What mishap on the water scared you?

I made it a mile and a half off shore in texas before I realized we didn't have any plugs in. Being fairly inexperieced I didn't realize I should have jumped in the water to put the plugs in. I didn't think I could get the plugs in with out tipping over so we headed back to the beach. There was slightly more than just the tramp sticking out of the water by the time we got back.

Would you alter your defintion of Pucker Factor to include those times that were not a mishap?

GARY

Being "stung" by lightening.

2001: I head up north to visit my best friend Danny to do some mountain biking, widsurfing and sailing. He's got (had) a Hobie 18 Magnum. We're out on Barnegat Bay blasting along in 20-knot winds having a great time! We're both out on the wire (he's at the helm and I'm crewing) trying to get the boat to go faster and faster. I'm looking ahead and to windward for any traffic in front of us (couldn't see to leeward becase the main had no window in it). Suddenly there's a flash of white, a cracking sound, I slam into something hard and then I find myself under water under the boat.

I come up to the surface amongst the wreckage of the Hobie and see a 30-ft Bayline sport-fishing boat on top of us and still dragging us along. I look around for Danny and see him near the stern of the Bayliner, facedown in the water in a pool of blood. He's not moving. I swim over, grab him by the hair and pull him back to see a cut across his forehead from ear to ear. He's not breathing. So while in the water, I pinch his nose and start mouth-to-mouth. Luckily it only takes two breaths for him to start choking, spitting up water and breathing on his own.

Then I hear it; the sound of a Cuisanart in the water very close. The guy who hit us still has his engine running and the prop is still turning as he's dragging us. "Shut off your engine! Shut off your f'in engine," I scream out! I look up and this old guy on the flying bridge looks down at me and says, "you sailed right into my boat!"

He came at us directly from the leeward side at a 90-degree angle and sliced through the starboard hull just forward of the front crossbar like it was butter. The Hobie flipped over crashing the mast across the transom of the fishing boat coming within inches of killing the guy's wife. The mast came down so hard and so fast that it broke in two places on the rails of the Bayliner. The sudden flipping action sent Danny and I flying into the side of the Bayliner.

The guy shuts off the engine and starts yelling at us as I'm holding Danny in the water pressing my hand over his head. A large powerboat came up to assist and the skipper (who was retired Navy) and his wife were a huge help to us. They took charge of the "rescue operations" and called the Coast Guard. Two jet skiers came racing in, they jumped off their jet skies and swam over to help us. By now a bunch of other boats come around and someone asks, "how can we help?" I shout out, "don't let HIM leave!" And a couple fo powerboats start circling the Bayliner like sharks keeping him from taking off. The Navy guy and his wife got a semi-conscious Danny on board first and as I went to get on board the pain in my ankle and the odd angle of my shin told me that I had a broken leg and ankle.

The Coast Guard comes in and they want to transfer us to their boat to transport us to shore to the hospital. As I'm being transfered I ask one of the jet skiers what happened to their rides. "Don't know. They floated away. It doesn't matter, we'll go find them later. Let's get you on this auxilliary boat and to the hospital." (It was the BEST experience I ever had with a PWC'er!)

They call out to the Bayliner owner to throw them a line so they could tie up and send someone aboard. So he throws them a line... but forgets to tie off on his end - he just throws over a coiled rope! That pissed off the Coasties and so they ordered him to heave and boarded his boat. We started in for shore and before we got there the coastie piloting the Bayliner says over the radio that it's taking on water, is heavy in the bow and probably won't make it back tot he marina. So he's going to head straight for shore and ditch it on the rocks. Good! I thought to myself. I hope it does more damage.

We were transported to a local hospital. My leg and ankle were set and put into a cast, Danny had to spend the night as he needed stitches and had a nasty concussion. The Hobie broke apart and sank. The Bayliner had been holed in the bottom about six feet back from the bow (probably by the bridle wire) which showed how fast and high up on plane he was going. Since it was in the bay and not the ocean, the Coast Guard turned over jurisdiction to the County Sherrif who since he hadn't seen the accident, simply wrote it up as a collission between two boats. I was not pleased about that. I wanted it on the record the magnitude of what this guy did wrong. He could have been arrested for wreckless endangerment. Luckily for us the Bayliner owner didn't contest the insurance issue and his paid for our medical bills and a new Hobiecat for Danny. We didn't bother sueing for more. We're not like that. The guy had just retired two weeks earlier and typical of powerboat dealers, they took his check and handed over the keys without ever instructing him on the rules of the water. The guy first said he didn't see us (how can you miss a 30-ft tall colorful Hobie sail?) and then said that he thought we would move out of his way.

