Change of Underwear

[itdave5]

Whilest sailing solo down the west coast of Italy from Porto San Giorgio to Brindisi I had a wonderful lesson which I would like to share.
It was 22:00 hrs and dark as there was no moon.
having just had a cup of coffe and got the boat sailing nicely on the auto helm I thought I'd go to the heads (number 2 was on the way).
Should I go hove to for 5 minutes I thought to myself? No it's too much hassel the boats fine. so off i went. having just about finnished and about to pull up my drawers the boat suddenly jybed violently throwing me off the heads, out the heads door and into the wet locker opposite along with the contents of the heads which went up the back of my legs!!!
I shot up on deck cursing loadly as the boat tacked while I stuggled with my undies and trousers and threw them overboard. I couldn't think of anything else to do with them at the time.
As all this was going on I noticed the auto helm was steering hard to starboard and we were about to jybe again so I pulled the plug on it and went to sheet the main in only to find the sheet was jammed.
Running down wind with most of the main sheet out I managed to get a spare line on the end of the boom, after a bit of a struggle, with a snap shackle and hauled it mid ships while comming up on the wind and got the boat hove to.
The main sheet block had collapsed jamming the sheet so I cut the pieces of the block off with a hack saw and used 2 large shackles as a replacement and took the jury rigged sheet off.
Then clipped my self to the boat on a short life line and dropped over the leward side for a quick drag wash to clean my self up!
Moral of the story being.

If you think about going hove to to do something then it's probably a good idea!!!

All this was done in my teeshirt! How happy I am that there was no one there to see me!!!!!

[kjames]

Hi itdave5, your point is well made, but the phrase "too much info" comes to mind LOL

[sailorboy1]

what a crappy story

[edsailing]

For damage limitation.........

"Dump a little, pump a little"

[kjames]

I'm really regretting that I responded to this one.........

[Deck Scrubber]

so so wrong in so many levels ....but funny.

[justlearnin]

You're a bold man, to tell that story but thanks.

[rhumbunctious]

When single handing, I usually use the bucket and chuck it method, from the cockpit...

[cheoah]

Hilarious!

csh

[Phisher]

Dave I am going to call you "POOPIE" from here on out!

[SabreKai]

I'll bet chasing down the various streaks about the cabin next morning was no fun either.

Lesson learned, minimal price paid. You came out a head.

Sabre.

[Jim Cate]

So, what had happened to the auto pilot? I want to have a word with mine and tell it what not to do!

Good story, mate!

Cheers,

Jim

[sarafina]

Heh... I think that this thread should be on alert with a BIG sign;

PUNS AHEAD

[Unicorn Dreams]

Is it on ouTube yet?

[zeehag]

poooor guy-- but--ROFLMFAO--- hint--- get natures miracle if you can find it--will remove alll tell tale signs of pooostinkies in yer boat-- works for cat spray, works for poooo smellies---- goood luck-- smooth sailing-- bring lotsa undies....