Windsurfing Accidents
Miguel
help would be appreciated nonetheless.
For research purposes, I am trying to collect information on
windsurfing-related accidents involving major injury, near-death or
death. Although the ultimate outcome of the accident is very
important (i.e. death by drowning, hypothermia etc..), I am interested
in learning more about the cause of the accident (i.e. equipment
breakdown, injury, collision, etc...) and potential things that could
have been done (in hind sight) to prevent the accident and/or reduce
the severity of the final outcome.
If you have any stories, please post them, or, email them to me
directly. Obviously, no need for names...
Thanks for your help!!
Miguel
Dan Weiss
powerboats lead the list in windsurfing deaths. There is the occasional
drowning, and the rare death unrelated to the actual windsurfing, but
windsurfing is a very safe sport.
Major injury, perhaps defined as bone breaks, and tears or sprains of
ligaments or tendons are far more common than deaths as you would expect.
I've broken my foot and torn a tendon in my shoulder, sprained my ankle and
received the occasional bump and bruise. I might have been knocked out
once, but that might be impossible to recall! So, 3 "major" injuries in 23
years of windsurfing. Not bad considering in 2 years of high school
football plus 2 pickup "touch" games I sprained both ankles, tore ligaments
in each shoulder and knee, was knocked unconscious once, broke two ribs and
spend one week in the hospital after receiving a kidney injury. The ratio
or comparative danger isn't even close. Windsurfing is like walking down
the sidewalk: you could have a safe fall from a building and strike you on
the head, but it's very unlikely.
--
-Dan
"Miguel" <spockatt...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e0b5dd7d.03022...@posting.google.com...
Charles Ivey
driving a car and found it is far safer to windsurf that drive a car. I
also recall that in the first ten or twelve years of windsurfing (and there
were more people doing it then than now I believe) there was no a single
death attributed to our sport. These are the stats I recall from the book.
One could argue that the first half of windsurfing's history involve speeds
approximately one-half the speeds of the second half of the sport, so
comparing early data to today might not be valid. Notwithstanding that
argument, I would still lay odds that you are safer windsurfing than driving
a car.
CI
"Dan Weiss" <dwusDONT...@bellNOSPAMsouth.net> wrote in message
news:eBx7a.45986$4O5....@fe10.atl2.webusenet.com...
Mike F
wearing too little neoprene for the conditions, sometimes exacerbated by
getting blown offshore and/or possible incapacitating whacks on the head.
Worst injury I've heard about was a collision from too many sailors in one
spot compounded by two questionable actions, resulting in three life-saving
rescues, a week in the ICU, and permanent injury.
Mike \m/
"Miguel" <spockatt...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e0b5dd7d.03022...@posting.google.com...
David Dennis
"Mike F" <iso...@urxSpamDam.com> wrote in message news:26A7a.14977$>
> Worst injury I've heard about was a collision from too many sailors in one
> spot compounded by two questionable actions, resulting in three
life-saving
> rescues, a week in the ICU, and permanent injury.
>
> Mike \m/
>
tacked when everyone else jibed. She died from head injuries ... or did I
just imagine that?
Wal
Mike F
(rescue from the river, surgeon & EMT resuscitation and blood flow control
onshore, and Life Flight to the hospital. She'll never be 100%, but she does
sail again.
Mike \m/
"David Dennis" <den...@dyson.brisnet.org.au> wrote in message
news:b3mkbe$1nqgm2$1...@ID-96933.news.dfncis.de...
Kuba Szmigielski
very interesting discussion.
I just wonder, what about the sharks attacks? Any clue on number of
injuries?
Were there any deaths?
I ask for a reason cause my close friend does not ever
want to sail on the Mediterranean sea because of the sharks.
Thanks!
Kuba
Fish KC-79
somemore information on. A couple were in Nitnat on Vancouver Island,
resulting in hypothermia so I have heard. In addition, apparently
there was another incident out west where someone had their leg sliced
by the fin resulting in death from blood loss. All unconfirmed... I'd
like to hear about more myself and what role was played by PFDs or
lack thereof.
FISH
Jeff McVannel
details but it was in big surf. People said the guy had been drinking. He
must have drowned while getting worked. I think he was from California.
