Good one Tony! This reminds me of a similar experience I had recently. I also have an older ply Mossie (Hagar 1714) and I am new to the class. A couple if weekends ago I went for a Sunday sail at Adelaide SC. Actually, I was taking out a young lady, who...well, ok yes.... I was trying to make an impression on..... The weather wasn't ideal for such a thing - it was overcast, 10-15 knots and increasing. But it was today or never (well much later anyway, due to work, etc). She had no sailing experience - that's right ZERO, never been on a boat in her life. Ok, so we head out and all is well. Moving along very nicely indeed, plenty of breeze... she's suitably impressed! Mmmmm...wind is really strating to get up now... Part of the reason for being at Adelaide SC that day was because the International 14 (skiff) state heats were on (which I would normally be sailing in), so it was a chance to see how some mates were doing. We stay out of the way and are out to sea well past the weather mark, when I hear an almighty CRACK and the whole rig lands in the water. $%#@&%... Blew the shroud clean in half midway up. Eventually I get the rig back on board and survey the situation. Not good: well outside the course area, wind up to about 20 knots now and running more or less parralel to shore (S but forecast to shift SE, ie offshore!!!!). By now we had a nasty sea - we were rolling around and running with it. So yep....to make matters worse, she then gets sea sick. &%$#@ - welcome to sailing! Given the solid breeze, I eventually set up a jerry rig of sorts with the jib and run deep back towards the course. Eventually we are spotted and get a tow back to the club, much to the amusement of all the 14 footer fellas by now drinking beers on the balcony....

PS - yes, she is still talking to me and even still wants to go out again. What a sport!

Rob
Hagar 1714