Thanks Chris, you may have very well saved my life.
It all started with me launching from Van Pugh and taking the same basic tack as everyone else. On this run I had a 5.0 rigged and the ride was, well, can we say ROUGH and TUMBLE. It was about my 8th tack of the day. I was approaching the middle of the lake and set up for a jibe. As the board rounded down wind the speed picked up as everything began to get more distorted. For whatever reason, either, I just let go or the rig was torn from my hands, I landed on my back in the water and the sail remained in a vertical position as the board sailed away from me. Finally, I saw the board and rig in the water about 40 FEET from my location. I knew that I must immediately begin swimming toward my rig or it would be gone in a flash. The wind was blowing 30 mph. As I began to swim I reminded myself that I go to the pool 4 to 5 days a week in the winter. I should be ok. Just keep swimming and don’t stop because the wind will not cease pushing the board downwind. I keep swimming hard and changing swimming styles. Freestyle, breast stroke, side stroke. I am becoming really out of breath. As if you had just done a sprint run. I am gaining on the board. At this point I realize how difficult it is to swim hard in a wet suit with gloves and booties on. I also, find that the wet suit acts like a boa constrictor, constricting my chest as I breath harder and harder and the neck of the wet suit is applying pressure on my throat. This is contributing to the difficulty in breathing hard. The water is cold, the waves seem gigantic, and I inhale a little bit of water each time I breath. I realize that if I were to take one badly timed breath that I could drown. I am at the point of exhaustion but I am within 10 feet of the board. Then a huge wave, seemed like 3 feet high, hit the board and rig and sent it another 4 or 5 feet away, now the board is 14 feet away. At this point I was too exhausted to continue swimming. I had to catch my breath instead. That was more important at this time. The board and rig went out of site quickly as I bob in the water trying to recoup. A few prayers were said at this point. I am now just trying to move toward land. Then I spot Chris Pyron. He sails within 50 feet of me but never makes eye contact. I thought that he did not see me. I am waving my yellow helmet and shouting his name. Then he yells back at me. What a relief! Chris comes over and drops in. I now have his board for flotation. This allows me to elevate my head above the water more than the 2 inches I had before when as I was bobbing in the water. I cannot talk. I can only breath and burp. I am burping like I just drank a 2 liter coke. Apparently I inhaled a lot of everything during the last 30 minutes. After I recover, Chris and I are trying to figure out what to do next. I am so glad he didn’t just leave me to go get help. Instead, we both held onto the board and assumed the water start position. We used this sailing method to sail to my board. My board at this time is about 100 yards away and very difficult to spot in the waves. As we sailed we switched from Chris flying the sail to me flying the sail. Remember the wind is still blowing 30 and the waves are big. After sailing and tacking like this for about an hour we reach my board that is lodged on the rocks at the campground below Bozo Is. At this point, we rest, then Chris takes off and my plan is to rest for a long time then carry my rig to the other side of the campground and launch in the cove where boats are launched at Van Pugh, which is exactly what I did, FINALLY ending up back at Van Pugh Park. Sailing through the cove was difficult due to weird wind but at least I was not wrestling the big stuff in the open lake. I was energy drained at this point. Later Chris told me that it took him 6 tacks in that 30 mph wind to make it back to the launch at V/P.
This was not due to an equipment failure. I know of others who have made this journey due to equipment breakdown. At least they had a board to hold on to. My event was due to operator error. NEVER LET GO OF THE RIG WHEN GOING DOWN – ESPECIALLY IN 30 KNOT WINDS. Also, I learned, it is harder to swim in a wet suit, any distance, than one might think. One other thing to consider is that if this had been February or March and the water temperature had been 47 degrees, the outcome might have been different.
Thanks again Chris. I owe you one.
Reminds me of my "event" last year when Tim C. towed me back in when my mast track came unstuck - also in winter (Jan I think). Seems like stuff like this only happens when its cold. I now have a safety vest that offers some floatation, but more importantly, it has pockets that I have loaded with line, food, a swiss amry knife, a whistle, space blanket, a flashing light, my prescription meds, waterproof matches and kindling (in case I have to camp out on an island) and even an inflatable float ring (in case I lose the board).
Randy
Randy,
You must be slipping to leave your trolling motor on the beach.
Patrick
David makes a good point but sometimes you let go anyway. If you have a chance, swim like hades to get to that board. And, oh, yeah, if your board and sail separate, the ONLY thing that matters is the board. The sail is an anchor - trying to save it in rough conditions may cost you your life. Look up used rigs at Gene's and decide if your life is worth $450. The board is the thing that floats.
I'm glad the story has a happy ending.
Ditto on the kudos to Chris Pyron. It was very sharp of him to recognize somebody "was missing". I bet most of us seldom look downwind, and particularly on a day like yesterday... VERY gusty and shifty.