Anyone else remember this?
Jeff
Alan
Hilton Head, SC. The winds were straight offshore and gusting over 40 knots.
A member of our club was sailing offshore winds at Charleston, SC about 5
years ago when his clew tore out of his old Waddel sail. He eventually
washed up on one of the rock jetties at the mouth of the harbor (two miles
out). His body was shredded by the barnacles on the rocks. He spent the
night in the hospital.
Alan
--
Windsurfing Club: http://www.ibscc.org
"Miguel" <spockatt...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e0b5dd7d.03022...@posting.google.com...
WARDOG
He was legendary for his long distance sailing exploits...
Left behind a gorgeous wife...Jenna...
http://www.jennaderosnay.net/Pages/jennastory.html
WARDOG
http://www.surfingsports.com
Bob
My list:
1. Death by presumed hypothermia and inability to waterstart Puget Sound,
Washington. Male in bodybag drysuit - 1985
2. Death by presumed hypothermia Hood River, Oregon at the Marina. 200# male
sailing in shorts - 1988
3. Crash into aluminum fishing boat Stevenson, Wa, with head and leg
injuries about 1999 as I recall
4. Groin laceration resulting in serious blood loss, saved by local sailors
at Hatchery, Wa about 1999.
5. Same injury Mike F referred to in the list, Hatchery, Washington.
6. Sudden Death, male on shore at Swell City, Washington, July, 2002.
7. Inflictor femur fracture much published around 1999 at Pistol R., Or.
Bottom line....looks like Washington is dangerous......Except this year
since there has been little to no wind and I am mtn biking a ton
instead.....
Bob
Alan
Alan (headed out to Poinsett Park, SC in the A.M)
--
Windsurfing Club: http://www.ibscc.org
"Bob" <goi...@wolfenet.com> wrote in message
news:b3odap$fbd$1...@slb3.atl.mindspring.net...
Bob
"Alan" <alannc44@{nospam}ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:EUO7a.1971$ki.1...@twister.southeast.rr.com...
I wasn't and didn't intend to....that list would never end....especially if
you have a "gash line" started with gory pictures...
Water is best for landings....
Bob
Rainer Leuschke
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003, Bob wrote:
> 1. Death by presumed hypothermia and inability to waterstart Puget Sound,
> Washington. Male in bodybag drysuit - 1985
Was this with or without live jacket?
I've heared about this one before but couldn't find out any details.....
R!
Bob
"Rainer Leuschke" <rai...@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
news:Pine.A41.4.44.030228...@dante58.u.washington.edu...
-R!
No life jacket. Bodybag drysuit.
On a board he constructed.
Couldn't get waterstart and was struggling.
Some friends of mine were watching and offerred a ride back on
their sailboat. He declined, got his waterstart and made it back to shore.
Visited with his wife and 3 month old in the car,then went out again...never
came back.
Very sad event.
Bob
Jeff Feehan
jeff feehan
JSTNG
here in the Florida Panhandle. This was couple years ago.
Last year a guy in South Florida died apparently from getting trapped
under his sail - couldn't separate from his harness line.
A buddy had a near death experience after loosing his gear in an
off-shore break. The repeated rinsing was too much for his dry suit
seals. Suit began to take on water and the added resistence nearly did
him in.
Lottsa mean sharks here but no close encounters of the windsurfing
kind.
Know a guy in the Keys who almost bled out after being skewered in the
knee by a bill fish. He was several miles off shore when it occured.
He sailed back with the broken off bill stuck in his knee. The
surgeons and to disasseble the knee to remove it. Long operation but
he survived.
Bob
"Jeff Feehan" <jfe...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:3E5FC95...@ix.netcom.com...
Well, you can look at it that way.
Too long in the water, hypothermic, inactivity etc.
There was a review of the effectiveness of neoprene vs bodybag type drysuits
in cold air vs cold water immersion and the
bodybag was nearly the same as regular clothing. I suppose that is why we
don't see they much with windsurfing or surfing.
Bob
JamesSchmitt
I remember that: Big Day
He had been drinking
Lite on the inside at Florence(wind, not the beer)
He was found washed up on the shore, dead.
