It was a windsurfing party at Meschutt. A dozen or more windsurfers on 4.2's or thereabouts (Hulse Scott the Wolf Frank Sky King another Frank Jan Fisherman Joe Nat Jon Ford Bruce etc) tearing it up on a warm day, the Peconic ramp and chop machine in full effect. Fantastic! But on one outbound run I found myself wanting ready to jibe, looking for a spot, and looking...looking...looking. After a solid minute of nothing suitable I had the following thought:
"I don't need a flattish patch...if I bend my knees enough I can jibe anywhere."
This was not true. I didn't know it yet though.
Unhooked, hung from the boom, got down low and stepped on the downwind rail to initiate a solid aggressive carve. As I hit the first big bump I got thrown off the board backwards and UP...then landed with my back on the top of a steep piece of chop so my head snapped back.
I felt an electric jolt. Then my left arm went numb. Then I felt burning.
"I'm f***ed" I thought. With one arm I slowly swam to my board and hung on. After 20 seconds feeling came back to the arm (also pain in quantity to my neck). Floated there for a couple minutes, then managed a waterstart, managing to sail back to the beach. I told Scott my story.
"You have a stinger" he said. And he proceeded to describe my symptoms perfectly, and told me stories about his own stingers. Well if he lived to tell the tale then so will I. "When can I sail again" I asked. "Take a day off." Sounds good. Back to the water Sunday!
Oh geez, Michael.... Yes, take a day off!
Posted by: Ely | October 05, 2019 at 12:32 PM
Jibing is not the only way to turn around. Suggestion from the peanut gallery: when facing steep, short-period chop, consider tacking. You might grind to a halt, but you probably won’t get launched.
Suggestion #2: duck jibe. That way, you should be sheeted in and better able to control the bounce more quickly, e.g, before dead downwind.
Worst case, do an old school jump jibe. You will certainly grind to a halt, but you may look (retro) cool in the process.
I hope you feel better soon and get back out on the water, Michael.
Posted by: The mighty Larry Hoff | October 07, 2019 at 12:32 PM
Thank you Mighty Larry for your thoughts. In retrospect an old school Jump Jibe or Slam Jibe was probably the best option. There was no controlling this bounce (I learned in mid-flight). On the 77 liter board I could probably attempt it with both feet in the straps (loosely)!
Posted by: Michael Alex | October 07, 2019 at 04:33 PM