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 Post subject: Tether
PostPosted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:01 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:41 am
Posts: 32
Location: Lake Livingston, Texas
Thought this might be worth mentioning. I don't know if it's normal practice to attach a tether to oneself when going for a dip - I never have - until next time I go out.

It was a typical warm summer afternoon hear in East Texas (100+), and I decided to reef in the main and go in for a dip to cool off, as I have many times before. I never paid attention to which way the rudder was oriented, nor bothered with a tether. I'm a pretty good swimmer, and just figured how fast can it take off with no sail. Well - it can take off a lot faster than I can swim, which it did with the rudder straight as an arrow. She headed right back to the marina (about two miles). Fortunately, I had a life jacket on. The wind had picked up, and there was boat traffic all around, but nobody saw me waving for help until I had swum to within a quarter mile of my destination. Just a head and arm sticking up in a 2 ft chop is not all that visible. Anyhow, someone at the marina saw my boat come in with nothing but a hat on board, and secured her for me. They were about to call fire & rescue when I showed up, hopped in, and sailed off - after thanking them for securing my Bravo.

In the future I'll hook up some kind of light weight tether that I can snap onto my vest before I go for a swim. These little boats can really move - even without a sail!

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Bob Reeves
Lake Livingston, Texas
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 Post subject: Re: Tether
PostPosted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 11:35 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:45 am
Posts: 13
Good warning!!! I was thnking of trying an ankle leash like the surfers use.


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 Post subject: Re: Tether
PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:34 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:26 pm
Posts: 29
Location: SW Michigan
Cats always want to go somewhere!!

When I first got my Hobie 16, I tried mooring it out in front of our house, but it was always "pacing" back and forth, regardless of having the sail on it and the rudder locked up. I finally built a slide for the hulls to be pulled up our seawall, so it could sit on land....

It's a good thing you're a strong swimmer!!


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 Post subject: Re: Tether
PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 4:21 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 1:36 pm
Posts: 13
Location: Virginia
was the current a factor? Today i was kicked by my bravo it sail away from me luckly i was able to get it back but the current was very storng; stronger than usual for my spot. ... i love it when it does that...


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