Truely an unnecessary tragedy.
-Jim.
"Jeff McVannel" <jef...@harborside.com> wrote in message news:<b3o25c$1o7hlr$1...@ID-79524.news.dfncis.de>...
bsinclair
Kanaha and a shop employee who drowned...think it was they same year, maybe
5or 6 years back. We lost a Kiter off Mokuleia last year, heard he had head
injuries. Guy near drowned off Sunset on a big day, had anoxic brain injury
and subsequently committed suicide. Think that was over 10 years ago. Not
sure how you want to score that last one. Sounds bad, but you gotta keep
it in perspective. People die so often in the ocean around here that it
barely makes the paper.
Injured, but not dead: That French guy who got bit sitting on his board off
Kanaha a couple years back; Saw a broken neck at my shop, guy was
neurologically intact; Acute lumbar disc extrusion; Bunch of feet and ankle
fractures; And my all time favorite, a fractured testicle....ouch, probably
wished he had drowned.
All I've ever done was crack some ribs, break a toe, and get about a
thousand coral cuts...knock on wood.
bs
"Miguel" <spockatt...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e0b5dd7d.03022...@posting.google.com...
Jeff Feehan
Bob wrote:
> Well, you can look at it that way.
> Too long in the water, hypothermic, inactivity etc.
>
> There was a review of the effectiveness of neoprene vs bodybag type drysuits
> in cold air vs cold water immersion and the
> bodybag was nearly the same as regular clothing. I suppose that is why we
> don't see they much with windsurfing or surfing.
>
> Bob
>
>
well lots of windsurfers are wearing them - particularly the readers
of this n.g.
but the effectiveness will depend on what you wear underneath the suit.
i wear my bag suit for dinghy racing, i wear a good amount of fleece,
and it works fine.
jeff feehan
Bob
> well lots of windsurfers are wearing them - particularly the readers
> of this n.g.
>
> but the effectiveness will depend on what you wear underneath the suit.
> i wear my bag suit for dinghy racing, i wear a good amount of fleece,
> and it works fine.
>
> jeff feehan
Jeff
I know lots of people wear them.
That doesn't mean that they are necessarily safe.
They work fine for out of water use or the occassional splashing, but
the reviews that I had read indicated that they failed the cold water
immersion test.
No judgment call on my part either way, but if I had to swim in from the
outside break on the
ocean or way out in the Sound, I would want neoprene, not a body bag with
fleece.
Cheers,
Bob
PS Hey Jim!!
Dan Weiss
do know is that his death was unrelated to anything windsurfing, except that
he had a heart attack while sailing. Harness lines and any inability to
come to the surface as a result of being "pinned" had nothing to do with the
cause of his death. Just for the record :)
--
-Dan
"JSTNG" <js...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:5076920b.03022...@posting.google.com...
Jeff Feehan
immersion test" from. there is no question that they (bag
suits) are warmer. the issue has always been what happens
in the event of a puncture.
if you ever see video of scuba divers diving under ice, they nearly
always wear bag suits.
i race lasers in the winter - when it gets cold i wear my bag suit.
i would never consider my neoprene drysuit - they're too cold!
jeff feehan
Bob
> but bob, where are you getting this "failed the cold water
> immersion test" from. there is no question that they (bag
> suits) are warmer. the issue has always been what happens
> in the event of a puncture.
>
> if you ever see video of scuba divers diving under ice, they nearly
> always wear bag suits.
>
> i race lasers in the winter - when it gets cold i wear my bag suit.
> i would never consider my neoprene drysuit - they're too cold!
>
> jeff feehan
Jeff
Aren't you talking about the scuba suits with the thicker material?
I was thinking of the old nearly 1mm latex layups, not those scuba suits.
The reference to which I referred is old now so the newer suits may have
better
immersible stats. It would be interesting to have an industry person post
some
objective up to date data if it is available.
I switched from several years of using O'Neil Oasis DS to Promotion Spirit
Ti suit with hood and vest in cold weather.
The Ti seems to really maintain the heat probably through less radiant loss.
