sailing mishap

My wife and I were windsurfing off of Shellpoint this past Sunday, when faulty equipment, unfavorable winds and a rapidly approaching squall left her stranded offshore and in a state of panic. I swam to meet her quite far, perhaps 150 yards or more, it was tough to tell. There were people catching sharks on the beach, and I kept feeling my limbs brushing things underwater, which is quite deep in the channel. I understood that if I panicked also, we would be in big trouble. Luckily some kind people took care of our son who was playing on the beach. Shortly after I reached her, as I was catching my breath, a boat came by and helped us out, just as the storm approached, sending driving rain like bullets. I jumped off the boat and dragged the gear to shore, the wind lifting the 11 foot board. By the time I got to where my son was, he was shivering but in good hands with a family and a middle aged couple from Indiana who had just moved to Florida. Members of the sailboard club who were on the beach doing some project did nothing to help, which is still making me angry. They did not even come up afterwards to see if she was OK. A very sad show of seamanship indeed. But I felt fortunate to be helped by so many kind people. It is not often one find oneself in a helpless state, at least I am quite fortunate. The ocean and water in general is a powerful force that must be respected. That, thankfully, my dear father taught me, though I thought he was just being overcautious when I was young on the boat. I went along with my wife's stubbornness to sail that day, though I knew the wind was blowing sideshore. I also didn't stop to think that she isn't as familiar with the Gulf as I. Even though I was scared I know what kind of sharks and other sealife are in these waters over the grass flats. Nothing terribly dangerous save bull sharks; rated as the most deadly on the discovery channel. The kid looked like he had a small hammerhead. The summer spawn have grown. I wonder when the mamas head back out to sea? It was a pretty intense experience, and we learned much... the hard way. But I passed a test of sorts. But you would have to be me to understand.