Sailing injuries ('tis dark, we've had a drink, time for seamen's tales)

This is going to sound a bit like Hoffnung's barrel of bricks, but it's all true.

It was a fine summer's evening. I was on board on my own and had to do something - I forget what - quite possibly changing the bulb - at the top of the mast. I hauled myself up in the bosun's chair and belayed with a chair hitch.

So far, so cool and professional. I did what I was doing, took a last look round at the view, and, taking a firm grip...

...of the standing part...

cast off the hitch entirely.

I did not meet a barrel of bricks coming up; I met the mainsail, stowed on the boom, under its cover, bounced off that and arrived on the starboard side deck, horizontally.

After a while, I decided that I should find out if I was now parapelgic or not, and experimentally wiggled a toe. Good news.

I then became aware that I was lying in a puddle of something warm, wet and sticky.

The other thing that I had met on the way down had been the starboard cap shroud, which had surgically opened up my right upper arm to the bone.

After a few minutes longer in my nice warm puddle, I wrapped a bandage round my arm, sculled ashore in the dinghy, clambered onto my motorbike and rode to A&E.

They didn't let me ride the bike home...
 
Minn said:
This is going to sound a bit like Hoffnung's barrel of bricks, but it's all true.

It was a fine summer's evening. I was on board on my own and had to do something - I forget what - quite possibly changing the bulb - at the top of the mast. I hauled myself up in the bosun's chair and belayed with a chair hitch.

So far, so cool and professional. I did what I was doing, took a last look round at the view, and, taking a firm grip...

...of the standing part...

cast off the hitch entirely.

I did not meet a barrel of bricks coming up; I met the mainsail, stowed on the boom, under its cover, bounced off that and arrived on the starboard side deck, horizontally.

After a while, I decided that I should find out if I was now parapelgic or not, and experimentally wiggled a toe. Good news.

I then became aware that I was lying in a puddle of something warm, wet and sticky.

The other thing that I had met on the way down had been the starboard cap shroud, which had surgically opened up my right upper arm to the bone.

After a few minutes longer in my nice warm puddle, I wrapped a bandage round my arm, sculled ashore in the dinghy, clambered onto my motorbike and rode to A&E.

They didn't let me ride the bike home...
Click to expand...

Feckin ell, I think You win!
 
Minn said:
...the starboard cap shroud, which had surgically opened up my right upper arm to the bone.

After a few minutes longer in my nice warm puddle, I wrapped a bandage round my arm, sculled ashore in the dinghy, clambered onto my motorbike and rode to A&E.
Click to expand...

Hand was over mouth as I read that, Minn. Pretty butch stuff, especially biking to A&E. I'm assuming the sliced upper-arm didn't obstruct use of the clutch-lever?

I feel like Chief Brody, looking down at his appendix scar and wondering whether it's worth mentioning... :rolleyes:
 
I think that bruising is a component of getting older. I seem to bruise quite a bit these days.
I've broken ribs twice on yachts.
Generally not too much trauma though.
This car business is a bit more damaging though.
 
flaming said:
A good friend of mine was playing netball during the week after doing bow on a very windy weekend. At the end of the game one of the opposition players came up and told her she didn't have to stand for it, she should leave her boyfriend and gave her a card with the number of an abused woman's helpline. My friend was really perplexed until one of her team pointed out her bruises. The well meaning opposition player simply refused to accept that she wasn't being beaten up, even when my friend pointed out she was single!
Sailing really can produce some amazing bruises that you just don't ever remember collecting!
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Very similar story with one of my friends. Someone seeing her in shorts and a strappy top was appalled at the "horrific injuries" inflicted by sailing :)

Pete
 
Long trip, making curry. Boat starts bouncing, both the curry and I fall backwards down the steps. Massive bruises everywhere, covered in curry. Douse down as best as possible, arrive St. Lucia several days later looking like I've been beaten up and smelling of eau de lamb madras - quite funny really!
 
I once cracked a couple of ribs due to foot and mouth disease. Four of us spent a week on a narrow boat during the foot and mouth outbreak. Each lock was equipped with a plastic basin at each end containing a big sponge and a puddle of disinfectant which you stepped in. Casting off after lunch I took the tiller while the rest went forward. The sun was reflecting off the roof and shining in my eyes so I decided to nip below to get my hat. We were slowly passing moored boats so the tiller could be safely left for a few seconds. My disinfectant soaked soles slipped on the steps and I flew down feet first landing hard with my back hitting the bottom step. Fortunately a crew member was in the cabin and saw this. She wanted to help me but I yelled to her to grab the tiller and steer. Unfortunately, she had never used a tiller before and pulled it the wrong way...
 