Haven't been chilly since. But I completely agree that sailing all day in
and out of the water makes a "drysuit" chilly.
I will do more investigation.
Bob
Rainer Leuschke
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003, Bob wrote:
> outside break on the
> ocean or way out in the Sound, I would want neoprene, not a body bag with
> fleece.
Calling a baggy drysuit a body bag is not a judgement then?
In the 85 incident, did the suit get punctured or did he not wear
appropriate layers? Is that known?
As for immersion tests, from my own empirical tests I can tell ya that a
properly layered drysuit is far warmer than a rubber suit. The drysuit
material itself has little to do with the warmth. It's all about the
insulation layers when in the water.
For long distance swimmng I would prefer the rubber suit as well however.
R!
Jeff Feehan
Two sailors receive Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal for saving stranded
windsurfer
Two sailors came in the nick of time to save a stranded windsurfer who
was right
in the line of an approaching container ship. Brad Hillebrandt and
Laura Mooney
received the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal for rescuing the windsurfer
in San
Francisco Bay.
Hillebrandt and Mooney were on a shakedown cruise in San Francisco Bay
in preparation
for a trip to Mexico. When they were just east of the Harding Rock Buoy,
they realized
they needed to get out of the shipping lane because a container ship was
heading
outbound only about two miles away. At that time, Mooney spotted a male
windsurfer
waving both his arms, trying to get their attention. The wind had died
down suddenly,
stranding the windsurfer in line of the approaching container ship. To
read the
entire story, visit www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2003/WindsurfRescue.htm.
jeff feehan
Bob
Good point.
Thanks for straightening me out.
That is what we have called them over the years.
No offense intended.
-Bob
Mike F
cloth suit (aka "bag") because they don't restrict range of motion as much
as neoprene. And how did they fail this "cold water immersion test"?
Professional white-water rafters stay warm using them among ice floes in --
and I mean IN -- 33 degree water.
Mike \m/
"Bob" <goi...@wolfenet.com> wrote
Bob
"Mike F" <iso...@urxSpamDam.com> wrote in message
Thanks for the advice Mike.
It really has helped me.
-Bob
Mike F
don't.
That's what's so great about the Goretex bag -- you can put it on at dawn
and stay in it 'til dark ... whether planing or lying in the water in the
lulls or swimming or re-rigging or eating lunch -- in dry comfort.
Mike \m/
"Bob" <goi...@wolfenet.com> wrote It would be interesting to have an
industry person post
> some
> objective up to date data if it is available.
>
Mike F
didn't give; his sternum did. Broke it in half. It HURT while he built his
barn over the winter.
Mike \m/
Ed
all happened. The first are only the deaths, I know lots of near-deaths/big
swims (mostly equipment breakdowns without safety equipment or buddies),
severe injuries, a shark attack - way too many more to list here:
1. SF Bay Peninsula near Coyote Point, 1992/1993 (?) - Windsurfer passes
out mid-SF Bay, on-water CPR fails to revive. Cause of death - heart
attack;
2. SF Bay Peninsula near Oyster/Coyote Point, Memorial Day weekend
(Saturday?), May, 1995 - Sailor in shorty gets becalmed in incoming fog.
Refuses assistance by fellow windsurfers, says he's gonna self-rescue. Car
is still in parking lot next day. Body is found near Oakland Airport Monday
morning. Cause of death - probably hypothermia, or epileptic seizure-caused
drowning;
3. SF Bay Peninsula near Coyote Point, October 7 (?), 1995 - Nuclear
3.5/4.0 day, with negative low tide. Car left in parking lot into the
night. Searches by Coast Guard, CG Auxilliary, etc..., find no windsurfer.
Father reports windsurfer missing, hires plane to find him. Body found by
father in plane 2 days later near Palo Alto. Cause of death - probably
broken neck due to hitting sandbar at planing speed;
4. Pacific Coast near Santa Cruz, May (June?) 2000 - Windsurfer struggles
onto beach, reports being "lightheaded" sits down and never gets up. CPR
fails to revive him. Cause of death - congenital heart valve defect.
A sampling of other stuff, there's lots more:
1. 1997 - Sailor nearly dies mid-channel SF Bay after U-joint fails and
board takes off without him. Buddy finds him and tows him in.
