Thanks everyone for all the kind words. Dawn is doing just fine.
Kevin-Wan,
Looks like you trimmed the mustache and got a few grays setting in
Great avatar.
Cmikey,
Sorry to hear about all your troubles. That’s a lot of mishaps
Matt,
Thanks for sharing your story. If I removed a couple of steps and sent my wife down the cabin, she would never let me live it down. Clocking her on the head with the boom… well that’s a different story altogether. BTW. I suggest you get one of these really long pins with huge head for your forestay. Bluewater Yacths has them for around $10. It is nearly impossible for one of these to come out. For added safety, you can tape the ring-ding.
In some ways you were a lucky man.
I hope your admiral heals clean and quickly, with no ill effects.
could have been much much worse.
Best of all to both of you.
Great point Darrin. Thanks man.
I think this story is a good reminder, of how none of us are vigilant enough.....all the time.
Thankyou for sharing your family's pain. I hope me and my family learn from you. (we have been learning the hard way by ourselves way way too often.)
Well said.
To all you shallow water X'ers out there what would have happened if this were an X? I am in no way trying to diminish the situation you were in (which you responded to with a good level head) or bash the M. Would an X just kick up the center board and you would have looked at your GPS, corrected course and then continued on your way? Your unfortunate story brings out a good point and it is always nice to know how your boat would behave. I am also asking because I have never had my boat in a shallow area, but I do plan too in the future. Is that an advantage of an X or am I over simplifying it?
Yes, the CB on the X would probably kick right up, as Nightsailor pointed out, and you may be just fine...But remember that your rudders draw about 4 feet, so once you get below that, all bets are off. Not sure if you would know it if your CB kicked up and where I was the depth was dropping fast, so rudders would have been next. May not have had the same affect, but who knows?
Leon - did you consider a medical pan-pan and getting a CG dustoff for her??
I have no idea what a medical pan-pan and coastguard dustoff is.
Nightsailor,
Awful what happened to your friend. Made me squirm just reading, considering what just happened.
I have no idea what part of the boom actually hit her. Neither does Dawn. I have plenty of blocks for reefing lines and outhaul so may not be possible to have a perfectly smooth boom. Probably doesn’t matter. When it gybes, the forces can be so extreme, a blunt boom can do plenty of damage. I’m considering getting a boom brake.
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... 199&id=184The Catalina 42 I race on has one and I think it's a great piece of equipment. I'm liking it a whole lot more right about now.
When under load, it works as a preventer in light to moderate air. In heavier air, the boom can still gybe but will come across slowly. It can be set with different levels of tension or released outright.
Fair winds all,
Leon
for 3 days shortly and will be single sailing (except for the cat) and one of my fears was being blindsided by boom and being knocked overboard. Even with an auto inflate vest and lifeline it is probably my biggest concern. I think I will see if I can get one of those boom brakes shipped out pronto. Thanks for the link 
