Dan learned his lesson and the "new" Hobie 18 came with a mainsail with a window in it. I still have my factory windowless main, but I am mindful when I sail to know what's downwind of me as much as possible. When the day comes that I replace it, it will be a sail that eliminates blind spots.

Again, I agree. We may not have been at fault in the actual collission. But we were at fault for even allowing it to happen. I'm a "defensive sailor". I have to be. Lake Norman, NC can get pretty crowded with powerboaters on the weekends and some of those yahoos are usually drinking.

So I would rather be alive and give up the right of way than dead with a tombstone inscription that reads, "it wasn't his fault."