2. 1998 - Sailor gets compound fracture of femur mid-channel SF Bay after
bad landing of a jump. Uses buddy's VHF radio ('cause his battery is dead)
to call Coast Guard helicopter and gets ride home.
3. 1999 - Sailor does downwinder on Peninsula 10 miles to Cement Plant at
Redwood City, makes landfall at 11:30 pm.
4. 1996 - Sailor does downwinder on Peninsula, ends up scaling San Mateo
bridge. Calls for help from maintenance boat hanging beneath road bed.
5. 1998 - Another sailor does downwinder on Peninsula, and also ends up
scaling San Mateo bridge. Flags down a passing Cal-trans truck and gets a
ride back to the launch.
6. 1993 (?) - Sailor goes out to sea at Crissy Field after breaking mast.
Starts paddling when tide turns about 10 pm. Ends up near Pt. Bonita
lighthouse in Marin county near midnight (Wardog posted this from Windtracks
a while back).
7. 1994 - Sailor's board attacked by white shark at main peak of break near
Santa Cruz. Sailor swims away, shark releases board, sailor gets back on
board and sails in. Sailor uninjured. Board on display at Haut Shop (or is
it the Surfer's museum?).
8. 1994 - Sailor 1 run over by sailor 2 at Sherman Island, suffering
punctured lung. Sailor 1 (a lawyer) files lawsuit and wins big settlement
against sailor 2.
9. 1994 - Sailor (me) snaps board in half while jumping mid-channel SF Bay.
Combination of paddling/rescue from friends gets me back around 9 pm or so,
catch ride with Coast Guard Auxilliary truck sent to pick me up.
10. 1995 - Sailor (me) breaks u-joint landing jump on 3.5 day mid-channel.
Self-rescue paddle in.
11. 1994 - Sailor 1 (me) crashes into sailor 2 (another guy) when he
crosses into my path and crashes at Crissy Field. My equipment destroys
sailor 2's stuff, I flag down passing boat which gives guy ride back to
Crissy launch.
-Ed
in article b3odap$fbd$1...@slb3.atl.mindspring.net, Bob at goi...@wolfenet.com
wrote on 2/28/03 11:31 AM:
Ed
13. April 1, 1995 (?) - Mr. Lucky goes out at Waddell (near Santa Cruz) on
mast and a half light (5.8) wind day. Barely gets out, gets cleaned out by
a set and loses equipment. Gets stuck on the outside. Local hot sailor
attempts to sail out equipment, but is denied by the relentless surf. Mr.
Lucky loses lots of energy through swimming sets and nearly drowns.
Finally, Coast Guard helicopter drops rescue swimmer and saves Mr. Lucky.
Humorous ending - passing cyclist stops to see what all the commotion is
about and puts down foot on air side of cliff edge. Falls down cliff, gets
knocked out. Gives multitude of emergency personnel who responded to Mr.
Lucky something to do. :-)
-Ed
PS - some of these dates may be slightly off, but they all definitely
happened.
in article BA85A1FC.16B90%shred...@IHATESPAM.attbi.com, Ed at
shred...@IHATESPAM.attbi.com wrote on 2/28/03 11:32 PM:
Steven Slaby
> Aren't you talking about the scuba suits with the thicker material?
>
> I was thinking of the old nearly 1mm latex layups, not those scuba suits.
Those old latex suits have not much in common with the new suits. From my
practical experience in extreme temps (water temp below freezing) a bag suit
with fleece is significantly warmer than a neoprene suit. With insulation
thickness is your friend. Windsurfing drysuits are 4-5?mm thick max whereas
I am sure I have layered at least 25mm under by bag suit. The bag suit
doesn't have any insulating properties so it all depends on what you put
on underneath. In addition there is the flexibility factor. If you are
swimming in from a long distance you are more likely to tire out working
against the stiffness of a thick neoprene suit that a bag suit with fleece.
That would be my biggest concern, and from a description of one of the
deaths it sounded like someone tired themselves out and *then* died of
hypothermia!
Steve.
