Wednesday April 25, 2007, a beautiful afternoon on the lower
Chesapeake. My good friend in the next birth, returned from work and
suggested we sail out to watch the Wednesday evening 'Beer Can races',
sounded good to me, so off we went. My boat is a 1997 Jeanneau SO
372, http//:members.cox.net/russort/for_sale.html, purchased last
year, and this would be the first outing this season, wind was a good
15 to 25 kts out out the SW. Once cleared of the jetty put into the
wind, the sails went up. We could see the around eight racers forming
around the committee boat, We started towar a good vantage point for
some pictures. All was fine until we turned into a beam reach. Within
two minutes of taking the heal, we heard a loud snap and saw the boom
swinging over the starboard side. Several pieces of hardware were also
flying and landing in the water. After a few seconds of astonishment,
we could see that the shackle had broken off the car for the main
sheet on the traveler. With the gen still going we turned into the
wind and secured the boom.
Another beautiful afternoon on the Chesapeake.

Bob Russo

Virginia Beach, Virginia