Col
New member
Had the phone call Thurs, that told me engines had been craned back in. Went down to the boat that night, to have an early start Fri. Spent Friday refitting electrics / plumbing / fuel lines etc: Hopefully not too long now.
Anyway, invited out for weekend on mates 43ft loony tune, monster twin V8 jobby.
Left Southampton Sat morning, heading for Weymouth, passage plan done, time to enjoy the view while someone else in charge, sea not bad at all, considering F4ish SW. Called into Yarmouth for £330 of petrol (ouch) set of again after buying breakfast (and beer for the weekend) As we passed Needles, sea state changes from typical Solent short chop, to longer spaced swell. The boat is really at home in this, and we crack on at 30knts in the sunshine. We cruise along past Bourmouth and Muddiford pointing out land marks and points of interest to some of the non boaters with us, the pier and the tethered balloon at Bourmouth.
This is the life.
We are soon past Poole and watch the rock climbers at Swanage, carry on, reaching the first of the overfalls, the boat takes them in its stride, get to the overfalls at st Annes head these were bigger, and we start taking a few "green ones" over the screens.
Then it happened.
We went over the top of a really big wave (which by the hundredth time of telling, is now up to 400ft high, but was probably 12-15ft) and there was just a big hole the other side. We belly flopped into it, burying the nose deep into the next wave, Several gallons of oggin dumped into the cockpit, splashed into engine compartment getting electrics wet, stopping one engine, and setting off 2 auto lifejackets. Crew were sent sprawling, I was flung into helm seat, and was winded, 2 were stood in the cockpit holding the radar arch, they went flying, one bruised his back but the other had a more serious suspected broken/dislocated arm. We turned round and headed for Poole as he obviously needed medical help. Thankfully second engine restarted. VHF had been drowned so we alerted Dolphin haven by mobile to have ambulance ready, as by now the injured man was in agony, and unable to move. As we approached Poole we were (barely) able to raise Poole harbour control on VHF before it packed up again.
As we approached the Harbourmasters boat, he waved us on, lot's of raggies waving for us to slow down (sorry!) We were met by another HM boat which signalled for us to follow, blue lights and all, we charged through right up to the Marina where we were met by paramedics who administered painkilling gas enough to move him off the boat. The ambulance arrived , and he was whisked off to hospital. He returned several hours later with his dislocated arm fixed, and in a sling.
The next morning had an uneventful trip back, stopping for a Sunday roast in Lymington on the way back.
Today, on top of my (now re-injured) pulled leg muscle, I have a saucer sized bruise on my other leg, and a few painfully bruised ribs.
Ain't boating Great!!!!!!
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>
Anyway, invited out for weekend on mates 43ft loony tune, monster twin V8 jobby.
Left Southampton Sat morning, heading for Weymouth, passage plan done, time to enjoy the view while someone else in charge, sea not bad at all, considering F4ish SW. Called into Yarmouth for £330 of petrol (ouch) set of again after buying breakfast (and beer for the weekend) As we passed Needles, sea state changes from typical Solent short chop, to longer spaced swell. The boat is really at home in this, and we crack on at 30knts in the sunshine. We cruise along past Bourmouth and Muddiford pointing out land marks and points of interest to some of the non boaters with us, the pier and the tethered balloon at Bourmouth.
This is the life.
We are soon past Poole and watch the rock climbers at Swanage, carry on, reaching the first of the overfalls, the boat takes them in its stride, get to the overfalls at st Annes head these were bigger, and we start taking a few "green ones" over the screens.
Then it happened.
We went over the top of a really big wave (which by the hundredth time of telling, is now up to 400ft high, but was probably 12-15ft) and there was just a big hole the other side. We belly flopped into it, burying the nose deep into the next wave, Several gallons of oggin dumped into the cockpit, splashed into engine compartment getting electrics wet, stopping one engine, and setting off 2 auto lifejackets. Crew were sent sprawling, I was flung into helm seat, and was winded, 2 were stood in the cockpit holding the radar arch, they went flying, one bruised his back but the other had a more serious suspected broken/dislocated arm. We turned round and headed for Poole as he obviously needed medical help. Thankfully second engine restarted. VHF had been drowned so we alerted Dolphin haven by mobile to have ambulance ready, as by now the injured man was in agony, and unable to move. As we approached Poole we were (barely) able to raise Poole harbour control on VHF before it packed up again.
As we approached the Harbourmasters boat, he waved us on, lot's of raggies waving for us to slow down (sorry!) We were met by another HM boat which signalled for us to follow, blue lights and all, we charged through right up to the Marina where we were met by paramedics who administered painkilling gas enough to move him off the boat. The ambulance arrived , and he was whisked off to hospital. He returned several hours later with his dislocated arm fixed, and in a sling.
The next morning had an uneventful trip back, stopping for a Sunday roast in Lymington on the way back.
Today, on top of my (now re-injured) pulled leg muscle, I have a saucer sized bruise on my other leg, and a few painfully bruised ribs.
Ain't boating Great!!!!!!
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>
