We have brought countless people sailing on a Volvo 70 over the past year and a half. First thing we do is tell the folks not to put their hands on any loaded lines like the mainsheet or runners. Well...I did not heed my own warning.
Remember, we don't have a boom right now and there are three separate purchases on the clew of the main sail holding it in place. We are all creatures of habit on these boats. You get 100 percent used to every square inch of the boat and it is wild how much something like the lack of a boom makes you change how you walk around the cockpit in rough seas...what you lean on and when.
Well, we finally got conditions this morning where we could shake out one of the reefs. Six of us were on deck. I was on the bottom purchase and about to ease it when we fell off a wave and I braced myself on the purchase that runs to weather. Sounds harmless so far right? The problem is that at the exact time I went to brace myself just happened to be the exact time that the purchase was being eased through a large titanium block. The block quite easily sucked my left index finger in until I gave a little "hold" call then instinctively, just pulled it out.
YUCK. Not much left of the last 30 percent of my finger- at least from what I remember. My daughter Tory has inherited the same aversion to the sight of blood. Tory, you will be proud of me- I didn't faint.
Just what the doctor ordered after the last few days. I am officially a dumb-ass.
Dr. (Shannon) Falcone sprung into action. Got me all cleaned and bandaged. A serious painkiller is about to take over my world. My typing has taken a severe efficiency hit.
Besides that, we lived though some brutal seas last night in 30 knots of wind and have had a few more structural situations but the body shop trio of Casey, Salty and Michi, have gotten il mostro nearly back into fighting form again.
Of course there was plenty more happening over the past 24 hours. Like the interesting exit past the Philippines and Cape Bojeador in about 50 knots of wind right on the nose and horrific seas kicked up by a strong opposing current. That was fun...
So...I think I will listen to Dr. Falcone and get into the rack before I start drooling on myself at the nav station when the pain killers kick in.
Ricky Deppe our media man has sure had plenty to video on this leg. Clearly we are entertaining him, and hopefully most of this footage comes out to the public soon. Some of it is pretty good.
Off to bed now. And by the way, when you see the video Rick shot of my finger, you may want to look away.
- Kenny
