Any good AI wipeouts to tell?

I can't be the only one with stories to tell.

Folsom Lake - Windy day. Good sailing, bad fishing. Steered my rig into the ramp area and brought in the sail nicely. Had the 2011 version rudder clamped down so I got out of the boat while in the water (nearly 3 Ft.) and held onto it while trying to undo the rudder. Big gust of wind came up and my sail rope slipped out of the tie-down clamp. Sail flapping like crazy as it completely unwound. I'm in deep $#^! in a big hurry with no way to get to the sail rope as the boat begins to drag me. All I can do is hang onto the back aka with all my strength.  I'm simply unable to get inside the square of the extended akas to reach the ropes. The boat finally slows down when it hits a flooded bush and it buys me enough reverse force/pause to get my leg over and finally reach the sail rope to reel the sheet in. Could have been a runaway AI missile if the winds had been completely pointed offshore.

Make sure you REALLY clamp down those ropes!   

Whether people realize it or not Folsom can be a windy Mo Fo.
When the Wilderness Tarpon first came out (all they had was the 16 ft model) I took it to Folsom as soon as I left the kayak shop I from where I purchased it.
Gale force winds, small craft advisory (yes, on Folsom Lake).
After just a few paddle strokes I knew I made the right choice.
Glad you didn't have a runaway missle on your hands. Although it would have made on helluva story. 

Andie and I took a drive to Folsom Lake on Saturday. The wind was howling big time.


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Tote,

I don't have many sailing stories because I'm fishing with the Adventure probably 80-90% of the time. I feel safe in big whitecaps with 16 feet and the fins though. I don't have a clue if I could paddle in the tough water. One of these days I'll have to pull up the turbos and see what I can do with the paddle. Might not be pretty. The paddle is pretty much just my reverse option or dock bumper now. Lazy Hobie owner 

Speaking of Folsom, can't seem to buy a trout on that lake but there are some nice, fat smallmouth to be had working the deeper rocks. The lake remains largely a mystery to me as far as anything but the SMB. Damn fun sailing it when the wind is like 10 to 20 mph though.  Those mid-range type winds seem quite rare with the lake either nearly flat or the wind screaming out of the north. 

Lost an AKA yesterday in 15 MPH winds and 2 ft rollers.

Did you have gear out on the tramps? Which part broke?

I was in Las Vegas over the weekend and it was blowin 20kt. Figured you guys would be sailing. I don't take my AI out over 15-17kt. I hate the way it submarines in heavy air and compared to a NACRA catamaran not that fun. Be safe out there guys.

Did you have gear out on the tramps? Which part broke?

Tramp was rolled up so no gear lost. I was sideways to the waves in the middle of a turn and the end of the arm popped out of the crossbar. Nothing broken must not have been fully engaged? Could not re-engage on the water in the slop. Lucky I was 50 yards from shore.

I'm trying to visualize how the boat would react in that situation. Probably more manageable if during a turn the inside outrigger was the one with a malfunction. Less concern with the wind load but maybe more squirrelly acting. Lots of little variables to think about.

My aka's are (if anything) somewhat difficult to remove once they're locked into the push button sockets. One of them is a a bear and I have to twist it while pulling and holding the buttons down. I have used a small adjustable C clamp to hold the buttons down and it is helpful. 





 

I'm trying to visualize how the boat would react in that situation. Probably more manageable if during a turn the inside outrigger was the one with a malfunction. Less concern with the wind load but maybe more squirrelly acting. Lots of little variables to think about.

My aka's are (if anything) somewhat difficult to remove once they're locked into the push button sockets. One of them is a a bear and I have to twist it while pulling and holding the buttons down. I have used a small adjustable C clamp to hold the buttons down and it is helpful.

Chucke has a fix for that. Seems that is a common problem. I think he said to gently twist the aka (near the down curve end) and that will help with the sticky pin/button