It seems like no one has thought of the sinario of loosing contact with the boat. If a trapeze wire breaks or you capsize and for what ever reason loose grip of the mainsheet or any other part of the boat, it will blow away without you faster than you can swim. On large cats you will still need that second person to help you right it.

We never sail without a rescue boat or many other boats in close proximaty because you never know when this could happen. A rig might also come down.

Once, in a 40 knot blow we capsized and my crew twisted 3 vertabre in his back. If it wasn't for an experience rescue boat on hand he may never have been recovered alive and I also would not have got the turtled boat back up myself.

I know sailing in 40 knots is crazy, but you never know when it will happen to you. I have also seen guys badly injured in less than 10 knots.

Sailing, even in extreems is fun but never risk you life in doing so. Always make sure there is assistance on hand in a hurry if the absolute worst happens.

Regards
Stephen Medwell
Team Tornado 'ALIVE'
AUS-260
www.tornadoalive.com