Yes, the boom can hurt you, it hurt me.....

We were "running", and a sudden change in wind direction, slammed the boom on my face while I blinked down to accomodate the main sheet. It cut me right under the eyebrow, over 1 inch long, 1/8 inch deep, and YES, we went diving !!! after I got stunned and lost conciousness for a few seconds, I woke up in the water !!!!!
I will be installing a thick foam cover on the boom, just like Murphy said, it will happen again !!! Any ideas or photos.
I got a photo of my swolen cheek and the cut, but can not post it, if anybody can, I will e-mail it and you post it for me, so that others learn from my mistake.
We managed to sail again using the rope method and the sails blocked properly and with the sails pointing into winds of 15-18 knots.

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

Sounds like you were running way too deep. Most cats, including Hobie 16s, sail better (faster) downind with the apparant wind at approximately 90 degrees and "tacking" downwind. Get a good wind vane/bridle fly and keep your eyes on it when going downwind. It should never be pointing far from 90 degrees. If it does, then you're sailing too deep and in danger of doing a "flying gybe." Also be sure to glance behind the boat frequently when sailing downwind, especially in gusty & shifty wind, so you can see the gusts coming before they hit you. Last, if you're sailing downwind and you see the jib go slack, that is a sure sign that you're heading WAY too low and should head up immediately or risk doing an unplanned gybe.

Sorry to see that you got banged up, but really, you don't need to pad the boom. Just sail the boat at a higher angle and flying gybes are basically a non-issue.

sm

It's called a boom,because that's the sound it makes when it hits you in the head.

Thanks SRM, thanks for the advise, I will be more carefull next time !!!

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Every second that passes cannot be recovered, so make good use of every one of them that you have left.

While it's nice to share, I don't know if I want to see blood and gore on this board (but it wouldn't be the first time).

There are a few people out there that wear helmets when sailing. Murray's sells a number of different styles: http://www.murrays.com/gath/gath.html

But the basic advice remains the same - Sail high enough so that you control the jibe and keep your head down!

In Spanish it's called Botabara which, as you'd imagine, is a really odd name for anything.

My sailing team has a saying: "you won't remember it's name until it hits you"

(Gath) Helmets will be in vogue soon as the AC sailor are using them now. It makes sense esp for novice and tourists along for a fast ride. I'm getting one with a splash visor, they make the sport look cooler.

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H18, H17 & Various motor boats

I got smoked by the boom once... when screwing around near shore with swirling winds. I think I was messing with the lines or something, either way, my head wasn't fully in the game and it very quickly reminded me that sailing requires concentration, thinking, and your relatively undivided attention.

Thankfully, I didn't get cut and I didn't go overboard.. but I had a good swollen reminder on my eyebrow for a few days.

I've thought about wearing my rock/ice climbing helmet but haven't done so... I'm pretty good about keeping it under control... and I hate sailing directly downwind, so I avoid that at all costs.

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1982 H16 (C:\Worthy)
Yellow/White Prism type sails

Same here, because of the of the sudden boom swing, but also because of the slow speed. The lake where I sail is lengthwise, and the wind usually blows lengthwise as well, so upwind one way and downwind the other.

I usually find I get back home quicker if I sail at 45 degree and gybe rather than straight downwind, even with the extra distance. It's also safer because I have more control when the boom swings.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Yeah, I agree. I'm a fair weather sailor. I rocked the lake yesterday but got fried to a crisp doing it... and then had to fight to get back into harbor... that was exhausting!

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1982 H16 (C:\Worthy)
Yellow/White Prism type sails