Received: from hplms26.hpl.hp.com by opus.hpl.hp.com with ESMTP (1.37.109.18/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1) id AA137173463; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:44:23 -0700 Return-Path: <Miro.Glogolja@sci.siemens.com-DeleteThis> Received: from mail1.noc.netcom.net by hplms26.hpl.hp.com with ESMTP (1.37.109.16/15.5+ECS 3.3+HPL1.1S) id AA016463459; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:44:19 -0700 Received: from sci.sci.siemens.com (sci.sci.siemens.com [204.31.80.2]) by mail1.noc.netcom.net (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id IAA28462 for <wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis>; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:38:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Miro.Glogolja@sci.siemens.com-DeleteThis Received: from inside.sci.siemens.com ([190.8.55.10]) by sci.sci.siemens.com via smtpd (for mail1.noc.netcom.net [204.31.1.150]) with SMTP; 11 Apr 1997 15:43:33 UT Received: from himmes by sci.siemens.com (SMI-8.6/SMI-4.1) id IAA21167; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:43:18 -0700 Received: by himmes (1.37.109.20/16.2-WT4.1) id AA289143493; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 08:44:53 -0700 Original-Encoded-Information-Types: IA5-Text X400-Mts-Identifier: [/P=SCN/A=MCI/C=US/;m\msmailgw\970411084422a] Content-Identifier: Holding the boar Ua-Content-Id: Holding the boar Autoforwarded: FALSE Priority: Normal Importance: Normal Sensitivity: Personal Received: by MCI; Fri, 11 Apr 1997 8:44:23 -0700 Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 8:44:23 -0700 Subject: Holding the board To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis (Receipt Notification Requested) Message-Id: <"MSMAIL PC */PRMD=SCN/ADMD=MCI/C=US/"@MHS> X-Mailer: Worldtalk (4.1.1-p1)/MIME
> > From: Rick Weiss <rickw@nabletech.com-DeleteThis>
> >
> > I often fall and have to swim to my board. Sometimes if I fall just
> > right, the wind pushes the board downwind, and I have to swim fast
> > to catch my board. Has anyone toyed with the idea of using a leash
> > all the time--- like surfers do?
James Paugh wrote:
>This would not work. As others have mentioned, you'll end up tangled in
>the leash gibing/taching. The leash would have to be long enough to let
>you move around, and then it would likely end up under the board,
>wrapped around your fin when you're trying to get planing.
>Don't worry about tying yourself to the board until you're broken down
and
>need the insurance that you won't get separated from you board,
especially
>if that's all you have left.
I do not quite agree with this. One does not have to break down to risk
loosing the board. I had fairly frightening experience twice. Both
times I sailed alone in very high wind in the channel using 3.4m sail and
Tiga 260 (I am 150lbs.). I always wear a life west, since it is good
protection in case of hard falls and makes water starts very easy (call
me lazy). The frightening experience occurred when I got thrown off the
board while in the air (the wind just ripped the rig away from my hands),
my body kind of stayed with the wind while the board with the rig ended
15-20 feet downwind with the sail locked on the top of the back of the
board. The result was that there was hardly any drag and within 1-2
seconds I realized that I better swim like hell or the board is gone. In
both cases it took me several minutes (felt like forever) to catch up
with the board. The most frustrating part was that I would just about
touch the board when a big swell with the wind gust would suddenly push
it away another 10-15 ft and all I could do is watch, curse and swim as
hard as I could. I was very, very close to losing it. My heart must
have been going at 200 per minute when I finally got a hold of the board,
totally out of breath and not much strength. Life west in this case was
a hindrance, because it slowed me down considerably. I was not too
worried about making it back by swimming, although it would take several
hours for sure. But in spite of the fact that it was early afternoon,
who knows how long can one last swimming in very rough seas. I was well
protected with a 4mm semidry suit, boots, gloves, and rubber cap under
the helmet, but all this is good only for so many hours. Since last year
I also wear a strobe.
So if there is a way to connect the body with the back end of the board
in a practical and unobtrusive manner, I'd certainly use it on big
sailing days. A coiled stretchable cord connected to the back of the
harness and the back foot strap sounds like it might work.
Miro Glogolja
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