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Weiss Lake Regatta (AL)

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/26/2013 : 10:42:23

I attended my 4th Weiss Lake regatta this past weekend, crewing for my good friend, Don, on his C-22. We sailed in silver fleet and finished in first place, our second year to place first in this regatta. Weather was great, fairly consistent easterly winds 6-10, got in 5 races, 3 on Sat. and 2 on Sun. Food and fellowship was terrific, as usual!

It was not an uneventful regatta.

In the first race, we had just rounded the windward mark on the second circuit, in the lead, and were heading for the offset mark. I retrieved the whisker pole from below, set it on the deck, and was going forward to set the pole. As I started to go around the shrouds, I grabbed the aft lower for balance and it came loose at the deck. That shroud was a bit shorter than the other aft lower, so Don had added a shackle to the bottom of the turnbuckle. Apparently, the shackle had widened at the pin, putting enough pressure on the O-ring, and the shackle opened up. Losing the shroud caused me to lose my balance and over I went, my hand sliding down the shroud to the turnbuckle. Somehow I managed to maintain my grip on the turnbuckle, and reached for it with my other had as well. I'm swinging from the end of the shroud waist deep in the water and trying to figure out how to get my ass back into the boat. Meanwhile Don tightens up the backstay, hoping we don't lose the mast, and continues sailing downwind toward the finish line, all the while trying to figure out how he's going to get me back in the boat (no ladder on the stern and he's over 70 years old).
I pulled myself up as much as I could by the shroud and managed to get my foot up on the deck. Pulling with my arms and leg, I managed to lift myself enough to get my bottom over the side and on deck, then rolled to get the rest of my on board. Adrenelin is a wonderful thing. As it turned out, I didn't even get the inflatable vest wet enough the activate it.
Cursing, we're both thinking: how to fix the shroud to finish the race. In the back of my mind I'm thinking: We're done for the race, maybe even the day. My first idea was to use a short piece of line, but it wouldn't go through the chainplate hole. Then I remember the block and shackle we added to the main cunningham for more purchase. I took that shackle off of the cunninhham, squeezed the arms of the failed shackle back together, put it back over the chainplate, and used the new shackle as the clevis pin, putting it outside of the arms on the failed shackle, and screwed the shackle pin into place. It held! Then I gave the turnbuckle a few turns to try to tension it at least a little.
By the time I'm done, Don is continuing to sail the boat and we're 2/3 of the way along the downwind leg. We finish that race in second place! Don and I both can hardly believe it.

I can now definitively say that using the aft lower as a trapeeze, without a harnes, is not a good idea!

DavidP
1975 C-22 SK #5459 "Shadowfax" Fleet 52
PO of 1984 C-25 SK/TR #4142 "Recess"
Percy Priest Yacht Club, Hamilton Creek Marina, Nashville, TN

Edited by - dmpilc on 08/26/2013 11:00:08

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2013 : 10:59:07

We'd <u>love</u> to see a picture of that David!

(Good job with that creative rigging repair!)

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 08/26/2013 : 11:03:15

I do wish someone had been filming it, because I'd love to see it, but I don't think anyone on the chase boat was taking pictures. BTW, I'm 63. I guess swimming several days per week really helps. Don't know where I got the strength to pull myself back into the boat.