I found a new way to lose $700 this weekend.

I was racing on Saturday in about 20 - 25 mph of wind. I was on a broad reach going to 'C' mark when a boat off my leward bow lost control and rounded up. I turned up sharply to avoid him, and during the turn I heard two loud popping sounds. At the time I thought my crew lost his footing and thumped against the hull, and didn't worry about it.

After rounding the C mark, I noticed that the boat wasn't pointing well, but still didn't make the connection. It was only when pulling the boards to come in to shore that we realized that both boards had snapped off cleanly at the bottom of the hull. We definately didn't hit anything, and there was no damage to the daggerboard trunks.

In retrospect, I should have had the boards halfway up in those conditions, but I still can't belive that they broke just from water resistance. The boards were only 6 months old, so maybe I can get some money back on them.

Anybody else have this happen to them?

Pete Schmalzer
NACRA 5.8 NA/MN 1302