Skilled? Crazy? Lucky? You decide

Bene505 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

What's your opinion of this skipper?

(Watch the video first)

Choose as many choices as you want. Choose all that apply.

Regards,
Brad

jackdale · #2 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

Embedded video

Bene505 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

Thanks Jack. (I finally figured it out.)

Regards,
BRad

jackdale · #4 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

He is really lucky that cat did not pitch pole.

ImASonOfaSailor · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

I say Stupid! how would he stop ? that means he ran ashore full speed? i dont think that is good for the Gemini!

treilley · #6 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

Not too smart either. Why not wait it out? Time and time again I read about skippers who just cannot wait out the nasties and end up sinking the boat.

He was certainly lucky that the wave he picked was one of the smaller ones.

zz4gta · #7 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

stupid. I believe the shot is an entrance to a channel that is shallow. Creates breaking waves in bad weather. I thing I would've dropped anchor outside, had a beverage, and waited.

sailordave · #8 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

Damn lucky. Watch how the wave lifts the stern; I think he probably doesn't have too much rudder in the water at that point and had he gotten a bit sideways it would not have been pretty.

Wonder if any mono sailors would have tried that...

@sonofasonofasailor... No he wasn't going to run ashore, it's just the bar he's crossing. If you watch the video it shows him motoring in flat water once inside.

denverd0n · #9 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

Something like that would have been a HELLACIOUS amount of fun on the Hobie 16 I used to sail. In that Gemini, though? STUPID!!!

CarolynShearlock · #10 (**permalink**) 01-13-2012

All three. We entered a bar in El Salvador, not as bad conditions but we DID surf a Tayana 37. Pilots were guiding us in and they called our day a 5 out of 10 for conditions.

The guy in this video didn't prep the boat well though -- we knew of a couple with dinghies on davits (like his) that had them ripped off with a breaking wave. And have to have all the drop boards in the companionway and wear harnesses, etc.

Timing is everything -- have to catch the wave much as a surfer does.

And yes, it was the most scared I've ever been on a boat . . . and the beer after we were in was the best I've ever had.