Allen, here's what happened to me.

Posted By: George E Norkus, Santana 2023A, SE Michigan
Date: 7/1/08 8:27p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: That got to be the shortest message you have (Allen Horning 1994 2023A Tall)

A few years back, I was goofing around with 30 to 35 knots of wind in Lake St Clair near Mt Clemens, MI. Sailing single handed makes "things" not very easy to do. One time I tried to lower my sails and ended up going into irons! (Not what you want in those conditions.) My speed lowered to about a negative five mph with the water splashing over the transom. When I finally reefed about five feet lower, I found the boat going to one side. The wind hit the now reefed sail from the side and while I stood with a petrified bare hug on the mast. No less than three times I saw the spreaders come about five feet from touching the water! This all happened in what seemed a matter of seconds. Later I looked at my GPS auto tracking and found I had traveled a good 100 yards sideways! Sea you, George E. Norkus