Forums > Windsurfing   Western Australia

Near disaster

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Created by Maddog49 > 9 months ago, 30 Nov 2013
Maddog49
WA, 102 posts
30 Nov 2013 5:05PM
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I was unpacking the car and removed the straps off my roof rack that was holding my board.
I then started talking to a guy in the car next to me and a sudden gust blew and my board flew off the car up into the air about 4m up flipped around and was heading for a landing onto the carpark. Without thinking I made a quick movement towards the board and caught it perfectly between my arms and it did not even touch the ground. This could have caused some serious damage to my new board. Luck was with me today. Lesson learnt remove board off roof racks straight away and place on grass before gas bagging about weather conditions. Has anyone else had this happen or any advice on having an extra ocky strap to hold down the board just in case of a gust.
Today was gusty on Melville waters with the wind switching directions. I managed a few slow half carve gybes I generally stalled my gybe as I was switching feet and about to flip the sail. Any advice would be appreciated before I get out again hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

Mark _australia
WA, 23474 posts
30 Nov 2013 5:25PM
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Wait til you have to put the board on the roof, hold it down, and feed the straps thru, in 35kn



But damn good catch, seen lots of boards destroyed just like what happened to you, but never seen the catch before!

elmo
WA, 8869 posts
30 Nov 2013 7:21PM
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In high winds

Feed the straps through the roof rack and wind ward side of car
Connect the ends
put board underneath the straps
Lift board onto roof slowly, pushing strap across roof rack as lifting.
Grab hold of one strap, pull down on it to hold board down
undo connected end and thread through roof rack and tie off

Doddle with one board, trickier with two

grumplestiltskin
WA, 2331 posts
1 Dec 2013 10:07AM
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Select to expand quote
elmo said..

In high winds

Feed the straps through the roof rack and wind ward side of car

Doddle with one board, trickier with two


Use two sets of straps!
How do I know .... experience

patsken
WA, 713 posts
1 Dec 2013 10:45AM
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Get a VAN man

Maddog49
WA, 102 posts
2 Dec 2013 6:04PM
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Get rid of my 4wd Isuzu Dmax no way.
Not many vans get you into Steep point, Warren River or Cape Leveque towing a mini game boat. (4.2m dingy)
I was thinking of rigging something up so that I could slide the board in and have it sticking out the back window.
Any ideas.

beermate
WA, 25 posts
3 Dec 2013 1:33PM
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So your board did not hit the ground hey.
From the sound of your thread its all about you.
Lucky it did not hit someone on the head.
Just think of others and not yourself and all should work itself out.
Just complete one task at a time then indulge yourself.
Harsh yes but fair, the consequences could have had far longer ramifications than a ding.

premo
WA, 293 posts
3 Dec 2013 4:54PM
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Select to expand quote
Maddog49 said..

I was unpacking the car and removed the straps off my roof rack that was holding my board.
I then started talking to a guy in the car next to me and a sudden gust blew and my board flew off the car up into the air about 4m up flipped around and was heading for a landing onto the carpark. Without thinking I made a quick movement towards the board and caught it perfectly between my arms and it did not even touch the ground. This could have caused some serious damage to my new board. Luck was with me today. Lesson learnt remove board off roof racks straight away and place on grass before gas bagging about weather conditions. Has anyone else had this happen or any advice on having an extra ocky strap to hold down the board just in case of a gust.
Today was gusty on Melville waters with the wind switching directions. I managed a few slow half carve gybes I generally stalled my gybe as I was switching feet and about to flip the sail. Any advice would be appreciated before I get out again hopefully tomorrow afternoon.


i confirm the story, I saw the whole thing, i am the guy you talked too:-) it was a bloody good catch i admit, lucky as too.

stroppo
WA, 747 posts
3 Dec 2013 9:00PM
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As Tony Gregg would say what a catch! rip Tony

Maddog49
WA, 102 posts
3 Dec 2013 10:01PM
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I agree Beermate Should have been more carefull. Lesson learnt

Brent in Qld
WA, 1365 posts
9 Dec 2013 9:46AM
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NZ in the 80's. Had a brand new speed board ripped from under my hand holding the board on the racks in 40+knts. Took off like a rocket, lined up for re-entry & accelerated into the roof of my mates car, was probably the fastest the board ever went. Cheap car, big laughs all round & the car had the best topic of conversation for a couple of years. Even found a large Pryde logo to indicate the impact zone. After that experience, always owned wagons or vans. Faster, safer loading & travelling when you are solo



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"Near disaster" started by Maddog49