Bit of an eye opener this arvo at Wynnum when I realised just how hard it is to be seen on the water without a sail up. I was WAY out when I hit a f@#king crab pot rope, come a buster and snapped my uni joint.(about 4:30pm) That's alright I thought I'll just get a passing sailor to grab my spare uni and bring it out to me. At least four people sailed past but unfortunately no-one saw me . Even 50 meters away I was invisible. Ended up having to swim/drift back in to Darling Point which took about an hour and a half, then walk back to Wynnum to get my car. Getting dark by then. I was also surprised that no-one wondered where I was...?...Anyway, didn't lose any gear or get injured so it's all good.

Oh crap that's no good Ritchie, glad no bull sharks tried to have a nibble and that you and your gear are ok.

thats worrying. usually someone will stop and check. but if they don't see you..
Perhaps time to think about the buddy system.

Damn Richie I didn't see you in the water and left early when there were lots of people still on the water and didn't notice u weren't sailing around.
Good reminder for us all to keep an eye on each other.
Glad ur ok
Luke

I think the trick is to sit or stand on the board to attract attention. When you, the mast and sail, and the board are all flat in the water it's very hard to be seen.

You are dead right Richie, it is hard to see a sailor down, glad you made it back OK mate. A few years ago my mate Ian broke his boom at Queens beach, he was a few k's out. Myself and Bill sailed backwards and forwards for ages before we found him, very hard to see. Bill was able to sail out a spare boom to him and he could sail back. I wear a white rashie now, think the next one will be an even brighter colour.

Lesson one. Don't go further out than you can comfortably paddle back in should the need arise. I lost my fin (and rear end of board) after hitting a turtle off Queens beach a couple of years back. Sailing after work, at dusk, no one around as usual. Dark by the time I got in. You have to rely on yourself.

Same happen to me years ago but I was just sailing along and my tendon was new when it just broke but as I fell off I kicked my big toe on the top of the broken uni and lifted the whole nail off my toe I found myself swimming after my board that took off down wind this was exhausting then by the time I got back to my rig it was just about sinking. I then sat on my board waving to other sailors just up wind of me they pasted me about 5 times before one saw me and one went in and got a spare base for me meanwhile I was left sitting on my board with blood running out my toe for about a hour.

I bought a $12.50 mobile phone from Woolies the other day, I'm not sure what the range is like in the middle of the bay but if I'm by myself I wont be out too far. Glad you are ok, good reminder for the rest of us to watch out for each other.

Would a whistle have made a different to call someone?

I was quite concern about the same to happen to me one day and purchased a second hand, hand held FM Marine radio for $150 with 5W output. Despite being water proof I have it wrapped in 3 plastic bags. It's pretty light and fits easily in the life/weight vest pocket. If I feel I would be sailing on my own, going across the bay, I would definitely take it with me. I would hate to swim even a 1km, dragging all the gear....
If I need to use it I hope I could reach the local Sea Rescue or any vessel in the area. I've read somewhere that the vessels must have their radios on the emergency channels when not in use.
Can anybody comment? Or does anybody have any experience with using a marine radio in similar situation? I didn't like the idea carrying a flare with me ....

If you sail a long way out or by yourself you should getting a PLB

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Personal-locator-beacons/

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Dr Gas said..
Lesson one. Don't go further out than you can comfortably paddle back in should the need arise. I lost my fin (and rear end of board) after hitting a turtle off Queens beach a couple of years back. Sailing after work, at dusk, no one around as usual. Dark by the time I got in. You have to rely on yourself.

If I'm there you will be right Dr Gas. Shortly after the boom incident Ian hit a turtle and lost the fin. I bought a cheap wave powerbox fin, cut in half. I put that fin and spare screw and screwdriver in the backpack. Doesn't weigh much so is no bother. IT's enough to get the kit and rider back. It's about 18 cm long and shaped like a freestyle fin.

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Haggar said..
If you sail a long way out or by yourself you should getting a PLB

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Personal-locator-beacons/

That's okay if you think you're going to die. One isn't supposed to set off an EPIRB unless in peril. (not to avoid a long paddle)

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Richiefish said..

Haggar said..
If you sail a long way out or by yourself you should getting a PLB

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Personal-locator-beacons/

That's okay if you think you're going to die. One isn't supposed to set off an EPIRB unless in peril. (not to avoid a long paddle)

That's exactly what I was concern. I would be hesitant to activate PLB/EPIRB just because I don't want to swim 2 km's. Plus I wouldn't like to have a rescue helicopter bussing above me and the News crew just because of some silly gear failure.

Grab a spare piece of line and tie the foot of the sail to the board through the stuffed uni. Water start. Sail back to the beach. Don't gybe.

The loose end of the downhaul line should be long enough. You might ding the deck of the board a bit. In the old days the trick was to take one of the harness lines off and use that for running repairs. In the days of separate mast protectors you could slide them down over the end of the mast to protect the deck.

PS. If you break the fin off you can strap the harness to the bottom of the board and use that for drag. You have to anchor the harness on a foot strap. I did this once and it sort of worked. The force of the water would push the harness around to the top of the board. It was a bit easier to half body drag back to the beach.

