On the C-28R, severed my ACL and tore my MCL in right knee last June running to the back of the boat for a screacher gybe--slipped off the seat edge into the **** and THEN my boat shoes gripped and knee bent backwards about 20 degrees with a loud double-clunk. I said, "Darn." We finished the race with ice packs and battens taped over my knee and me trimming main from the **** floor.

Other than that, shins are laced with scars from getting thrown forward into traveller while driving. Wish I'd been smart enough to wear softball knee pads which include a shin guard along with knee protection. Ripped off a nail when main blocks and hand accidentally briefly occupied the same space during a stupid driver gybe (better than my crew's temple when he sacrified his head as a preventer--whatta guy!).

On cat, I've been bruised black and blue and lacerated on extremeties and hands.

Used to say that if I didn't bleed, I hadn't learned anything on a sail. Now I realize that getting injured is just slow; distracts you if nothing else. So I wear neoprene farmer john and knee pads for even a day sail. High performance sailing is definitely a contact sport--dress for it or pay the price!

Our sport is probably higher risk than tennis or golf--they do get zapped by lightning but how many drown with a stuck harness under a capsize or are murdered by a coach/spectator boat? Compared with skiing or snowboarding's potential for limb injury and head impact, sailing risk to life or limb is probably similar. We have a lot of highly tensioned lines and rolling guillotines waiting to slice off a digit. I consider the risk manageable, sail in reasonable conditions, and don't sweat the fact that I might have a really unlucky day. Try not to suffer the same injury twice : )