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One hand for the boat!
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davidm
Posts: 14
Location: Kincardineshire, United Kingdom
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In June 2003 I put in two weeks sailing from Oban to the Shetlands The idea was to get some miles and more different kind of experience under my belt prior to tackling the Yachtmasters exam later in the year. I got more than I bargained for and the Crew got to work with an Air-Sea Rescue helicopter scrambled from Stornoway.
We had set out to cross the Minch from Scalpay at the south end of Lewis to Loch Torridan. As we set out the forecast was SE F6/7 so we reefed and furled accordingly and soon settled down to a fastish sail hard on the wind. It wasn’t long though that the wind started to increase and we had to put in the final reef and furled away more genoa to balance up the helm. I had been on the helm from the outset and just before being relieved, I had noticed that the wind had been fairly steady at 40+knots, F9.
The Minch responded as it does but the boat was coping well in the conditions. The visibility has reduced in the spray and I decided to go below to have a look at the chart. The boat was well heeled over to port and I had to wedge myself firmly into the chart table.
Then I broke the golden rule. I tried to put a plug into the back of the VHF set which required me to momentarily let go of the grab rail. At that moment, no hands for the boat, the boat lurched. My wet boots slipped out from under the chart table and I fell into the galley area which seemed at this point to be almost vertically below me. My back hit the companionway steps and my head went through the toughened glass cooker door.
On taking a description of my condition from the crew, Stornoway Coastguard decided to fly the chopper. I remember the paramedic appearing at the hatch and bouncing of the walls as he made his way towards me “.............you guys do this for fun? Why?”
I was very lucky. I wasn’t cut badly, I wasn’t knocked unconscious and I didn’t break anything, although, I felt as though I’d broken everything. It could have been very different............and all because I let go!!!
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