6/10 Saratoga 3.7 And a Big Thank You to WS'n buds

[Sarah Ranes]

Thanks to Emmanuel, John, I got my gear back! It was ripped out of my hands, when I was flipping the sail to water start. I couldn't believe how quickly it moved away from me. I swam as hard as I could to catch it....touched the top of the sail once, then a big swell came along and it was gone again, and I was tireing quickly. I had pictures in my head of where my gear would end up! On the rocks getting pounded, or maybe just into the reeds, if I was lucky.

I started waving, and fortunately I was close enough to be seen, help came running and sailing in! Manney slopped my gear, John dove in from the jetty and swam out to help with my gear, and sail it back in, and I swam for the jetty. Mike and Josh came out to help also, and others kept an eye on my return THANK YOU ALL! YOU GUYS ROCK!

the 3.7 was a handful for me! I got to sail a bit before my swimming adventure, and was doing ok, but felt op'd most of the time, the gusts felt like they would just pick you up...I even tail walked on the tiny gear. Jibing was a hand full, in the very tight swell. After the swim and resting for a bit, I gave it another go, I did 3 or 4 reaches and survived, I think the wind had picked up even more, and was extremely gusty, so I headed back in. it was even tough to hang on to my gear, on land, in that type of wind. WOW WHAT A DAY!

It was fun to watch others sail from the shore. There was some pretty big air time going on!