I heard others say what a great day it was, but for me at was a hard day to sail: crazy chop, never quite on the right size, blinding sun, wardrobe malfunctions, etc. It took me a long time to get dialed in. It would have easy to flub a jibe or jump and end up swimming in the middle of nowhere with nobody around. Chris really was a hero. Lesson learned- let's keep tabs on who's where, especially on the big days.
cv
...Chris you the man. I can relate to the "geeze this is a lot harder swimming than I expected" - because of all the reasons that you mentioned.
Some people do wear PFDs - I seem to recall that even DaKine has some floaty harness or something. Often we are "too cool" for it, but it should be seriously considered.
Dave,
Glad you're OK. I had a *very* similar experience a few years ago.
Fell and lost hold of the boom about equidistant from any shore between Van Pugh and Aqualand on a really cold, high wind day. Started swimming for it immediately and just caught the tip of the sail. Went vertical in the water since I thought I was safe. Before I could get a better grip on the sail/mast a breaking swell ripped it out of my hand. The sail had fallen on the board/water such that the pocket of the sail caught maximum wind/chop. It was driven away from me more quickly than I could possibly swim after it. I was completely out of breath and didn't have a chance of catching it again.
Mark Eberhart made a long carve and ended up near me. By that time I had been in the water without board/rig for at least ten minutes. It took him over a half hour to tow me to the beach near the campground by which time I was cramping really well from the cold. Don't know how I could have made it back on my own as out of breath and cold as I was in the rough water having already swallowed/inhaled a good bit.
Be careful out there folks! It can be really dangerous. Don't take for granted that you'll always have your board.
God Bless,
- Christian
May your water be smooth and your winds be swift.
David! Soooo glad that Chris was able to help you out and that you are OK.
Greetings to you both, and Aloha all ABC members by the way! Christian's post reminds me of some of those intense conditions on Lanier, and how dependant we are on the boards for safety as well as fun. I remember Christian's predicament well. I had just jibed and was heading back towards VP and was sailing along and heard this soft voice over the wind say "Mark". I thought, "wow, how cool - I'm on first name basis with the Wind Goddess now." It seemed like I imagined it, ya know? Then, I heard it again, and looked around and saw nothing. I thought, "OK, the cold has gone to my head and I'm hallucinating now." Sailing on, I suddenly get the urge to look behind me, as if I were guided to where to look. I looked back over my shoulder and I see a face in the water, looking too small in that vast lake. I remember thinking, "What the hell is someone doing swimming out here?" I did not immediately think "windsurfer" as no gear was in sight. So I jibe, and sail back to the person and as I get close I realize it's my great friend Christian Thompson treading water in the middle of the pitching lake! It was an area that I didn't often sail through, but I was then due to a series of long carving jibes that was taking me way downwind. I recall CT saying to me that his prayer was answered - as in he had prayed for me to spot him. Well, it must have worked, because he would have been very easy to miss in the waves, and in fact, I had sailed on by, never seeing him. It's amazing enough that I ended up close by, but only his faint call managing to float over the wind, and his intent on needing my help "rang the bell" in my head and broke the windsurf reverie. It was tough going getting him back to shore, totally maxing out my grip power. But of course, ya do what ya have to do. I've done the same for strangers out here in the Gorge. I have been involved with three other serious rescues and have been rescued myself, so what goes around comes round rings true. In the cold, looking out for each other is very important, because there is always another session, but you have to stay alive to get to it. I know I have pushed my luck sailing alone many, many times, and often quite distant from shore. So I have to keep my karma bank full. Anyone need help? : ^ ) A small side note: one reason I have always loved my Bare drysuit (the red one you always saw me in) besides its warmth, is that the soft nylon top offers NO resistance at all to arm movement, the garment can trap air if you need help floating (been there) and it doesn't press on your neck or chest so you won't have breathing difficulties like David was. It has really helped me out on a couple of very long swims across half the Columbia River.
Another happy side note: I went to Maui for the first time last September and got to sail all the spots, including a firing Ho'okipa. It was awesome! Hopefully, I can get a trip report and photos posted here on the ABC site, or to y'all individually. You can e-mail Christian for my e-mail address.
Y'all enjoy your season, keep in touch and *take care* windsurf brothers. Merry Christmas! a. d. Mark
July 2011
I still say a little thankful prayer each day related to this incident.
Since this is a PDF topic, I will add this: The day I was in the water I was wearing a 4/3 wet suit. I now wear a Bare Dry Suit. The dry suit does a couple of things. It is warmer, which is good. It also has a lot of foatation since the upper part is full of air. Not only does this help with water starts but it floats as much as any PDF.
I now wear a dry suit exclusively in the winter but then again I now tend to avoid 5.0 days in Jan and Feb too. Once Bitten! Not Again.
PeelSkid
I broke a mast last Sat at Tidwell, though not far from shore, it took a while to get to shore with my 105 liter board. Once I got the sea anchor (sail) rolled up and out of the water it went a lot faster, but I realized that such an event was a lot better to have in July than January.
In the winter (and even in the summer) I sail with a paddle on my long board and on my 150 liter board. Had the mast broken sailing on one of my bigger boards, this would have been a minor inconvenience. A paddle is a good idea in the summer for another reason - if the wind dies completely there is an easy way back to the launch.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.