I could picture the headlines ...

"Windsurfer Drowns in 50cms of Water"
or
"Medical Breakthrough -- A Man That Can Breathe Under Water"

The scene is Dutch-Inne in a strong NW wind, lotsa waves and slop and a windsurfer who hasn't sailed since March.

Feeling pretty good about the wind and waves but the fitness ( or lack of ) is starting to show after about 30 mins so I decide to go in for a rest.

Sail in to shore, jump-off in the shore break and somehow end up under the sail with harness re-hooked up and pinned to the sand.

Now after trying to push the sail up I realise that 4.7 m2 ( sail size )x about 20cm ( approx depth of water ) of surging sea water = close to a tonne of wieght so abandon that idea and try to unhook to no avail - somehow the line had twisted and with the shorebreak washing in and out I was starting to think FAARK !!

This is getting serious and I take in a mouthfull of water which doesn't contain any air so that didn't help.

Next plan was to try and push the leach of the sail towards the mast so I could at least stick my head above water for a gulp of air -- that DID work and probably saved me from an embarassing demise ( after all who would believe that someone could die in such shallow water - I DO ! ) But I'm still stuck mostly under the sail.

I quick yell for help to an unidentified guy who was just launching got him scurrying back to help -- Thanks mate -- but just as unexpectedly as it hooked-in the harness unhooked itself so all he had to do was help get the sail and board out of the washing machine.

It's amazing how easily a fairly simple stumble nearly turned into a major faaark-up.

Lesson learnt -- respect the shore break and as I fast approach 50, try and stay a bit fitter before sailing in these winter fronts.

Thanks for sharing that. You did not panic which probably saved you from getting trapped. I personally am not going back into the surf until I become much fitter and my skills improve. Based on my current progress that will be never. I miss it too.

All's well..... no gear damage and no body damage except for a few aches.

I gave up for the day though. T'was good while it lasted

elmo said...

That's one of my (many) tricks (or creative means to trying to kill yourself).

Fluffed a gybe (or hit the bottom) on the eastern Safety bay sand bar, pinned under the sail with the boom across my chest, the sail was out of the water and the wind pushing it down pinning me to the bottom. Had to grab the mast and drag myself out.

Just another brown trouser episode in the life of a red muppet

Oh well what ever doesn't kill you give someone something else to laugh at

snides8 said...

elmo said...

That's one of my (many) tricks (or creative means to trying to kill yourself).

Fluffed a gybe (or hit the bottom) on the eastern Safety bay sand bar, pinned under the sail with the boom across my chest, the sail was out of the water and the wind pushing it down pinning me to the bottom. Had to grab the mast and drag myself out.

Just another brown trouser episode in the life of a red muppet

Oh well what ever doesn't kill you give someone something else to laugh at

elmo i would hate to work at your local laundry

elmo said...

The red Teflon fur is strategically chosen as it's easy to hose of any skid marks

LMAO

Zed said...

I thought harness lines couldnt tangle?

They can and do. It has happened to me. There was a thread about this on the Boards forum some time ago. Some manufacturers are bringing out quick releases on their harnesses.

Prolimit have had a quick release on their harness for quite some time... works well, I've got one.

Have only been in that situation with a non-quick release harness so I don't know how easy they are to undo when panicking... I do know that it was very scary and it really brought home just how easy it is to slip away from this earth.

mate your lucky your still here, a few seasons back we had to drag a guy out the surf who wasn't paying attention and got smashed under his rig in the shore break, he was pined under his sail with his mast across his chest, he was unconsious swollowing heaps of water everytime a wave broke on him, it took 4 guys to lift the sail off him with the amount of water and sand on it, while myself and one of my mates dragged him from under his rig and up onto the beach, we where seconds away from reviving him when he took a breath of air, coughing up heaps of water, he was lucky we where on the beach having a rest, 10 minutes earlier or later everyone would have been sailing and he prob would not be alive.
I never sail alone if the surf looks at all dangerous, i just get visions of that poor fella, who had a tanned skin, turn completely gey and lifeless washing in and out the shore break.

I've gotta say that the cause of the problem was the usual ones -- not paying much attention and being knackered. Always brings me undone in the most unexpected ways. It's amazing the number of ways I've tried to kill myself over the years -- motorbikes ( on and off road ) and this latest effort take the cake though.

I must have swallowed a fair bit of sand or shellgrit 'cos a couple of times today and yesterday I've coughed some gritty bits up that look like they come from Cottesloe Beach????

It's all good fun though until someone loses an eye!!!

Can feel your panic.
Has happened to me twice. First time was in the shorey at Long Reef. Really small surf but a wave washed up the shore, knocked me flat and pinned the sail on top of me. I could see guys standing on the beach but couldnt move. Had to wait until the wave receded and I could push it up enough to grab a breath, then the boys lifted it off me whilst trying not to fall over from laughing.
Second time was in deep water, got catapulted and harness line twisted around hook. I couldnt get to the side for a breath and was basically pinned to the rig. In the quickly coming panic I managed to feel the bottom with my toes, give a push with everything I had and got a gulp of air. This let me untwist the line and get out. Scared the absolute **** out of me.
I was so tentative for awhile after that and still hate catapults. Funny thing is last two sails Ive had Ive been flung both times.

Chek out "king pin spreader bar" video here

IMHO looks unecessarily complicated