--
----------------------------------------------
Ottawa Windsurfing http://ottawawindsurfing.ca
Windsurfing Canda website development http://www.windsurf.ca/WC/index.shtml
CMWA newsletter editor http://www.windsurf.ca/cmwa/CMWA_frame.htm
WARDOG
Ed wrote:
>
> Here's one I forgot:
>
> 13. April 1, 1995 (?) - Mr. Lucky goes out at Waddell (near Santa Cruz) on
> mast and a half light (5.8) wind day. Barely gets out, gets cleaned out by
> a set and loses equipment. Gets stuck on the outside.
I met this "Mr. Lucky" guy while sailing a Central Cali spot...
He seemed like a competent wave sailor who just had some bad luck and
got stuck in a rip without his gear...not stupid, not a kook,
and not irresponsible...as I remember the mag article wasn't overly
positive...as I recall, I think Mr. Lucky wrote a story of his own...
The same thing could happen to anyone that comes to Jalama right now...
The sand bars are way on the outside, the waves have been rather on the
large side, and the rip currents are moving fast...and I mean
fast...it's been blowing down here with consistent surf, so the current
is in motion...just finished another 4 day sailing run yesterday...we
had a 5 day run last week...lose hold on your gear and it's gone...
A pretty hot wavesailor from UCSB broke a mast recently and got sucked
out with 2 of his buddies, also good sailors, trying to help him...
1 1/2 hours later they washed in down the beach...all pretty shook up...
Check your gear, peoples...Spring is here...a 50 cent inhaul isn't worth
flipping it over to risk your gear or life...
Here's my shpiel on Spring PM (Preventive Maintenance):
Be proactive! Failing to plan is planning to fail...
You should inspect your UJ (universal joint), inhaul,
outhaul, uphaul and harness lines everytime you go sailing. My policy
is, if you are sailing in life critical conditions (cold H20, long
swims, big waves, boat traffic, reefs, rocks, sharks...etc.) and you
care about your life, gear and family, the few minutes and dollars it
takes to maintain these parts is miniscule compared to the consequences
of them failing.
I change rigging lines out frequently, even if they don't look
worn and unis out every season, whether I think they need them or
not...because I sail hard and as much as I can ALL YEAR LONG, jump high,
get worked in the surf, and sometimes land pretty hard.
If you are already using Streamlined tendons, be sure to inspect them by
bending them and looking at the shaft area...they normally don't break
in the middle like a rubber bogie...
I would change your uni and harness lines out every two seasons
regardless of your situation. Harness lines break and there are varying
degrees of build quality...I go with the WH Hard Ones
fixed lines , because I went through 5 pairs of another popular
brand in a one week period...a harness line snapping under load can
cause you grief all season if you hyper-extend your elbow or
pull/stretch a tendon in your arm.
The new Sailworks Quiktune adjustable lines are a nice upgrade and are
becoming very popular:
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=swk_quik_tune
A fresh pair of footstraps are not essential, but they sure can make
your board feel new again and are kinder to your ankles. I know what
they go through. I used to sail my gear until it broke, why fixit if it
ain't broke, right?...WRONG!
Same with fins...as you've heard ad nauseum here before, a new fin can
improve the performance of your board...so can fine sanding and/or
repairing a nicked fin...
If your deckpads are peeling up, contact cement them back down...or buy
and install them if you don't have any, or don't have adequate
coverage...pads make sailing easier on your feet and board...
Lubricate your board bag zippers and exercise them, if it's not too
late...
Remove your vent plug and replace the O-ring...some folks, the ones that
don't believe in touching their vent plugs once they are closed , find
out that they are aluminum and have corroded in place...no bueno...
EVERYTHING will break, eventually...just a matter of time...not worth
losing a dollar to save a dime.
The Streamlined tendons are $15 MSRP and the premium black rubber WH
uni-joints are $18 MSRP, harness lines are $25, footstraps are $17/ea
and line is $1.50/ft.
What's your gear , body parts or life worth to you?
I also use the Streamlined foot and plate components with the
Windsurfing Hawaii cups and bases. I have three seasons on my WH
bases...there are guys out there with ten!
