Mast, sail and bag badly damaged...
After sailing this morning, I decided to visit the Oklahoma City Regatta Festival. This is a national rowing (shells & kayaks) competion and related festival. So, with my trailer in tow, I show up at the event and because I have a trailer, they parked me amongst the collegate team and other team trailers (probably 30-40 of them). These were large trailers holding many shells (length looked greater than 30 feet). Needless to say, I looked very out of place and many people were staring at me and my Hobie boats (TI and Adventure). While I was visiting the event, I suspect the rear strap holding my mast/sail bag to the trailer were sabotaged. Either that or when I loaded it after sailing this morning, I clipped the rear strap together without putting it over the bag (dangling underneath). I specifically remember clipping this strap and sinching it down tight over the mast and sail. Unfortunately, I did not check all the tiedowns on the trailer before leaving the festival. Upon arriving home after the 15 mile highway drive, I notice the mast is on the ground, not dragging from the back, but the front was tipped down and spearing into the roadway. This was impossible to see from the rearview mirror of my Yukon XL while driving. Here are some pics of the damage.
I think the mast will be fine to use like it is, but the sail will need repairs. I think the long batten is salvagable too. I should be thankful it wasn't worse, and it could have been much worse.
Lesson learned - Always check your tiedowns after a stop.
