down haul rope to the rear foot strap that way it stays together, and paddle in towing the rig and stay in between the waves, if ya catch a wave . you end up with the rig over taking you

Have used this method in 35knts, 4-5ft surf and made it safely back to the beach

Why didnt one of the other guys sailing there tow it in for u. Wounld'nt
have been hard, tie down haul around back strap & go. its slow but u
have ya rig.
maybe its a WA thing, Diff here if someone
brakes stuff.

Rus13b said...
Why didnt one of the other guys sailing there tow it in for u. Wounld'nt
have been hard, tie down haul around back strap & go. its slow but u
have ya rig.
maybe its a WA thing, Diff here if someone
brakes stuff.

same here in SA last easter I broke a mast out the back of surfbeach at beachport and had help straight away, timmy towed my sail in and scotty helped me in on my board. fantastic effort in a good cross shore swell.
i was quite happy to sit on the board and come in around the bay a bit but the guys where very persistent that that would help out.

StuHolloway said...
I thought it was great of the 2 guys to stop and help as they did. One bloke suggested trying to tow the rig in, but it was my decision to dump it. I've never seen a small waveboard towing a rig through the water but I guess it's something to try if it ever happens again !
BTW, I've also been told that you can waterstart and sail with a broken rig lying against the sail and inside the boom of a good rig.... masts and booms close together... anyone else tried this?

explain that last bit again Stu . . . . ?

This might sound stupid, but surely there would be a way to lash the base to the mast track to get you in? Using uphaul/rope, put a large knot that slides into the track & lash it around the base a few times? (clove hitch, prussik etc.?) It wouldn't be pretty, but should get you up & sailing - carefully.

Sputnik11 said...

StuHolloway said...
I thought it was great of the 2 guys to stop and help as they did. One bloke suggested trying to tow the rig in, but it was my decision to dump it. I've never seen a small waveboard towing a rig through the water but I guess it's something to try if it ever happens again !
BTW, I've also been told that you can waterstart and sail with a broken rig lying against the sail and inside the boom of a good rig.... masts and booms close together... anyone else tried this?

explain that last bit again Stu . . . . ?

Yup, I can confirm that this is possible. I've rescued two rigs this year by doing this.

1) If the rig to be rescued is the same size or smaller than the good rig, undo the outhaul on the rig to be rescued. Extend the boom by 20 cm. Retighten the outhaul if possible. This is so you can do step 2.

2) Slot the rig to be rescued over the top of the good rig. Put the mast on the leeward side of the good rig. Because the boom has been lengthened the boom of the rescued rig should sit right on top of the boom of the good rig.

3) Kick like hell to waterstart. Sail in and secure the rescued rig on the beach.

4) Sail back out to keep an eye on your new best friend as they paddle home on their board. Option is to tow them home if possible.

5) Enjoy carton of beer you've earned for your efforts.

FlickySpinny said...

Sputnik11 said...

StuHolloway said...
I thought it was great of the 2 guys to stop and help as they did. One bloke suggested trying to tow the rig in, but it was my decision to dump it. I've never seen a small waveboard towing a rig through the water but I guess it's something to try if it ever happens again !
BTW, I've also been told that you can waterstart and sail with a broken rig lying against the sail and inside the boom of a good rig.... masts and booms close together... anyone else tried this?

explain that last bit again Stu . . . . ?

Yup, I can confirm that this is possible. I've rescued two rigs this year by doing this.

1) If the rig to be rescued is the same size or smaller than the good rig, undo the outhaul on the rig to be rescued. Extend the boom by 20 cm. Retighten the outhaul if possible. This is so you can do step 2.

2) Slot the rig to be rescued over the top of the good rig. Put the mast on the leeward side of the good rig. Because the boom has been lengthened the boom of the rescued rig should sit right on top of the boom of the good rig.

3) Kick like hell to waterstart. Sail in and secure the rescued rig on the beach.

4) Sail back out to keep an eye on your new best friend as they paddle home on their board. Option is to tow them home if possible.

5) Enjoy carton of beer you've earned for your efforts.

That makes sense - and a good one for the memory bank, thanks. So basically, you thread the detached rig down (or up) through the gap between your sail & boom & fasten booms with the outhaul, or (in theory) it should just stay there. Grip both booms for the trip back in.