[quote=timscottyoung]Had 4 adults, I was only sailor, on my H18 (with wings), pushing out through big surf (3-5) - too big. We were at Panama City Beach area. Everyone wanted a ride and I didn't want to disappoint. Wind was good, 15, but straight offshore 0 deg. A big wave caught the nose, pushed it around. Took next big wave on port side and we almost flipped over. 2 of us went flying and the ones still on the boat had no sailing experience. I surfaced in time to grab the strut on the wing with one hand and the rudder crossbar with the other - dragging behind the boat, steering it, going parallel to the beach. Another big wave hit and washed over. I was barely able to pull myself up and onto the boat. The other adult swam in and sat it out. A sandbar up close meant that rudders couldn't go down until we cleared the sandbar - so pressure on rudders was strong since they were barely in the water. I was shook up, but we got through the surf, once we built some speed, and sailed for a few minutes anyway. Only casualty was my prescription sunglasses - gone for good. Could have been much worse. Lesson learned. I've ben sailing my H18 and other beach cats for more than 10 years. I knew better.[/quote]
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