[Public-List] Knockdown in an Alberg 30

[Roger L. Kingsland]

Gord,

I did something similar to your friend Lynn only I was the cause of the
spreaders going into the water not the preventer of them coming out.  To
clarify, I am not absolutely sure "my" spreaders were all the way in the
water but I assume crew members hanging from the windward life lines
qualifies me to offer a follow up story.  

In my 20s I had achieved experience racing small boats and cruising big
boats but not racing big boats.  Somehow I got on a CC 41' racing IOR on
Lake Erie as a novice crew.  During my first race I was assigned to man the
main sheet in the library where the afterguard could, in theory, look after
me.  We too were screaming along on a spinnaker reach when I noticed a
bubble in the luff of the main.  I recalled when that happened on my Hobie
16, if I pulled the main in, I could go faster; I mean, sailing is sailing,
right, so I cranked in the main, with predictable results.  We went faster
all right; turned real fast to windward as the mast dove toward the water.  

After everything was sorted out Dick Newpher, our skipper (AKA "Pirate")
commenced a yelling at me and made the error of my ways perfectly clear in
no uncertain terms.  While he caught his breath between curses, I apologized
profusely and promised to never do that again, as long as I live, Scout's
honor, so help me God.  He was on a roll though and short of jumping
overboard, I didn't know what to so I just kept apologizing.  Finally, the
afterguard started to point out to Pirate that I had got the point and they
too felt I would never do that again; so, maybe it was time to recommence
racing.

I sailed about 30 races with Pirate (I guess he appreciated a good
apologizer) and learned as much during those two seasons of racing as I have
learned in years of cruising.  How right you are; it's all good.

All the best,

Roger 148            




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