DSK wrote:

Probably my worst sailing adventure ever was breaking a Lightning mast
about 40 seconds before the start of a race. It was just plain stupidity
on my part, and good luck that nobody got hurt.

All my sailing experiences have been great...

I agree, not having had a major disaster I can't recall a "worst"
experience. Your dismasting reminds how fine the line is between
exhilaration and depression sometimes is. One of my most exiting
rides was on an IOD, crewing for the fleet wizard in Marblehead, when
the wind gusted up from 20 knots to 30 during the spinnaker run. We
had a great ride, but the fleet behind us got hit just a they popped
the chutes and several got dismasted. Their problems gave us the
advance warning we needed to prepare.

Also, some of my best experiences have been the worst for the rest of
my family, who suffer a bit in heavy weather. I got mine some years
back ('78?) following Hurricane David. We had been out for a week and
survived the hurricane without drama, but I had to dive to retrieve an
anchor that was fouled. Water temp was frigid, so it took me a day to
recover and I ended up with an ear infection. When we returned I got
a call from friends that had had their worst ever experience during
the hurricane, almost losing the boat in a small harbor in Nova
Scotia, and they needed my help to bring the boat back from Maine. I
threw clean cloths in my bag and grabbed the next small plane Down
East. The sail back was uneventful, but the ear infection meant that
I was low grade sea sick the entire time. I was unable to go forward
for fear of falling off. I have little recollection of the trip other
than sleeping in the bunk and felt I was more of a burden than a help.
My friends, of course, say that they never could have done it
without me, and consider that return trip a bright spot in their
vacation. Everyone has a different perception of events!