Just read online that a windsurfer got cleaned up by a powerboat at Jimmys Beach yesterday.
Wishing the injured person a speedy recovery from whatever injuries they have sustained.
Bit more info here:
A male windsurfer was also taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition after a runabout hit him 200metres south of Jimmy's Beach about 3.30pm.
Paramedics treated the man at Port Stephens water police base at Nelson Bay before he was taken to hospital. Water police were unable to find the sail board, but the boat was taken to the water police wharf.
Source Newcastle Herald Online edition
Yes you are right, they are all our guys. Meant to ask was he one of the guys here for the Oceanics?
The injured fellow was a very well repected local windsurfer and Doctor, the last we heard he is going to be OK. It all happened that quickly. None of the windsurfers on the water at the time saw the incident, but because we all look out for each other, when "Chisel" came across his board & rig with no sign of the rider. He flagged over the rest of us. Our immediate throught was he may be floating in the water. At that stage no one knew what had happened. Some of the guys stayed with the board & rig and the others went searching & to raise the alarm. It turned out that he was picked up by the boat that hit him and then transfered to a Police boat. Another Police boat turned up later and took the board & rig as evidence after.
Just heard an update to the Doc's injuries . Severe concussion, two cracked neck vertabre, broken ribs (from CPR), broken collar bone. Is expected to be ok but doing it very tough at present . Our thoughts and prayers are with him and Jen his partner
Hope the "Doc" is feeling better and recovers soon.
Good on the rest of the locals for looking out for him and his gear. Another case of wishing you had eyes in the back of your head.
One of my local fellow sailboarders (also a Doctor) got run over by a large power boat last year in Gosford. The idiot skipper did not stop to see if he was alright and just kept going to his mooring. Luckily the doc got back in even with a damaged sail and board, he phoned the local police who got the Water Police to come out and take a statement. They then found and interviewed the boat skipper who said he did not see the sailboard till it was too late to turn but thought the sailboarder was OK because he surfaced. (What an excuse!)
Boat skipper was charged with negligent driving, was heavily fined and had to pay for the replacement board, sail and boom. Many $$$.
Doc was very lucky indeed. He expected the boat to give way but when they aren't looking where they are going it can lead to a serious accident.
I almost got taken out the other day by a jet skier. Two mates on a jet ski going upwind parallel to beach at Kyeemah at high speed. I had just gotten on my board first run out. Got a gust and was just getting on the plane, and happened to cross their path. They were looking at each other communicating somehow, and not looking where they were going. I was travelling at maybe 15knots and them at 30+. In the end it was only me shouting at the top of my voice that made them look forward when they were about 15-20m from me. He was able to take evasive action and miss me by a few metres. He apologised and moved on. This would have been less than 100m from swimmers on beach.
I was lucky to not be in a similar situation to the windsurfer here. I wish him all the best in recovery. Be careful out there windsurfers. Unfortunately I think there is little we can do to protect ourselves when there are powered vessels travelling at high speed without watching where they are going.
I must admit I almost hit a swimmer once when sailing. Was luck that I didn't. They were swimming a long way out in choppy water. I did not see them until I was passing a few metres from them. Not sure if I could have done better to see them earlier, but we all have to be careful out there.
Cheers,
Adrian
I agree adrian, it can be tricky to spot swimmers out there, particularly when heading into the sun. It's better to be safe and gybe further off the beach if you're not sure.
I'm also aware not to scare people that I can see clearly. Just because I know where they are, doesn't mean I can fly into a gybe just metres from them.
I think we should avoid a collision at all costs. Just because we are in the right with the power vs sail rule we can't assume others know this or they are watching where they are going as the above tales show.
I'm not saying this happened in this particular accident as I don't know what happened.
Whenever a power boat or jet ski does give way to me I acknowledge and thank them with a wave of the hand. I try not to but have been guilty of pushing the point and forcing a stink boat to change course. Its best to be courteous and polite on the water even if others are not.
Yeah its difficult seeing swimmers at Kyeemagh. Best to keep your eyes out. At least filming with the GoPro I'll have evidence if something does happen to me for better or worse. I guess as time goes by and more people move to Australia the waters will become more crowded.
Those injuries sound pretty bad so wishing him the best too.
Won't do that again!
