Be careful. I know I wasn't.....

[John B]

I suppose after 20 years sailing my own boat and many years sailing before that ,a few things are going to happen that aren’t good. I got caught by the oldest trick in the book on the weekend when I got smacked over by the boom in our last winter race. Lot’s of reasons why it happened but only one persons fault and that’s mine. I suppose I’m more used to being a skipper than a crew and ultimately I was where I shouldn’t have been at a critical time.
Anyway, my face, normally a bit like the local sports club field, ( plain and a bit worn) looks more like the same field after an international rugby match took place in the rain and then they ran a tractor contest on it.
I’m lucky though. No bad or permanent damage although it looks bad. Bad enough that my mother fainted after seeing me. Gawd, that was funny. “ can’t stand the limelight being off ya for a second eh Mum?”

I take it as a warning. Be more careful on the boat.
Be alert, we need more lerts.

[NormMessinger]

Pictures?

p

pp

p

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Mary was racing my daughter home from a friends house a couple of weeks ago (in clogs) and tripped and fell. Her hands were in her jacket pocket holding here phone and keys and stuff and she fell flat on her face. :( Her chin was cut up and her nose bruised and had the worst black eyes I've ever seen. Like a raccoon. :eek:
She heals pretty quick, though. I hope you do ,too. She wouldn't allow pictures, will you?

Steven

[Doug Wood]

Ouch John! Glad to hear that you're okay and will live to race another day.

[John B]

I've hidden the camera. But you know the colour aubergine? and purple. Sort of picture those colours on an extra from Buffy meets Alice Cooper on a bad day.

[Jeff Robinson]

Boom OK?

[Leon m]

So...I take it you didn't win the race :(
sorry about your face. :( ;)

[John B]

we were off the pace.

[brian.cunningham]

Now you know why I want to go with a boomless foresail.

Glad you're OK.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Faces heal fast, for some reason.

Thanks for the warning, John.

There but for the grace of.....I have been getting overconfident and sloppy.

During a race this summer I was standing on the channels, reaching outboard to re-reeve a foresail sheet, when my guest crew quietly pointed out that I was doing so with no lifejacket, no harness and wearing only socks on my feet...

Two weekends ago we ran into the river over the bar in an onshore breeze four hours after HW and as we were in the breakers (!) Alex noticed we had six inches of water under the keel...

I am about due for your sort of experience.

Will try to be more sensible. :(

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Cheers and salutations from the man of 80 stitches, all in groups of no more than 7 or 8 :D

Glad you didn't break anything ;)

[R.I.Singer30]

John glad to hear you are okay.Luckily you didn't go unconcious.?Were you wearing a PFD?Those little Stern side packs are nice.

[John B]

Some many years ago an older, very experienced yachtsman we used to race against, quietly and efficiently poked his 40ft yacht up on passage rock, an island he'd no doubt sailed past 100's of times before.He just went a little bit closer than last time.
We all need these little warnings from time to time.
Look what happened to Tabarly for goodness sakes.

Unconcious? I wasn't unconcious. But then, what would I know, I was out to it.Poleaxed.I had to have a lie down for 10 minutes after.And monday and tuesday weren't good days.

[Bernadette]

John, yours is a nasty injury no doubt. Please be mindful that some traumas (like yours) can produce "latent" injuries such as spinal trauma and even perhaps, haemorrage/clots which are not at first eveident, but may cause problems after a few days. I assume you were checked out by a doctor and especially so, as you had an episode of loss of consciousness. I'm not being nosey..just concerned...it's what being a nurse is all about!
Hope you are back sailing soon.
Bernadette.

[martin schulz]

Sailing my boat back with my stepfather, who has just a little bit of experience in rather heavy waves, which shook us around a bit he suddenly threw away the Main sheet (don't ask me why) I asked him to take care off. I just wanted him to loosen it a bit in squalls, because I was too lazy to reef.

Well - bringing about the ship I got hit by the boom but was to busy to care or even think about it.

Until yesterday I was puzzled why I had a headache the last 3 days, now reading this post I guess I know why.

[Mrleft8]

It's called a "BOOM" for a reason ya know..... ;)

[John B]

LOL.

yes Bernadette. I got looked at by the newfie nurse mate and then by a doc. Thanks for checking.