Too much traffic on the Bear led to several close calls & finally one mishap
to our fellow windsurfer John Baker who posts regularly here. He was out on his "vintage" O'brien, down in the water adjusting the boom when a ski boat drove right over him!! Luckily, he seemed okay after the crash
and the boater stopped to render aid. His trangle sail and aluminum boom
were torn in half, but his bombproof poly board survived. I guess if anyone would be my choice for that new sail it would have to be John!!
Hope you're stiil doing well, John.
Bellaire Blues
Moderator: MK
Too bad WBL is turning into such a zoo on the weekends....guess spending four hours on my road bike this morning was a better choice.....makes me yearn for September!
Hope you're doing alright Mr. Baker.... Just curious but did anyone call the Sheriff on the guy? "Sorry" just doesn't seem to cut it when ya get run over by a ski boat - that's scary stuff.
Hope you're doing alright Mr. Baker.... Just curious but did anyone call the Sheriff on the guy? "Sorry" just doesn't seem to cut it when ya get run over by a ski boat - that's scary stuff.
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
I think this is about the 3rd time this has happened on WBL , I also remember one on Minnetonka. I'm glad john is OK.
We've talked about boats and safety on the past, just don't trust anyone behind the wheel of a boat, get out of their way.Most of them don't have a clue what's going on or what you're going to do.
We've talked about boats and safety on the past, just don't trust anyone behind the wheel of a boat, get out of their way.Most of them don't have a clue what's going on or what you're going to do.
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johnbaker17
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:23 am
- Location: White Bear Lake, MN
I have every reason to be in the hospital right now, but by the grace of God I was able to walk away from the crash.
I've got a scratch on my ankle and a very sore butt, but not even a bruise to show for that. Right now I'm sitting cock-eyed in my desk chair to keep weight off my left side.
I think all the icing I did last night really helped, but it's still painful.
I woke up at 3 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Kept seeing that image of the speedboat coming straight at me. You have no idea how that affects your nerves.
Thanks go to all the guys who were there ready to help, and to the guy who called the sheriff for me. (I didn't catch his name.) And for the record, when you get run over by a speedboad, it's a "civil dispute" and it's treated like a car accident. Go figure.
I think we should discuss how this might have been prevented. I usually do cursory checks for nearby boats while I'm on the water, but when I was down and adjusting my boom height I didn't look up for about 20-30 seconds. That was too long. I just happened to glance up just in time to see V-hull. I had time to put my head down and then it was over. With more time, I might have been able to catch the attention of the driver, but by the time I looked up, it was too close for me to see anything but hull. The main factor leading to this disaster was the glare of the sun on the water. The driver couldn't see anything in the glare, and was driving directly into it. My board blended in with the white-caps, and my little head and the sail in the water were beyond hope of being seen.
By the way, we're not talking about a slow-moving boat gliding over me. He had planed out and was cruising. At that speed, a boat can be on top of you before you have time to raise your hand.
The best advice I can possibly give is to do cursory checks every 10 seconds, or more. Don't just look for boats bearing down on you, but get a reading on all the boats in your area. See where they're heading and how fast they're going. With more vigilence, I might have been able to get up on my board before this guy got to me.
I got out of bed this morning and was thankful to be able to do so. I might not have beed so fortunate.
John Baker
I've got a scratch on my ankle and a very sore butt, but not even a bruise to show for that. Right now I'm sitting cock-eyed in my desk chair to keep weight off my left side.
I think all the icing I did last night really helped, but it's still painful.I woke up at 3 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. Kept seeing that image of the speedboat coming straight at me. You have no idea how that affects your nerves.
Thanks go to all the guys who were there ready to help, and to the guy who called the sheriff for me. (I didn't catch his name.) And for the record, when you get run over by a speedboad, it's a "civil dispute" and it's treated like a car accident. Go figure.
I think we should discuss how this might have been prevented. I usually do cursory checks for nearby boats while I'm on the water, but when I was down and adjusting my boom height I didn't look up for about 20-30 seconds. That was too long. I just happened to glance up just in time to see V-hull. I had time to put my head down and then it was over. With more time, I might have been able to catch the attention of the driver, but by the time I looked up, it was too close for me to see anything but hull. The main factor leading to this disaster was the glare of the sun on the water. The driver couldn't see anything in the glare, and was driving directly into it. My board blended in with the white-caps, and my little head and the sail in the water were beyond hope of being seen.