Windsurfing Hawaii has been there from the beginning and so has the
Streamlined stuff from Dave Dominy. It is muy duro...it hasn't changed
since 1983.
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=wsh_02371
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=wsh_02211
Now is the time to get your sails, wetsuits, drysuits, harnesses and or
boards repaired if you've slacked all Winter...
Lots of surfsailors are buying fresh masts right now for the upcoming
season so that they have renewed confidence in them and to get a fresh
warranty. Go with a skinny if durability in the surf is critical...
I've gotten two seasons on my main pair of HPL carbon booms, when I've
never been able to get one out of any of the others...I'm not going push
it to three, so they have become backups.
Brush and clean the stainless pins in the rear end...
Inspect the head...a very nice aftermarket boom head from Streamlined
is now available...it installs quickly and gets rid of those pesky
inhaul lines as well as improving rig efficiency:
http://www.surfingsports.com/streamlined_strap_on.asp
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=hpl_boom_head
The Windsurfing Hawaii carbon and aluminum Makai booms have proven
themselves to me under heavy useage, as well...
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=wsh_00811
Oh yeah, almost forgot...vehicle maintenance...if you have a dedicated
windsurfmobile that hasn't been run since the season ended last year...
get that thing dialed in now...it cost a "bud" of ours, a sesh yesterday
at our secret spot that has been going off for the last 4 days...there
he was, stalled on the side of the road, a mile from the sailing
spot...finally showed up as it was dropping off...
http://www.surfingsports.com/santa_barbara.asp
http://www.surfingsports.com/mo_santa_barbara.asp
WARDOG
http://surfingsports.com
Fish KC-79
> That doesn't mean that they are necessarily safe.
> Bob
HALLELUJAH!!! DITTO FOR PFDs!!!
FISH
Ed
old equipment and/or not enough rubber. Check equipment carefully,
especially early season, and replace worn gear when needed and the cheap
replaceable components annually (downhauls, outhauls, u-joint).
Yeah, I know Mr. Lucky. A real nice guy. Actually, a very similar event
happened to me at Waddell, but it wasn't as light and I was able to get in.
Coincidentally, he was on the radio last night doing an anti-war audio
commentary.
-Ed
in article 3E60BF69...@cox.net, WARDOG at moon...@cox.net wrote on
3/1/03 6:01 AM:
Jon from islandsports.com
Island. About 10 years ago a friend and member of the windsurfing
industry died while sailing the Sakonnet River. He launched alone a
mile or so away from the nearest group of sailors. Conditions were
sheltered at his launch on the west side of the river, but out in the
middle it was blowing 25-30 knots. He was using a sail in the mid 6's
while everyone else that day were on sails in the mid 4's. (This was
before sails had the wind range of this day and age.) His body was
found floating, blown across to the east shore. The official cause of
death was drowning. We'll never know exactly how he died or whether
or not a helmet or PFD would have saved him. Perhaps if he hadn't
been sailing alone he would have survived. Certainly if he had rigged
smaller he would have had a better chance.
The only major injuries that I can recall locally were a broken wrist
for a sailor who got his arm caught in the harness line during a jibe,
and a guy who seriously broke his ankle jumping in a shallow shore
break. The first guy now uses the stiffer harness lines that don't
flop around. The second guy smoked too much herb before sailing, and
his judgement was pretty clouded. He had to give up sailing for over
a year, but he didn't give up his smoking habit. When he finally
returned to sailing last year he was a shadow of his former self. The
lessons learned: use stiff harness lines and go easy on the ganja.
spockatt...@hotmail.com (Miguel) wrote in message news:<e0b5dd7d.03022...@posting.google.com>...
Paul Fitz
Melbourne over the WE. Local media reported on saturday the death of a man
in his 40's windsurfing off Beaumaris beach, no details were provided about
how he died but it was reported that he was wearing a weatsuit and pdf. It
was a gusty day and fairly cold for this time of year (about 18 degrees
celcius) but the water is relatively warm still and I cannot imagine
hypothermia playing much of a role. Others may have more details.
Regards,
Paul
James Cox
In 42 years I've never, ever heard of anyone suffering shark attacks in the
mediterranean. I'd be very surprised if there we any sharks left in that
sea. There are certainly no fish...
