Get well, Pete

Was racing with Pete and Mike that evening. Apparently I left about 1 or 2 runs beforehand and was only speaking to Pete and Mike about 10 mins before then !! Blown away when Mike told me a couple of days later.

Mike said that he was mowed down by a 7m ish boat with resultant consequences. Wish I had been there to help out. All the best for a speedy recovery Pete.

Only 2 weeks before a 52 foot Riviera went past me less than 50m away at full tilt heading to SPYC. I had come out of a gybe near Heathecote and saw this thing bearing down on me. I expected him to change course or slow down but no, so I had no choice but to wallow and wait for him to pass with massive wake. This was despite 3 guys on the Flybridge looking at me. I complained to SPYC and got an answer straight away from the Sailing Administrator apologising and who said that they have told their members before to be careful and they would do so again. Unfortunately I didn't get the name or rego. Just goes to show that it can be either pure bad luck for both parties or stupidity in this case of the boat owner, that can turn things pear shaped very quickly.

I do feel for Peter..... He must be refusing all the drugs from "big pharma".....

On a serious note I hope you are back on the water soon and like Whitey said anyone who knows anything please give a statement to Water Police. There is enough of DPI targeting us for stupid lifejacket rules but the idiotic types with $100K boats obviously need to learn some stuff first.......

Just a quick update

Phoned and then dropped in to see Peter Mac today at Royal Perth -his 2nd operation (knee operation) today was successful and despite looking like he'd done a few rounds in a boxing ring he was in good spirits although quite a bit of pain from his knee post the operation.

He mentioned as Shane noted earlier that he'd really appreciated all the words of support and calls he's been getting and started talking about new windsurfing gear - a good sign in my mind !!

Adam

Mike, you may want to mention the Gofundme in Shooting the Breeze for a bit more exposure. Pete is well known around the country for his - ahem - "interesting ideas" and no doubt others in the Seabreeze community may wish to assist.

Petie, despite our differences and with 100% sincerity get well soon mate and I hope you get back on the water (and HW) reall soon. Wouldn't wish this s*** on anyone.
Chin up.

Feeling for you. Hope your Recovery and Rehab goes well asap:-)

Nothing on them media? Zip? nada?

This is news a jorno should write about it, rather than another useless MRK recap or Celebrity jungle holiday.

Sad is a remember personally 3 similar accidents through the period I have been windsurfing/sailing.

Wish him a speedy recovery. Hope he can get back in the water one day.

Remember Phil Lorrimer (rip) could still shred at the gorge windsurfing missing one leg above the knee...

My hardest post ever.

Thanks so much for all your support. I do feel a bit uneasy about the donations but I'll do my best to repay the windsurfing community when I return to sailing next October when the seabreezes start again ( Melville only)

What happened? Well I was sailing between the outer orange buoy at Pelican Point and the inner white mark situated a few metres from the Pelican Boat with Mike White and John Correira.

On one of the 90 degree to wind reaches a guy with a tininie boat t-boned me.

I never saw him period. By T- boned I mean around a 90 degree angle. Perhaps a little more or less.

All he had to do was slow down but no he thought he'd save a bit of time and fuel.

Credit to him though for not leaving the scene of a accident. I take it he pulled me from the water,so he saved my life or certainly aided me getting on his boat. I vaguely remember being in a semi conscious state treading water.

When I came around I heard another person ask the boat owner how long I was in the water to which he replied 10 seconds.

Initially I thought I must have fallen off a gybe but near the shore getting ready to be taken away by the ambulance I asked him how fast he was going. From memory he said 20 knots then added 17-18 knots. He said I was flying around 30 knots.

His words hit me very hard - I'd been t-boned.

Hey Pete Leighton might be safer,hope to see you on the water soon.

recycle said..
Hey Pete Leighton might be safer,hope to see you on the water soon.

Yep - try sailing at the beach Pete! There are basically no boats, plus I have been sailing there for years and haven't gone over the edge yet...

Peter, at the risk of sounding like an ambulance chasing lawyer, sounds like you'd have a personal injury claim here, if your out of pockets are significant enough to justify it. If you WWA insurance might be worth a look too, although I have no idea what that covers.

Injuries are healing well Anita.

They have moved me to a rehab centre yesterday.

Physio reckons some time next week I will get to go home - though it is looking like I will have to move to my sisters place which is ground level unlike my place.

The knee is the big one I think.

First 4 weeks must spend every second in a zero degree bend brace.

Then I swap over to a 20 degree brace at the 4 week mark then a 30 degree brace till 8 weeks.

Crutches after that for a week or two I think.

Max healing takes place after 2 years but the majority of the fusion between tendon and the knee cap happens in the first few months from what the surgeons have said to me.

Windsurfing is probably one of the better sports to get back in to after such a serious injury,though I'll take it easy for a while after returning.

I'll post a few pics of my broken equipment and injuries when I eventually get home. My carbon Maui boom survived seemingly.

Looking forward to getting back to sailing Lucky Bay again - Pelican Point is more enjoyable for me but those boats!

Just a little insight in to hospital life.

The obs the nurses call it,short for observations I think.

Blood pressure,ear temp readings,blood sucking syringes for blood tests,blood thinners etc,etc!

Earlier I was on a intravenous drip of antibiotics as well as taking oral antibiotics.

Thankfully both have stopped since my third op was successful.

Lots and lots of other stuff like painkillers that I've mostly refused,though few do from my limited experience.

Anyway,after all the obs just trying to catch up on some sleep.

Not complaining about the work the nurses do as nearly every one has been amazing. Nursing takes a special kind of personality to do. Doing daily bedpans etc is not something for everyone,trust me!

Stay safe on the water,very safe. Do not let your ego push you beyond your level.

And be very conscious of boats and jet skis. Remember a windsurfer is like being a motorcyclist on the road. Unlike a car or a yacht you have no cage protection.

Be very conscious of safety on the water - look thru your sail more often not just to windward.

Pete, was the boat going upwind or downwind?