Another Fish Story
The
Wednesday night beercan race prior to Ensenada race in Marina Del Rey
was gusting in the upper 20’s. We rounded the windward mark and on the
downwind leg launched the spin. All 5 of the crew were on the stern. We
were comfortably surfing in the 18’s came down on a wave it felt like
we hit a sunfish or something and the keel started cavitating. Then all
of a sudden we heard a big crashing sound and then everything was surreal
and silent. The boat actually accelerated and stayed upright for a moment.
One of the crew yelled that the keel broke off and we slowly started to
roll over. It was pretty uneventful. One of the other Viper’s came to
get us and we were up on his boat in seconds – no one was hurt. I went
to get the boat the next day, it was floating upside down with all the
sails up.
I
thought it would have washed up on shore but it only drifted about a mile
south towards El Segundo. The rig had broken where the vang attaches.
I was able to free the rig and a friend towed it back in while vessel
assist helped me roll the boat back over and brought us back to the the
launch ramp. I pumped the water from the boat and put it back on the trailer.
Thanks to Mike George and friends for launching his RIB and helping out.
Chris
Slagerman
Black Magic Viper 830
