It was another fun weekend of racing up here in MN.



Although after the races, it got a little hairy going back to the boat's home. The wind was coming from directly behind us as we headed to our destination. You know the drill -- accidental jibe territory.



I had an accidental jibe, saw the boom out of the corner of my eye, and ducked just in time, but it left me a little rattled in 15 mph winds.



It got me wondering, what's the worst you've ever heard anyone being injured by the boom of a catamaran?? A friend on the beach remarked that whenever that happens to him, he imagines an aluminum baseball bat colliding with a big old cantelope!



Any thoughts????



Fair winds,



Tim J.

I got clubbed in the head with a Hobie 18 boom. It was blowing like stink and got very hairy rounding C mark. I was so busy trying to not hit somebody and not turn over I forgot to duck.



When we were safely around the mark I discovered I had blood running down my face. It required 7 stitches near the corner of my eye. The doc said that the bone actually did the cutting on impact with the boom.



I also think the injury is responsible for my impaired intellect

a pal of mine was driving my boat down to the gybe mark. he was accustom to his mirage 27. on that boat, the boom stopped well short of the wheel. he started to put the tiller over, and the boat gybed. if he had of been two inches further forward, he would have got the end of the boom in the throat. as it was, he lost a big bit of his chin and bled all over the place. it was good for seven stitches. to his credit, we finished the race. (with line honors)

on a different note, my wife was pulling down our chute when we hit a puff. the line came back on her and got between her face and sunglasses. right in the eye. to her credit we finished the race. (with line honors)

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

Please don't take this the wrong way, B.C., but, was it a Harken boom, spin sheet, or sunglasses? Sounds like some days, your crew is as prone to breakdown as your Harken stuff seems to be!!



Just kidding, guy... and congrats on both line honors, you sound like a heckuva sailor! :-)



Ed Norris