He was just an idiot. His wife was terrified beyond belief and will probably never set foot on a boat ever again.

Pucker factor. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Tops my list.

Danny have a full recovery?

BTW, I'd hate to hear about the mountain biking and wind surfing stories. Yikes!

Yes, Danny had a full recovery. It took a long time to heal and he still has a thin scar. I was in that cast for 7 weeks. The guy's insurance company gave us some cash for personal items lost as well, a couple of hundred each.

What's funny is that something ALWAYS seems to happen to me during these annual adventures. My wife is used to me coming home injured in one way or another. Once it was a sprained ankle from a bad skydiving landing. Typically it's from the mountain biking. The day before the sailing we were up at Platakill Ski Resort, biking down the ski slope trails. No injuries. I didn't go down once.

So when she met me at the airport and I was being helped off the plane and into a wheelchair, she assumed it was the downhill stuff. "No, this happened on Saturday sailing on Barnegat Bay." "What did you do, slip and fall on the dock you idiot," she replied?

... She wasn't happy when I told her what actually happened. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

re: Bayliner mowing down the Hobie 18

Remarkable, but I'm lost for words!

GARY

The thudnderous feel, sound of the Blue Whale that spouted just 20 feet off my bows.

GARY

It's tough to top the "mowed down by a Bayliner" incident, but mine came last fall at the H-16 North Americans in Rhode Island.

Over 40 years of sailing without a serious incident, my crew gets tangled up in a pitchpole - and held underwater as the boat went turtle for what was probably the longest 10 to 20 seconds of either of our lives. I could see her head about a foot below the water, but couldn't pull her free.

That freaked me out. Just the thought of having her drown so close to the surface.

Of course, she did come free, got her head above water and gulped down a lot of fresh air. I still had to cut her leg free from the jib traveller line wrapped around it to get her loose.

I carry the same thing with me on the catamaran that I do when I SCUBA dive, a pair of Sea Snip EMT scissors. They'll cut anything that can fit in their jaws (even a penny - I've tried) and they can be used with one hand. I gave up diving with the 'Rambo' dive knife long ago when I realized that the most dangerous thing in the water wasn't sharks, but rather stray monofillament fishing line.

Even if I had a ball-style trapeze harness, I would still carry the scissors on my PFD when I sail.

I've often wondered if I shoudln't carry a knife, or pair of cutters when sailing just for the trapped under the boat scenario.

Got a link to those EMT scissors - might invest in a pair.

GOOD STORY!

I'd like to check out the sea snips too! Right know I carry a "benchmade rescue hook" it's real sharp but the blade is protected so you won't cut your fingers off. here's a link:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=5

GOt mine for 23.00 on ebay, they have newer models that might be better. BTW it has a bottle opener too. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I hate to ask the question, but who was on the others port side?

that TheMightyHobie18 story. wow. glad everybody ok. i just found this on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Y6V4yfhdU&mode=related&search=

my "pucker factor" its a tie, the first was first me being an idiot. on my TheMightyHobie18 about 1/2 way between the mainland and catalina. solo. my cargo tramp broke i lost all the gear no radio no good warm clothes, no water or food. 25kts of wind. and a large 3 ft crack down one hull. wind died. 16 hrs later i paddled and bailed my sinking boat back to MDR. second sea of cortez. between isla de la guardia and san luis gonzaga. 40-50's. very steep waves 10+ 10 hrs. upwind. crew incapicated. knowing nobody was around if we didn't make it. scared me to the point i dissambled the boat on the beach and trailered home. viva 27

To all on this thread. I try not to be paranoid and carry too much kit on my person. I used to go out in shorts and nothing else. These days I am a careful and well set up sailor.
But I do not carry a knife on my person. Please let me know your survival stories and where you kept the knife or snips and how long you had to use them.

tangent- That's why I use a Sit racing harness, from murrays. Comfortable for 6+ hours, and easy to get out of if trapped under a turtled boat.

I've got many stories, but would rather hear yours:-)

I recall a story of someone getting mowed down by a power boat in Biscayne Bay. I don't think the boat stopped (it was on full plane, similar to the H-18 story)

We almost got plowed by a 50 powerboat (being operated by Coast Guard Auxiliary) at Hiram's on a spin run. They didn't anticipate our speed and turned into us as we were approaching to cross their stern. Crash gybe at about 15 feet of closure.

Sure, they weren't on a full plane, but it still scared me out of my harness...

Any EMT shears will do, but these are them. Used to be called "Sea Snips", now "Blue Reef Shears". I clip them on to my PFD. You can grab them out of the Velcro holster with one hand to use them in case of an emergency. They'll cut through a trapeze wire like a hot knife through butter.