Just wondering if anyone has any good "dits" about real life naval experiences to share?
War Stories
Post a replyTrue Naval Stories
5 posts
Semi naval?
Australian yachting titles, Moreton Bay 1986(?-ish). 45 knots winds, 3m choppy swell confused by an outer reef, crashing into one another on the windward leg. The big boats started 10 minutes before my class did and were around the triangle and starting their second leg as the remaining 40 of us were starting. Boats were toppling over, masts snapping, sails getting torn to ribbons.
Going to windward the second time, the division has been desemated to just two out of the 40 boats. I'm trapezing off the rear beam with traveller all the way out. A gust flipped me over and by the time I surfaced the boat is like 30-40 m away. Start swimming. About halfway to the boat I'm fatigued and reduced to breast stroke when it happens.
SMASH!
Something "nudges" me in the back. Moreton Bay at that time of the year is breeding ground for the Great White Shark. I do my "J.C." impersonation and despite being logged by life preserver, vest, wetsuit, booties, I walk on water back to the boat.
After the race I'm talking to the Race Committee who inform me that sharks nudge their prey before attacking. Another says they are somewhat "scared" of sails on the water cause it's bigger then the shark. Check of my back reveals nasty bruise across third rib and down to waist. What ever "hit" me was big, and travelling at speed.
Australian yachting titles, Moreton Bay 1986(?-ish). 45 knots winds, 3m choppy swell confused by an outer reef, crashing into one another on the windward leg. The big boats started 10 minutes before my class did and were around the triangle and starting their second leg as the remaining 40 of us were starting. Boats were toppling over, masts snapping, sails getting torn to ribbons.
Going to windward the second time, the division has been desemated to just two out of the 40 boats. I'm trapezing off the rear beam with traveller all the way out. A gust flipped me over and by the time I surfaced the boat is like 30-40 m away. Start swimming. About halfway to the boat I'm fatigued and reduced to breast stroke when it happens.
SMASH!
Something "nudges" me in the back. Moreton Bay at that time of the year is breeding ground for the Great White Shark. I do my "J.C." impersonation and despite being logged by life preserver, vest, wetsuit, booties, I walk on water back to the boat.
After the race I'm talking to the Race Committee who inform me that sharks nudge their prey before attacking. Another says they are somewhat "scared" of sails on the water cause it's bigger then the shark. Check of my back reveals nasty bruise across third rib and down to waist. What ever "hit" me was big, and travelling at speed.
wow sounds like you were dead lucky eh? did it put you off sailing even for a little while? that would put me of sailing for life!Ah no.
That little "mishap" cost me the National Title. It would be 6 more years before I would reach the top step of the podium again...but when I did, 10 years cosecutive titles undefeated in a heat.
Ok, another shark story.
Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay. Most people know that this is the site of the original settlement in Australia. National Titles 1985. The two fleets are split on different days. I'm a Protest Committe Member so it was my rostered duty Day 1 out on the race committee boat for the big boats. After the start we motor up the harbour and anchor. It's a nice sunny day and I have a large sombrero type hat on. A gust lifts it off and the hat goes over the side.
"Just going in for a quick dip."
I was mid arch when I looked down and could no longer see my hat.
"Where did it go?"
The Commodore of the Club points to my hat floating off the bow. We had anchored upwind of the final mark right smack in the middle of the shark breeding colony. Apparently it is not uncommon that when something "lands" on the water (hats, birds etc) it sends the breeding shark into a frenzy.
I had the hat for about two more years after that with a big arrow on the rim pointing to it saying "shark bite".
That little "mishap" cost me the National Title. It would be 6 more years before I would reach the top step of the podium again...but when I did, 10 years cosecutive titles undefeated in a heat.
Ok, another shark story.
Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay. Most people know that this is the site of the original settlement in Australia. National Titles 1985. The two fleets are split on different days. I'm a Protest Committe Member so it was my rostered duty Day 1 out on the race committee boat for the big boats. After the start we motor up the harbour and anchor. It's a nice sunny day and I have a large sombrero type hat on. A gust lifts it off and the hat goes over the side.
"Just going in for a quick dip."
I was mid arch when I looked down and could no longer see my hat.
"Where did it go?"
The Commodore of the Club points to my hat floating off the bow. We had anchored upwind of the final mark right smack in the middle of the shark breeding colony. Apparently it is not uncommon that when something "lands" on the water (hats, birds etc) it sends the breeding shark into a frenzy.
I had the hat for about two more years after that with a big arrow on the rim pointing to it saying "shark bite".
is every animal in australia deadly or what? lolpersonally i have had no experience of sharks. Now dolphins..well they're a different matter lol
