January 1995, invited my new red-hot flatmate to come and get some shots of me windsurfing with her expensive camera. Arrived at Safety Bay, Rockingham (WA) to find a howling Sou' Wester - perfect conditions. Rigged and hit the water. Sailed out, then gybed and began absolutely HAMMERING at the beach, directly at flatmate with expensive camera. Released front hand and patted the water while hanging out on the harness. Really belting along - going GREAT! Beach getting close... time to gybe, but if I gybe I'll spray the camera! Okay, better tack... but that has the same problem!!! .... time ticking away.... oh ****, too late to do anything!
[CRASH!].... Houston, we seem to have collided with land.
Flatmate has lept clear as the mad-man crashes into the beach, still strapped-in, still harnessed-in. Board stops in an instant, while sailor and sail demonstrate inertia. Sail rotates around and smacks the board of a beginner on her way into the water. Sailor's feet ripped from foot-straps, breaking a toe. Sailor ends up tangled-up under sail, bewildered as to how still alive!
Cost of dinged learner board... zero (very gracious owner)
Cost of broken toe.... free repair (thanks mother nature)
Cost of damaged gear.... nothing broken (thanks guardian angel)
Cost of damaged pride.... PRICELESS!
Photo attached, titled by flatmate "2 seconds before impact".

Straight Up said...

January 1995, invited my new red-hot flatmate to come and get some shots of me windsurfing with her expensive camera. Arrived at Safety Bay, Rockingham (WA) to find a howling Sou' Wester - perfect conditions. Rigged and hit the water. Sailed out, then gybed and began absolutely HAMMERING at the beach, directly at flatmate with expensive camera. Released front hand and patted the water while hanging out on the harness. Really belting along - going GREAT! Beach getting close... time to gybe, but if I gybe I'll spray the camera! Okay, better tack... but that has the same problem!!! .... time ticking away.... oh ****, too late to do anything!
[CRASH!].... Houston, we seem to have collided with land.
Flatmate has lept clear as the mad-man crashes into the beach, still strapped-in, still harnessed-in. Board stops in an instant, while sailor and sail demonstrate inertia. Sail rotates around and smacks the board of a beginner on her way into the water. Sailor's feet ripped from foot-straps, breaking a toe. Sailor ends up tangled-up under sail, bewildered as to how still alive!
Cost of dinged learner board... zero (very gracious owner)
Cost of broken toe.... free repair (thanks mother nature)
Cost of damaged gear.... nothing broken (thanks guardian angel)
Cost of damaged pride.... PRICELESS!
Photo attached, titled by flatmate "2 seconds before impact".

you know what StraightUp know one will ever know what happened 2secs. after this

riged my sail on a howling day went go get my board from car and sail took off pinned it self againt 2 trees and several punture holes from branches thru my 2month old sail

Straight Up said...

January 1995, invited my new red-hot flatmate to come and get some shots of me windsurfing with her expensive camera. Arrived at Safety Bay, Rockingham (WA) to find a howling Sou' Wester - perfect conditions. Rigged and hit the water. Sailed out, then gybed and began absolutely HAMMERING at the beach, directly at flatmate with expensive camera. Released front hand and patted the water while hanging out on the harness. Really belting along - going GREAT! Beach getting close... time to gybe, but if I gybe I'll spray the camera! Okay, better tack... but that has the same problem!!! .... time ticking away.... oh ****, too late to do anything!
[CRASH!].... Houston, we seem to have collided with land.
Flatmate has lept clear as the mad-man crashes into the beach, still strapped-in, still harnessed-in. Board stops in an instant, while sailor and sail demonstrate inertia. Sail rotates around and smacks the board of a beginner on her way into the water. Sailor's feet ripped from foot-straps, breaking a toe. Sailor ends up tangled-up under sail, bewildered as to how still alive!
Cost of dinged learner board... zero (very gracious owner)
Cost of broken toe.... free repair (thanks mother nature)
Cost of damaged gear.... nothing broken (thanks guardian angel)
Cost of damaged pride.... PRICELESS!
Photo attached, titled by flatmate "2 seconds before impact".

Classic! Cameras ( & red hot flatmates..) should have warning labels..I went to hospital as a result of posing for horseriding photos..