--
Best Regards
James
"Kuba Szmigielski" <kszm...@wp.pl> wrote in message
news:b3nbfs$5h5$1...@nemesis.news.tpi.pl...
> Hi,
> very interesting discussion.
> I just wonder, what about the sharks attacks? Any clue on number of
> injuries?
> Were there any deaths?
>
> I ask for a reason cause my close friend does not ever
> want to sail on the Mediterranean sea because of the sharks.
>
> Thanks!
> Kuba
>
>
>
Weed Fin
<<I can only recall one fatality here in the Ocean State of Rhode
Island. About 10 years ago a friend and member of the windsurfing
industry died while sailing the Sakonnet River. He launched alone a
mile or so away from the nearest group of sailors. Conditions were
sheltered at his launch on the west side of the river, but out in the
middle it was blowing 25-30 knots. He was using a sail in the mid 6's
while everyone else that day were on sails in the mid 4's. (This was
before sails had the wind range of this day and age.) His body was
found floating, blown across to the east shore. The official cause of
death was drowning. We'll never know exactly how he died or whether
or not a helmet or PFD would have saved him. Perhaps if he hadn't
been sailing alone he would have survived. Certainly if he had rigged
smaller he would have had a better chance.>>
Jon, what about Armon, I can't think of his last name who died of a heart
attack while windsurfing off R.I.? He was a founder or tied into a drysuit
company. I met him 15, 18 years ago when I stopped by his company, Aqua
something, I can't even remember the name of the company. I do remember
something though. He was a nice guy, very polite, I was bummed when I heard the
news.
Wolfgang Soergel
[..]
> For research purposes, I am trying to collect information on
> windsurfing-related accidents involving major injury, near-death or
> death. Although the ultimate outcome of the accident is very
> important (i.e. death by drowning, hypothermia etc..), I am interested
> in learning more about the cause of the accident (i.e. equipment
> breakdown, injury, collision, etc...) and potential things that could
> have been done (in hind sight) to prevent the accident and/or reduce
> the severity of the final outcome.
I know of two deaths at places i go to, within the last decade or so. If
you need exact dates, i'd have to flip through my issues of Surf mag,
where the incidents were also reported.
+ A guy was found dead in l'Almanarre bay, a very busy place, with a big
gash about 10 to 13 years ago. Pressumbly run over by another sailor and
hit by the fin - this was the time when straight, sharpe edged G10 fins
came into vogue.
+ A couple of years ago, O. Cretien, founder of the Exocet board brand,
died on a very big day at Bretagne in France. Exact reason unknown.
Besides these there was a case of an intermediate German sailor,
possibly using equipment over his head, getting becalmed and swept out
to sea at Mauritius last year. He was never found afaik. . Inadequate or
late reactions of rescue resources may have played a role (but then i do
believe that no one should ever rely on the availibility of rescue
resources).
--
Wolfgang
Jon from islandsports.com
Armin Korst was the guy I was talking about. I never heard anything
about a heart attack being listed as his cause of death. I'm quite
sure an autopsy was never performed, so I suppose we'll never really
know what happened.
His company was Aquata, and they made some great drysuits.
He was a great guy, always smiling, telling stories about his wild
exploits around the world with a deep German accent. I still miss
him.
Jon
wee...@aol.com (Weed Fin) wrote in message news:<20030302195522...@mb-fj.aol.com>...
Weed Fin
<<Armin Korst was the guy I was talking about. I never heard anything
about a heart attack being listed as his cause of death. I'm quite
sure an autopsy was never performed, so I suppose we'll never really
know what happened.
His company was Aquata, and they made some great drysuits.
He was a great guy, always smiling, telling stories about his wild
exploits around the world with a deep German accent. I still miss
him.>>
That's him, Armin Korst. I stopped in Aquata on the way back from Island
Windsurfing after ordering my first custom board, shaped by Bilk Slabey <sp>,
remember him? Anyways, we sat down and just talked windsurfing for about half
an hour, he made a posititive impression on me, very nice man.
Ellen
the ones we have available today. I know the one I got in 1984 is
nothing like the one I have today.
Ellen