What do you do when you are caught in the impact zone and getting worked

I always try to hold my mast so it points out to sea (not at the beach). Every now and then maybe I grab a footstrap as well if I can reach. I am a little worried that my board may separate if I don't get a firm hold on that as well... Has this happend to anyone

Can anyone suggest some better techniques for holding on to your gear while swimming in breaking waves

Back in the eighties, we were told to play "sink the sail" if you cant keep it above a wave.

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Originally posted by qwerty

When I get smashed I:
1) sing and dance really well
2) can take on the biggest guy in the room
3) come up with really intelligent conversations
4) get admired by all the ladies in the room

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Yep, me also

BUT, I want to know what you do when you are getting worked in the break... NOT, when you are broken from working too hard

Comrades
Hanging onto boom is not always good idea !
I tried of this one time at Gerroa and boom was ripped away leaving me with fingers in outhaul... end result was skin ripping from inside of three fingers !
Comrade Qwerts you remember of this.... it was on Friday arvo before comp... same comp where Doogs was charge with fridge invasion and I charged with aiding said fridge invasion ?

If possible get mast tip ponting at wave and then push everything below surface very deep... if you not push deep enough sometimes wave can break ontop of sail and blow out all panel from sheer weight and volume of water for sure yar.
If really big wave I grab hold of back footstrap and hang on for big washing machine ride... if real big wave and I right in impact zone I taking big breath and swiming down as deep as possible... gear gets smashed and washing in !

well the idea is not to hang on to the end of the boom near the outhaul, or anywhere your fingers would get wedged into. I mean hang on to it around where you'd normally hold it for sailing. Hang on tight. Much better grip than trying to hold the mast tip. Pretty safe most of the time.

Wow Hardie, that sounds more like a Michael Hutchense moment...!
When it's really big I avoid getting worked by staying in my car pretending an old war wound is playing up.
If ya can't swim in it - ya shouldn't be sailing in it. Spoken like a true guttless t#rd, I know...!

AB....

I've had one like that. Scary.

I now make sure my harness lines are long enough so i can poke my head around the mast to get air even if i'm hooked in (and stuck).

Hey Puggy was this inspired by my reply in the 'scariest moments' thread? If so I'm touched

I have never gone for the sinking the mast tip thing as it takes too long to get it out again when there is a gap in between sets... if you don't get going quick quick you might cop another set of 5 or so monsters! I do point the mast tip out to sea to minimise chances of damage but my technique is basically:

Point mast tip out to sea but slightly upwind so you may almost remain in a waterstart pozzie after the wave passes.
Grab rear foot strap.... this is for two reasons (1) easiest thing to hold on to (2) if you get sucked up a big hollow face and dropped you don't want to be impaled on your fin. Bashing a mast is one thing but fin thru your throat is nasty I guess . All you have to do if things get bad is extend your arm, let go of mast with other arm, and you know the sharpest thing is 1m away and not getting any closer in a hurry.
Keep tail of board towards wave, so if it is not going to be hell big and nasty (most of the time it is already white water heading towards you).. you can hold boom near the mast, and board with rear footstrap..... mast is kinda lying along board... maybe a 15deg angle between them.... mast tip and tail of board both pointing out to sea.

Thus, as you are dragged you will probably maintain the mast out to sea and nose of board towards beach and be close (ish) to a water start pozzie after it is all over.
Advantage also is that if the UJ breaks you have a board in your hand!!!! not a mast tip that is useless for floatation!

If you only hold the mast tip and sink it, the board will end up facing any which way, and you'll have to work the sail up out of the water from the tip down.... by which time another wave is coming.

I think you only ever need to sink the mast tip and hold onto it (tip) only when it is hell big and the wave will DUMP on your sail. If the wave breaks 10m before it gets to you, or is mushy, mast hi is no probs with my technique I think. It is not Jaws and we gon't need to duck dive 3m under water to avoid dying.

Yeah sorry about use of words like "impaled" and cutting of throats

Hey that pic looks familiar, r u a regiment boy?

you're so vain,
i bet you think this thread is about you,
you're so vain,

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark _australia

whatcha been smokin racycoot

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Crack, weed and tyres

quote:

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Originally posted by Leech

you're so vain,
i bet you think this thread is about you,
you're so vain,

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Hey, who turned our thread into being 'bout Leech's smoking... Thought the Greatest Song ever????? forum would be a better place for this sort of singing Don't you Don't you In my best Carly Simon song voice (which is very very poor)

Comrades
I not suggest you hang on boom at clew end... just I have had boom ripped forward by wave and ending with fingers shredded by outhaul.
I try hold boom in normal place but as i get sucked over falls sail get ripped forward and boom yanked out of grasp... maybe this only one off event.
If I take big wipe out I just hold on (similar to Leech) but if I already in water in impact zone I try get rig in close to water start position and try get rig up in air.... if I right in imapct zone and wave going to break right on gear... then I pushing mast tip and as much of sail below surface as possible

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Originally posted by Pointman

Nice topic to make my posting debut!

This subject is dear to my heart 'cos I almost drowned at Margs in close out conditions after losing my gear at Rivermouth.

Basically I went out in massive conditions on unfamiliar gear (A mistake I'll never, ever repeat). Rigged too small a sail on too small a board and couldn't waterstart. I was madly side-stroking across the rivermouth with gear in tow when a monster set appeared.

I successfully duck-dived the first three waves using the technique mentioned here...pointing my mast toward the waves and putting all my weight on the boom to drive the rig under the waves. The last wave of the set caught me however and sucked me over the falls.

Tried to hang on to the boom, but my gear got sucked right out of my hands. Got smashed bigtime and held under for a while. Emerged panicked, disoriented and very out of breath.

My gear was gone, and I was caught in a rip, hyperventilating and trying to calm myself and stay afloat. Very, very scary.

I could see a lifesaver guy on the beach tracking my progress, but looking very hesitant about tackling the monster surf.

However, I was in bad shape, feeling feint from the lack of O2, and could not calm my breathing. It was really a case of if I don't get some help soon I'm gonna pass out and go under.

I started to gesture to this life-saver dude, a hard-as-nails waterman in his 40's, and he charged that break and saved my arse. It's the closest I've ever been to dying.

In hindsight I like the idea of hanging onto the rear footstrap, certainly would have been easier than the boom. And in those conditions hanging onto your gear is everything. I'm a pretty strong swimmer, but you can't account for the effects of going over the falls in mast-high Margs.

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Welcome!

I could hardly breathe while I was reading your story, I think I may have had a panic attack?

OH NO!
Mark, did the dog finally die

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Originally posted by Mark _australia


But how good you feel when you got handed a board by the lifesaver!!!

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Bloody fantastic!

When I made it to shore I tried to hug my missus, who was watching the whole spectacle unfold on the beach, and she pushed me away and said "bugger off...you're all wet!".

In her defence she had no idea how dire it was.