By the way, we're not talking about a slow-moving boat gliding over me. He had planed out and was cruising. At that speed, a boat can be on top of you before you have time to raise your hand.
The best advice I can possibly give is to do cursory checks every 10 seconds, or more. Don't just look for boats bearing down on you, but get a reading on all the boats in your area. See where they're heading and how fast they're going. With more vigilence, I might have been able to get up on my board before this guy got to me.
I got out of bed this morning and was thankful to be able to do so. I might not have beed so fortunate.
John Baker
Wow, sounds pretty scary! Glad to hear you're okay, John. At Waconia the chop gets big enough I think it's pretty hard for motor boats to see someone down in the water. When you are driving through chop in a boat the bow is bouncing and spray is flying. Plus I'm sure many boaters are fighting to hang onto their beer or kid or dog when it's rough.
Basically I try to spend as little time down in deep water as possible. I make footstrap or other adjusmtents in the shallows or near the shore. I think it's natural for boaters to pay more attention closer to shore because they might expect swimmers or rocks. But in the open water I don't think boaters really pay attention for people in the water unfortunately.
So IMHO, if you are uphauling get on the board quickly. Same for waterstarting, at least get the sail flying quickly so you can be seen. I know boaters should ALWAYS pay attention, but the reality is sometimes they don't. Also I think your advice for always looking for boats is good. If nothing else you can sit on your board and wave if a boat is headed at you. Hope you get back out there soon!
Basically I try to spend as little time down in deep water as possible. I make footstrap or other adjusmtents in the shallows or near the shore. I think it's natural for boaters to pay more attention closer to shore because they might expect swimmers or rocks. But in the open water I don't think boaters really pay attention for people in the water unfortunately.
So IMHO, if you are uphauling get on the board quickly. Same for waterstarting, at least get the sail flying quickly so you can be seen. I know boaters should ALWAYS pay attention, but the reality is sometimes they don't. Also I think your advice for always looking for boats is good. If nothing else you can sit on your board and wave if a boat is headed at you. Hope you get back out there soon!
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johnbaker17
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:23 am
- Location: White Bear Lake, MN
I got myself checked out on Monday and doc says nothing serious is wrong with me, other that what we all knew already.
I have to go back in a couple weeks to make sure my fever, high blood pressure, and UA go back to normal. I guess this is how the body reacts to pain or general trama.
The pain is all but gone (no pun intended) now, and the scratch on my ankle is gonna heal fine. I'm going to the BWCA this weekend, but when I get back, I plan on getting back out on the water, so WATCH OUT!
You might see me. I'll be the one with the blaze orange hunting cap and a flare gun.
John Baker
I have to go back in a couple weeks to make sure my fever, high blood pressure, and UA go back to normal. I guess this is how the body reacts to pain or general trama.
The pain is all but gone (no pun intended) now, and the scratch on my ankle is gonna heal fine. I'm going to the BWCA this weekend, but when I get back, I plan on getting back out on the water, so WATCH OUT!
You might see me. I'll be the one with the blaze orange hunting cap and a flare gun.
John Baker
Glad to hear you are OK
Hi John,
10 years ago pretty close to the exact day, I was in the water and a motor boat ran over my rig. Sail and boom were destroyed but my Mistral Screamer survived. In fact, I still use the board today. I was fortunate that the boat did not hit me directly or else I may not be alive. However, the impact between the boom and I resulted in the fractured skull. The driver also stopped and took me to the hospital.
Is there something about our name "John" which the motor crafts do not like?
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
10 years ago pretty close to the exact day, I was in the water and a motor boat ran over my rig. Sail and boom were destroyed but my Mistral Screamer survived. In fact, I still use the board today. I was fortunate that the boat did not hit me directly or else I may not be alive. However, the impact between the boom and I resulted in the fractured skull. The driver also stopped and took me to the hospital.
Is there something about our name "John" which the motor crafts do not like?
Wishing you a speedy recovery.