DaveS said:
My disinfectant soaked soles slipped on the steps and I flew down feet first landing hard with my back hitting the bottom step. Fortunately a crew member was in the cabin and saw this. She wanted to help me but I yelled to her to grab the tiller and steer. Unfortunately, she had never used a tiller before and pulled it the wrong way...
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Interesting how an apparently inconsequential detail can wrong-foot the person who was in charge, and then suddenly the whole boat's in danger... :eek:

SamanthaTabs said:
Massive bruises everywhere, covered in curry, arrive St. Lucia several days later looking like I've been beaten up and smelling of eau de lamb madras - quite funny really!
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You may have been encouraged to believe it's funny, but it sounds awful!
 
Next to the boat on the pontoon this year

I had a shackle to remove off the anchor because the external part of the pin had sheered, so I set to work with the angle-grinder fitted with a cutting-disc on a ‘shuggly’ pontoon. The first shackle was easy as the disc cut through the shackle in a few seconds. Then I noticed a second shackle which I decided to check but this also sheared ..... not an issue thought I ..... how wrong could I have been! The shackle was quite awkward to approach being connected to the chain and the disc caught one of the links & then entered my left thumb. Absolute ‘classic’ Muppet! .... I should of known better moment, plus no one was around (19:00) I had power cables, anchor chain and anchor on the service pontoon, a boat which needed secured and blood everywhere.
Luckily I had a rag I my pocket so I wrapped it round, applied pressure & proceeded to the clubhouse to have a rummage in the first-aid kit, but it just wasn’t my night. The clubhouse was double locked and my keys were in my left trouser pocket! ..... (if you had seen the ‘dance of the bloody thumb’ it would of been quite funny.) As part of this learning experience I realised how difficult it is to apply dressings, clean blood and secure the boat one-handed. Also can you medical professionals PLEASE stop telling the patient exactly what you are going to do ...... I’m not as brave as I thought I was ... cos I did-not like being informed that she (lovely though she was) had to open up the thumb to clean and inspect the tendon .... and it’s still a little sore now .... and that’s three-ish months ago.
 
The worst injury I've yet had was when I tripped over someone's lead in to boatyard and dislocated a finger joint. I had to reduce it myself before continuing my polishing.
 
I had a couple of cracked ribs after bouncing off a table in a violent storm about 1500 miles outof Sydney so just had to get on with it. Getting out of my bunk for the start of my watch and getting moving was the hardest bit. Pulling ropes wasn't brilliant fun.

This year I broke my right index finger coming onto a pontoon badly enough for it to be put in external fixation for 8 weeks. It is still swollen and I'm still having physio on it.
 
EdBeynon said:
I had a couple of cracked ribs after bouncing off a table in a violent storm about 1500 miles outof Sydney so just had to get on with it. Getting out of my bunk for the start of my watch and getting moving was the hardest bit. Pulling ropes wasn't brilliant fun.
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Whilst moving about and working the boat wasn't the least bit fun with damaged ribs, I found the worst bit was laughing. We had a good crew at the time so there was often something to snigger about. Sneezing was amazingly painful too.
 
OGITD said:
Luckily I had a rag I my pocket so I wrapped it round, applied pressure & proceeded to the clubhouse to have a rummage in the first-aid kit, but it just wasn’t my night. The clubhouse was double locked and my keys were in my left trouser pocket!
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No first aid kit on the boat?

I've also recently cut two shackles off the anchor, but I used a hacksaw. Angle grinders scare me - which I guess is a healthy reaction - so I avoid using mine unless the work is in the vise (or otherwise firmly clamped) and I have gloves, goggles, and the heavy cotton jacket I use for welding.

Pete
 
When they were sailing, my parents - who never got as into sailing as myself - made the old mistake of having Mum on the Centaurs' foredeck doing the hard work while Dad just stood in the cockpit at the throttle and helm.

On leaving Newtown Creek in a stiff breeze Mum had a real struggle pulling the anchor up, ending up with her fingers being trapped under the heavily loaded chain against the roller...

Result - badly mangled fingers and a long fast motor to Lymington to get treatment.
 
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