Windsurfing Magazine

Paddling isn't always the only option in case of a breakdown. For example, suppose your starboard tack boom tube breaks, but you have to sail on starboard to get back to shore. One option is to sail clew first on starboard, using the good side of the boom. Another is to switch the boom around so that the unbroken half is on the starboard side of the sail. With modern clamp-on booms, the switch is easy to make. The only thing you have to be careful of is not to sheet in too hard with that one good boom tube. It's a lot weaker by itself than when the other side is intact, so it could break.

If your mast breaks below the boom, you can throw away the boom section, shove the upper section onto the mast base, and re-attach the boom as high as possible on the shortened mast. The boom will be at knee level, at best, and the sail won't look pretty, but at least you can sail rather than paddle to shore.

If jury-rigging the sail is out of the question, paddling is the next option. Never try to swim or paddle yourself to shore with the sail just dragging behind, because you'll make little or no progress and you'll tire yourself out in the process. Instead, derig. Roll the sail up as tightly as you can and tie it up. Then lie on your boom, mast and sail and paddle the whole mess to shore. If you're not making headway because the wind or current is too strong or the rig is slowing you down, you need to figure this out quickly, before you're too tired to think clearly. If you can't make shore with the rig, ditch it. Throwing away a $500 sail beats risking your life.

If you do get rescued, your rescuers will be able to deal with your rig better if you've consolidated all the parts, rolled and tied up the sail, tied the mast base to the boom, etc. - than if you've just been waiting for a white knight to save you.

Most important, any time you have a problem in offshore winds, time is of the essence. Cold water, cold wind, a setting sun can turn a reasonably safe situation into a hazardous one.