Todd,



Two years ago I had an incident of a different nature with my hiking straps. I was on the hull with my feet under the straps and my wife was on the wire. Early season. Minutes before sunset. Not another soul on the 38 degree water. The boat heeled in a puff. The hiking strap pulled out the worn stitching. I started sliding off the boat while my wife, still looking forward, called, "Kevin, Kevin!" Off the leward side I went, into the cold water. Thank god for drysuits! Michele didn't realize I had left the boat until she heard the splash and the mast hit the water.



The strap is sewn on securely now, but, after hearing your story . . .



Best of recoveries