Mother nature does not like show offs...

[breweraz]

she will put you in your place.

This weekend was a busy day at the lake with many families out. We were just sailing around when I noticed a pontoon boat following us. He came up along my starboard side, a safe distance off. I was on a starboard, close reach tack running at 4-5 knts, sails full and trimmed, the boat balanced with a slight heel, sitting in the high side cat bird seat. with a cold ice tea in hand..all was good.

On the pontoon boat there were 5-6 people people all lined up with cameras. I was watching them over my shoulder and I must admit posing a little.

Just as I was looking really cool a big gust came and heeled us over to about 35 - 40 degrees. The boat turned sharply to weather, drink went flying as I was stepping on the mainsheet (you Hunter 260 owners know what I mean) to release the main, heading toward the pontoon boat.

The mainsheet released, the gust passed and she fell off and resumed our course well before any danger. If they were not too scared I bet they got some good pictures of a frantic, not so cool looking sailor. They waved as they drove off.

The admiral gave me that look...followed by my brilliant, red faced response... what?, as she started picking up all the carniege in the cabin.

As I said mother nature does not like show offs or maybe I should have been just paying attention to sailing. I swear I heard mother nature laughing.

In retrospect I realizied a lot could have gone really bad and reminded me...once again... to keep a watchful eye on the water at all times.


Tim

 

[CharlieCobra]

Oh yeah, she'll b@tch slap ya in a heartbeat. BTDT.

 

[txtowman]

all's well since you didn't spill a beer!

 

[Hermit Scott]

It would have been sweet if you knew it was going to heel you over toward them. You could have yelled "I'm gonna ram 'em!"

 

[larryw]

You have to perfect your "I planned that!" look

 

[philwsailz]

Tim-

Why all the carnage below?

Tell the admiral it was a test to make sure all the stuff below was stowed properly...

I share that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but from experience, stuff flying around down below is dangerous...

Get us pics if you can; I would like to see!

 

[Cpt. Jon]

Things flying around down below is now a definate No-Go on our boat. We have a infant that likes to hang out down there and nap, which is fine with me but stuff had better be stowed right. We were sailing home from a weekend a couple of weeks ago and got hit by a BIG gust that lasted a little longer than "normal", when if first caught us we heeled over pretty good and clang clang of pots and pans scared the crap out of me. Turns out everything was stowed fine and the pots and pans that made the noise were just banging around in their cupboard.

Great story and thanks for sharing, I can picture the whole thing. I can also picture the look from the wife but only because I know that look OH SO WELL from my own

 

[sailormanbigd]

I always wear that look of accomplishment and total calm and awareness-I knew that was going to happen, and if you passengers were salty you would be aware too. No worries mon, boats alive.

 

[Joseph Shirley]

Experienced sailors say: "In puffy weather, never belay the main sheet."

That said, I too have a story of doom to tell.
Many years ago a nearly all professional crew I was part of (on a Hood 38), was beating to weather in fog, in an around Block Island (RI) race, splitting tacks with a 42 footer and gaining, on the way to the finish. We had a double reef in the main and a no 2 jib and the helmsman was playing the puffs beautifully without releasing the main. The owner, being the least experienced and entitled to an easy job, was assigned to tend the main sheet.

Out of the fog comes this 42 footer on stbd tack, and we can't clear him, so we plan to hold close , duck under his stern and force him to duck us on the next crossing.

We were very close, and while sliding down the back of a big wave and just about to turn down and fall off, we got hit with a big puff and the helmsman called to release the main.

Guess what: The owner had it belayed on a cleat and couldn't loose it.

All we could do was shout clear the side, and look out below, as we slid down that big wave and took out his coamings, winches, and backstay, as we rode right up over him. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt but we rendered assistance and retired from the race. We were left with an embarrassing reminder of our ineptness during the remainder of race week in the form of a mangled bow pulpit bent well off to port demonstrating to all our port tack infraction.

Ever since that time I always tend the main sheet.

Have fun

Joe S