Steve had every right to clobber me. He whacked me in the hand with his mast when his helitack came undone. You may ask why he’s throwing a helitack so close to another windsurfer. The answer is the other windsurfer was believed to have already tacked, but instead was in fact crowding Steve. That other windsurfer (me) knew he was crowding him (a little voice in my head said “tack already and give Steve room”) but instead I sailed like one of those inconsiderate jerks.
So I got clobbered.
In the scheme of things windsurfing with Steve, this was particularly fair. The last time I crowded Steve, I rammed him. It was several years ago...he was resting in the water next to his board and I’d decided to jibe around him, except that instead I sailed right into his board.
Then I did the exact same thing again a year later. The idea was that by jibing close to him I’d remind him of my boneheaded move the year before, and that this would be amusing. It didn't work out that way.
And I’m supposed to be his friend.
So there we stood in the water at Mecox on Saturday, with one side of my hand in pain and the other side numb, Steve, ever the neurologist, was interested in the pattern of numbness. I was more curious about the pain bit.
I got better. And I’d gotten what I deserved.
The thing is, I still want to jibe near him…
(The knuckleheaded author of this blog displays said head shortly before the incident. Photo by Remy McFadden.)
i had the experience trying to gybe around my friend Ken, a bit too close, in 3.6 conditons. i nearly ok off his head, and he wasn't happy.
We're still friends
Posted by: george markopoulos | July 13, 2009 at 12:36 PM
You sure have a lot of stickers on your sail. Are they for beauty or structural engineering?
Posted by: James | July 13, 2009 at 08:43 PM
Structural engineering. It's an old sail with a lot of cracks in it. I've decided that I'm going to keep putting stickers on this sail as long as it works...one day it may be seven meters of sticker. I put a new crack in it almost every session!
Posted by: michael | July 13, 2009 at 08:52 PM
Hey that's the bastard who was crowding me! Did you catch the number of his sail? The nerve...he tucks up tight & upwind just aft, i.e. in my blindspot, with land approaching & no speed to jibe and he feigns a tack. I admit my helitack with a 7.8 was ill-conceived but then BANG! Immediately I hear him moaning about pain and numbness...the usual. Today I get a form letter from Luft, Larzeny & Booti, Esq. The Nerve...
Posted by: Neurstev | July 13, 2009 at 09:46 PM
Steve, I feel your pain! A certain freestyler who's name I shall not mention(Mike Burns) took me out mid Heli Tack at the First Freestyle Frenzy in Cape Cod. This person (Mike) said he was mid grubby and didn't see me, but I know the truth. You can't trust anyone on the water, it's every man for him self.
Puffin or Pro, respect us Heli-tackers!
Posted by: jon sassone | July 15, 2009 at 01:13 AM
" i still want to jibe near him" ?
you are gay, Michelo,
come out of the closet, and get your share
of " chin nuts" hahahahahaha
love,
slo bad sky
Posted by: slo | July 24, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Slo Bad...long time no see! When are you going to get your OG Puffin ass back on the water?
Posted by: Michael | July 27, 2009 at 08:38 AM