Avoid Lobster/Mooring Buoys and Carry Knife
Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:09 am
Had an interesting non-obvious incident up in Maine when I was dragged to a disconcerting underwater location. Here's what happened.
Got a line wrapped in what appeared to be a lobster trap buoy but similar to any mooring buoy. Seemed like more of a nuisance than anything at the time. Kite was on the water in light wind, and figured I'd unwrap the line once I was dragged to the buoy. This type of buoy seemed to be anchored by a heavy chain running vertically to the bottom. What's not obvious is that once the buoy is pulled to 45 degrees with respect to its anchor point, the chain is no longer long enough for the buoy to reach the surface; the buoy has no choice but to sink. And sink it did when my kiteline snagged on it. As the line slid through the snag, I was pulled first toward the buoy on the surface, then, much to my surprise, down underwater after it.
After a couple minutes, felt lucky to get the tensioned underwater line unsnagged, but rather disconcerted by the thought of how easy it could have been to get a loop around a wrist or leg. Think maybe I won't go out next time I realize my knife's back in the car, eh?...or maybe Bay Area rather than Maine...
Got a line wrapped in what appeared to be a lobster trap buoy but similar to any mooring buoy. Seemed like more of a nuisance than anything at the time. Kite was on the water in light wind, and figured I'd unwrap the line once I was dragged to the buoy. This type of buoy seemed to be anchored by a heavy chain running vertically to the bottom. What's not obvious is that once the buoy is pulled to 45 degrees with respect to its anchor point, the chain is no longer long enough for the buoy to reach the surface; the buoy has no choice but to sink. And sink it did when my kiteline snagged on it. As the line slid through the snag, I was pulled first toward the buoy on the surface, then, much to my surprise, down underwater after it.
After a couple minutes, felt lucky to get the tensioned underwater line unsnagged, but rather disconcerted by the thought of how easy it could have been to get a loop around a wrist or leg. Think maybe I won't go out next time I realize my knife's back in the car, eh?...or maybe Bay Area rather than Maine...