Learning every day

I thought I might share a story with you all that at the time made me a bit sick, but as I think back is pretty amusing.

I sail out of St. Louis, most often at Lake Caryle(sp?) in IL. Its a nice sailing lake for the mid-west, although a bit dirty (built on farm-land, clay and farm run-off I'm sure have had an effect). Anyway, last weekend my wife and I took our hobie 16 out. Its an older boat and I have put a huge amount of work into, including a new paint job.

The idea was simple, she back the trailer in, I'd sail around the rock jetty that bookends the ramp. Well I waited out some powerboats and saw my opportunity so I cleated in the main and shot for the dock. As I approached, I realized I was moving WAY to fast and would prob end up in the parking lot if I didn't do something fast. At the same time I noticed my poor wife had pretty much backed the trailer onto the dock instead of the ramp and was trying to regroup. I got laughing at that and perhaps that impaired my speed a bit. I uncleated the jib and reached back to drop the main. As I reached back, I knocked the rudder bar hard left and by the time I was able to turn around and see where I was going I realized my efforts were too little too late.

I swung right and ran the left hull right up on the giant rocks next to the ramp. I managed to high center myself so badly I had to get off and lift the boat back into the water. All the while, the powerboaters were laughing so hard several stopped what they were doing to relish in my misery.

By the time I got the boat back in the water, the wife managed to get the trailer (kind of) down the ramp and we got it loaded up.

So if anyone sails Lake Caryle(sp?) IL, be sure to check out my huge paint streak on the rocks to the right of the ramp.

As for the boat, all seems well except for the loss of paint (was going to touch up this winter anyway). I'm pretty lucky, the rock could have as easily been blunt in which case I might be posting for a new hull instead of just me being a dumbass!

Man that sucks. We've all got little stories like that but I'll never admit it

I think anyone that has sailed Hobie's for any length of time as a story similar to that, I have come close several times to running into things because I underestimated the speed of the boat, especially the 16 it makes no noise and such a small wake it can be very deceiving. I personally am too embarrassed to tell my story-- maybe some day lol.

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

Well, the damage was light, mostly just some paint touch up I needed to do anyway so its easier to laugh it off now that a couple days have gone by.

I hope to buy a new hobie this spring so anytime something like this happens I just do a little prayer thanking god I was too broke to buy one this summer. I figure I'll have a better handle on things in 9 months.

I'm reluctant to post this but I will anyway. It couldn't have been as bad as this:

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewt ... ght=#33520

This was from back in June. Granted it wasn't from a mis-judgement of speed but it was still rather embarassing for me. And there were plenty of people watching.

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James
86' Redline Hobie 16
Sail # 76909

Wrong post.

OK Roy, give it up. Sounds too funny to be kept a secret.