[quote=tstein]Summer of '88, Clearwater Beach. I just purchased new H18 magnum and was happily sailing with wife in light air. Before an afternoon summer squall came through we headed for the beach and furled the jib and released mainsheet quick pin before retiring to the car for some cold brews and wait it out. After 40 minutes the rain and wind ceased and I looked in my rear view mirror only to see the boat missing! I jump out only to see our new boat steadily drifting 100' away. Now here comes the stupid part: I run 40 yards down the beach and run into the water and begin swimming after my pride and joy. After sprint swimming for 60 yards I pause to get a bearing on the boat, which by this time is now much further away, having taken a broad reach course offshore. I sprint another 80 yards when it suddenly comes to mind the hydrodynamic comparison of the human body and a catamaran. I'm very winded at this point, especially with a bellyful of beer and realize I'm near my bingo point. With my last reserves I sprint one more time, finally gaining ground until I'm near collapse. I manage to grasp a rudder blade and hang on until I get catch my breath and crawl onboard. I rigged main sheet quick pin and sailed back to beach and a very upset newlywed wife.
My lesson learned from that point on, 1. Pull boat further up onto the beach fully out of the water and 2. Don't drink until all the sailing is done for the day.[/quote]
No HTML tags allowed (except inside [code][/code] tags)
