Where should I start!

The boom and I have a special relationship. I play hard to get but the boom always seems to make a connection with me. I'm lucky if I only hit my head on it once during a two day regatta.



Usually, I miss judge when ducking with an end result of some star seeing.



But on one occasion, we were sailing a long distance race, the Alexander’s Cup in Va Beach. We had rounded the tower and were headed back to shore downwind. Winds were near 15 seas around 4 maybe some 5 foot swells. Anyways, we noticed that the starboard side dagger board was gone. Turned out it had fallen through the well and saw stuck towards the middle.



So I got in off the wire, (we were on a Hobie 20) and used Dennis' leatherman (The pliers part) to try and get at the rope tied to the board to pull it back up again.

So here I am standing on the hull with the pliers grasping the exposed rope pulling with all my might, seas swells are hampering my efforts and Dennis is trying to keep the boat happy..Out of desperation I crouch down and pull as hard as I can using my legs when the pliers slip off the rope sending me flying backwards. The back of my head slammed into the boom.

Man, did that hurt.

Dennis thought for sure he was going to be sailing back to shore with an unconscious crew.

It took me a while but I shook it off and got that damn dagger board free.

We wound up winning the event overall.



Tracie