HOME | DD

Description
10 Years ago, my dad and I decided to try our hand at the Double Handed Farallones race which is essentially a sailing race held (usually in March) which starts near the golden gate bridge and goes out and around the Southeast Farallone Island (about 30 miles out).

The race started with no wind, but once we got out the gate, the wind really picked up (we found out later about the small craft advisory). The seas were fairly large and the wind waves on top of the swells were breaking in the Potato Patch. But all in all, even though we were a bit nervous we were on our game and doing great. Just about when we were going to make our final tack to make the North End of the island, one of the lower shrouds on the windward side broke (at the swage…always check your swages!) Anyway, suddenly, the entire rig was on deck, sails, shrouds, backstay, roller furling the whole thing. We had, at some point, talked about what was supposed to happen if you lost your rig, and the only thing we could remember was that you’re supposed to dump it overboard if you can’t contain it. Well, as I remember, some of it was hanging overboard and banging into the hull and so, we decided we better get rid of it as soon as possible. Luckily my dad is a bit anal retentive and had heard that you’re supposed to have cable cutters on board for situations like this, and had, in fact, placed some on board. My adrenalin was pumping so hard that I was able to cut through all the stays, shrouds and such like butter (later, when we re-rigged, with the two of us leaning on the cable cutters, we could barely cut the cable!). Alas though, the forestay could not be cut because it was inside the roller furling stuff, so I had to go forward and undo a bolt that was holding it on the bow. Mind you, we were going up and down over large swells and now the whole rig was overboard and had crushed the bow pulpit, and in fact, had pushed one of the stanchion feet right through the deck in a nice round hole! Well, needless to say, I was able to undo the bolt and drop the whole rig into a few hundred feet of water. The instant silence was one of the things I remember.

At that point, we were out of the race and concerned about our safety, but luckily the motor started and we headed back towards the gate. We kept trying to call the coast guard but for some reason, our radio didn’t seem to work…until we remembered that the antenna was at the top of the mast which was now several hundred feet down…Another boat passed close enough for us to relay our situation to them, the coast guard came back with a “Are they underway?” which we were, so that was then end of their involvement. However, had our motor failed we would have washed up on Ocean beach. Anyway, the ride through the potato patch was intense. The wind waves were breaking over the starboard stern and we quickly decided that we better take turns at the helm and put some of the cockpit boards in to prevent water from washing into the cabin and filling the boat with water….I’ll tell you, it’s hard to watch your 60+ year old dad get washed with a giant (or seemingly giant) wave from behind. But, eventually we made it to the gate and I have never been so happy to see that bridge!

We finally got home and found out that someone had died in the race due to being washed overboard and dragged behind their boat until they drowned…a terrible thing. When I found that out, I was in the shower and my wife came in and told me…at that point, I finally lost it and had a good sobbing cry.

To this day, my enthusiasm for sailing has diminished significantly. Although…every time I go out…I have a blast!
All this for one photo of the Farallones…

Description
10 Years ago, my dad and I decided to try our hand at the Double Handed Farallones race which is essentially a sailing race held (usually in March) which starts near the golden gate bridge and goes out and around the Southeast Farallone Island (about 30 miles out).

The race started with no wind, but once we got out the gate, the wind really picked up (we found out later about the small craft advisory). The seas were fairly large and the wind waves on top of the swells were breaking in the Potato Patch. But all in all, even though we were a bit nervous we were on our game and doing great. Just about when we were going to make our final tack to make the North End of the island, one of the lower shrouds on the windward side broke (at the swage…always check your swages!) Anyway, suddenly, the entire rig was on deck, sails, shrouds, backstay, roller furling the whole thing. We had, at some point, talked about what was supposed to happen if you lost your rig, and the only thing we could remember was that you’re supposed to dump it overboard if you can’t contain it. Well, as I remember, some of it was hanging overboard and banging into the hull and so, we decided we better get rid of it as soon as possible. Luckily my dad is a bit anal retentive and had heard that you’re supposed to have cable cutters on board for situations like this, and had, in fact, placed some on board. My adrenalin was pumping so hard that I was able to cut through all the stays, shrouds and such like butter (later, when we re-rigged, with the two of us leaning on the cable cutters, we could barely cut the cable!). Alas though, the forestay could not be cut because it was inside the roller furling stuff, so I had to go forward and undo a bolt that was holding it on the bow. Mind you, we were going up and down over large swells and now the whole rig was overboard and had crushed the bow pulpit, and in fact, had pushed one of the stanchion feet right through the deck in a nice round hole! Well, needless to say, I was able to undo the bolt and drop the whole rig into a few hundred feet of water. The instant silence was one of the things I remember.

At that point, we were out of the race and concerned about our safety, but luckily the motor started and we headed back towards the gate. We kept trying to call the coast guard but for some reason, our radio didn’t seem to work…until we remembered that the antenna was at the top of the mast which was now several hundred feet down…Another boat passed close enough for us to relay our situation to them, the coast guard came back with a “Are they underway?” which we were, so that was then end of their involvement. However, had our motor failed we would have washed up on Ocean beach. Anyway, the ride through the potato patch was intense. The wind waves were breaking over the starboard stern and we quickly decided that we better take turns at the helm and put some of the cockpit boards in to prevent water from washing into the cabin and filling the boat with water….I’ll tell you, it’s hard to watch your 60+ year old dad get washed with a giant (or seemingly giant) wave from behind. But, eventually we made it to the gate and I have never been so happy to see that bridge!

We finally got home and found out that someone had died in the race due to being washed overboard and dragged behind their boat until they drowned…a terrible thing. When I found that out, I was in the shower and my wife came in and told me…at that point, I finally lost it and had a good sobbing cry.

To this day, my enthusiasm for sailing has diminished significantly. Although…every time I go out…I have a blast!
All this for one photo of the Farallones…