So the taste NC drama has us clamoring for more. How did Swim boy's hull get breached? Did it have anything to do with those oft-cursed nets?
Cwolfe
Swim boy and the two piece kayak...... what happened?
(9 posts) (8 voices)-
danceswithwaves
MemberActually, I believe SwimBoy's problems started in Core Sound. The hull was cracked there. He had a bit of water in the cockpit and forward compartment at CP1. I watched him sponge it out. I do not believe he was aware of the problem at that point. Later, mid-Pamlico, in 4-5 foot seas, he started to take on serious water, particularly in the forward compartment. Due to the wave action, he was unable to access the hatch. With the bow down, the boat was unresponsive to the rudder. Unable to make any weigh and adrift, he called for assistance. The Coast Guard vessel and crew that responded tried to bring the kayak aboard but, unfortunately, it cracked in half. When we got back to Camp Don Lee, I helped him strip the boat and we sawzalled the hull. Last sight of it was six pieces sticking out of the Dumpster. Sobering experience. Royd
Posted 6 years ago # -
What kind kayak was it ? Build ? How old was it ?
Any contributing factors besdies the wind and waves ?Posted 6 years ago # -
Aleutian
MemberThat's a shame. At CP1 I was admiring SwimBoy's boat, and mentioned to my race partner (Knotsynched) that I'd like to build a setup like his. We also stayed back at CP1, renting out the house there due to the small craft advisory. I'm very glad we sat that one out. The Buccaneer we sailed is fast and nimble, but it isn't very stable and is very difficult to control in winds above 15 knts if there is also 4+ seas. The ceiling for our comfort level on that boat is about 4 foot seas. We took significant water over the bow on a few occasions in the BBC '15, and that was without small craft advisory in effect (thanks at one point to the captain of a yacht leaving Beaufort throwing us a 6-7 foot wake in already confused seas).
Posted 6 years ago # -
I did a lot of sailing in these waters with a 25 ft cape dory. Even in the heavy and very capable keelboat, there were times when i was beat up by the waves on the sounds. The Pamlico and Albemarle are very rough compared to other areas with similar wind speed and fetch. The confused seas there are a serious hazard. The BBC is a no joke event. We had really nice weather for most of the event and it was still a very tough place to be in a small boat. One big difference between the BBC and EC is the BBC has several forced open water crossings and one can easily be several hours from shore facing waves generated over a 60 mile fetch. This place is flat out dangerous and scary.
In the EC we were always near a beach or mangrove that could provide a quick escape if the weather rapidly deteriorated. I felt much more comfortable with our safety in the EC.
Swimboy's situation occurred on one of these exposed 15 to 20 mile crossings.
Swimboy and several others left early that morning to beat a strong north wind and small craft advisory. He just wound up in a place where Poseidon could work evil on a minor and probably unnoticeable ding or crack in the fiberglass.
It was a matter of really trecherous waters and nothing Swimboy did wrong. From what I know of Swimboy's situation (regardless of whether or not he knew about the preexistimg hull damage at CP1), I agree with Swimboy's decision to make a run for it. He was trying to make the crossing and get to the safer waters of the Pungo River before the bad stuff hit and pinned him down at CP1 for 24 hours.
Had Swimboy waited it out at CP1, he probably would have had difficulty with the checkpoint deadlines. The time crunch situation can cause one to be out in even worse conditions. That is why I think it was prudent for Swimboy to make a run for it while he still had good weather.
This is a really hard event and a boat killer! It is also very beautiful and worth the drive to NC. So all of you that think you are tough, drive to Oriental, NC next fall! Hope to see you there.
Posted 6 years ago # -
LRock
MemberActually I think I was the last to see Swimboy before his boat got flooded. We left together to try and beat the heavy weather (yeah good luck to me). Pulling out of checkpoint 1, with my .8 meter sail, we stayed together till the end of the protected waters. He then beared off heading straight for the Pamlico/Pongo junction, and I headed more upwind to hide behind the Islands up to Racoon Island, before having to make a break across the top of the sound for the Bay River (shortest path to protected waters). I remember feeling such a longing jealousy of his outriggers, and beatiful twin masted 49 sq ft of sail, His boat was cruising and looking so great and fast! He was out of my sight in probably 1/2 hour. I had thought of bearing off with him, and making more of my sail, but I really didn't want to get caught in what they were calling up to 30 knot gusts and 8 ft waves for any longer than I had to. I was quite surpriised to hear he had trouble for how good he looked while in sight.
Swimboy, here is to you and your beautiful craft, SO SORRY you lost it, and so glad you are ok! Look forward to seeing your newest creation, I am sure you have major plans...
Posted 6 years ago #
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