Ritchie, glad to hear it turned out okay. As I have had my fair share of breakages out wide and sailing by myself I have tried to preempt all scenarios. I carry a mobile phone and have had to used it once to be picked up by the coast guard ( well actually it was the XXXX island boat after the coast guard decided to do their sweeps upwind of the position I gave them). They initially got within 70m of me and I was sitting on my board waving my arms but they completely missed me. Admittedly it was incredibly rough so I would have been invisible between swells.
Also quality of gear is critical. I have the Chinook uni joints and have snapped tendons numerous times but the formuline holds it all together and gets me back to the beach.
I was thinking for you guys sailing Moreton bay you could havea small blackboard whereby you write your name on it when you go out and rub it out when ffinished.

Glad you made it back safe and well Richie. With Moreton Bay you guys are dealing with some very large distances.

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boardboy said..
thats worrying. usually someone will stop and check. but if they don't see you..
Perhaps time to think about the buddy system.

I'll always look out for you Buddy!!!

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jusavina said..
Would a whistle have made a different to call someone?

Are you saying that your Rape whistle has more than one use?

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GeoGeo said..
I was quite concern about the same to happen to me one day and purchased a second hand, hand held FM Marine radio for $150 with 5W output. Despite being water proof I have it wrapped in 3 plastic bags. It's pretty light and fits easily in the life/weight vest pocket. If I feel I would be sailing on my own, going across the bay, I would definitely take it with me. I would hate to swim even a 1km, dragging all the gear....
If I need to use it I hope I could reach the local Sea Rescue or any vessel in the area. I've read somewhere that the vessels must have their radios on the emergency channels when not in use.
Can anybody comment? Or does anybody have any experience with using a marine radio in similar situation? I didn't like the idea carrying a flare with me ....

Hi Geo,

Just to answer your question VHF 16 is the emergency channel. A lot of sea rescue places however go off the air around 5pm etc however and are manned by volunteers. The working channel for the Port of Brisbane is channel 12. This is monitored by Vessel Traffic Controllers for ship movements and would quickly call the water police etc for you if required. Would be a good idea also if ship's around etc, with this talk of low visibility. If you require assistance and it is not a Mayday just a "Pan Pan this a windsurfer is position about one mile east of Point Disaster requiring assistance I have red sail and blue board" for example. Most Port users ship's, ferries etc monitor the working channel for the port and would quickly pick a message.

Done a uni joint like you did Ritchie. Not a good feeling. Glad you got in alright.

I was only 700 meters out to sea when mine parted after a jump. I ended up putting the windward harness line under my front foot strap. Kinda blew / drifted in like a bluebottle. Worked quite well, chugged along at 3 knots or so, but it still took me 45 minutes dragging my ass for sharks before I got in.

My new approach is- Buy the very best gear I can afford, replace all ropes regularly, and I don't sail anywhere I can't swim or walk home from. Bit restrictive, but nice and safe.

Geo, I do like the phone idea better than a marine radio. Just get the number of the local marine rescue mob, and put it in the phone. At least you can go on Seabreeze whilst your waiting for help to arrive

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GeoGeo said...

Richiefish said..

Haggar said..
If you sail a long way out or by yourself you should getting a PLB

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Personal-locator-beacons/

That's okay if you think you're going to die. One isn't supposed to set off an EPIRB unless in peril. (not to avoid a long paddle)

That's exactly what I was concern. I would be hesitant to activate PLB/EPIRB just because I don't want to swim 2 km's. Plus I wouldn't like to have a rescue helicopter bussing above me and the News crew just because of some silly gear failure.

Would a flare be a more suitable signal or would it ultimately make the same news crew turn up. Better for signalling boats close to you.
I've been thinking about both.

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Dean 424 said..

GeoGeo said..
I was quite concern about the same to happen to me one day and purchased a second hand, hand held FM Marine radio for $150 with 5W output. Despite being water proof I have it wrapped in 3 plastic bags. It's pretty light and fits easily in the life/weight vest pocket. If I feel I would be sailing on my own, going across the bay, I would definitely take it with me. I would hate to swim even a 1km, dragging all the gear....
If I need to use it I hope I could reach the local Sea Rescue or any vessel in the area. I've read somewhere that the vessels must have their radios on the emergency channels when not in use.
Can anybody comment? Or does anybody have any experience with using a marine radio in similar situation? I didn't like the idea carrying a flare with me ....

Hi Geo,

Just to answer your question VHF 16 is the emergency channel. A lot of sea rescue places however go off the air around 5pm etc however and are manned by volunteers. The working channel for the Port of Brisbane is channel 12. This is monitored by Vessel Traffic Controllers for ship movements and would quickly call the water police etc for you if required. Would be a good idea also if ship's around etc, with this talk of low visibility. If you require assistance and it is not a Mayday just a "Pan Pan this a windsurfer is position about one mile east of Point Disaster requiring assistance I have red sail and blue board" for example. Most Port users ship's, ferries etc monitor the working channel for the port and would quickly pick a message.

Thanks for tips Dean.
Mobile phone would be my second option. I originally thought about using it to call my wife but then realized if she would be buying her shoes or similar I would be probably dead before she would rise the alarm.