drowning doesn’t look like drowning

just a friendly reminder as the weather starts to warm up and more people spend time on or near the water: drowning doesn’t look like drowning.

• Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect.
• Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event.
• Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.

read the full article by Mario Vittone here.

I know first-hand how (almost) drowning feels – the last thing I wanted to do was talk – for more, read: underestimating the power of the waves.

 

harken red blocks

Harken is celebrating 50 years in business this year, and is offering a unique twist on their traditional 57mm blocks by adding a bit of color: bright red sheaves.

you can find them at various Harken dealers and of course at APS.

Happy Birthday to us! #Harken is celebrating 50 years with a splash of red on our Carbo Ratchet blocks. These special edition Red Ratchets are available today through worldwide in-stock dealers. Hit the link in our bio to find a dealer near you. #AtTheFront

A post shared by HARKEN (@harken_inc) on Apr 20, 2017 at 6:32am PDT

you can enter for a chance to win a 57mm carbo ratchet block from the Harken blockheads here.

the Harken 2135 is my go-to choice for a mainsheet block for a Sunfish, although I only have the old boring black versions…

today’s tunes: fell on black days

holy crap, Chris Cornell died last night in Detroit after a Soundgarden concert at the Fox Theatre.

Soundgarden was a huge band for me back in high school.

plus Cornell’s work with Temple of the Dog and later Audioslave?

this man just pumped out great music.

I’m a bit floored.

updated with a video from the show last night: the day I tried to live

sunfish frankenboat: “folk art”

I know I’ve seen this disaster before, but was reminded of it again on the Sunfish Forum.

plywood sides, plexiglass windows, and a little cabin have been scabbed onto the deck of a (fiberglass) Sunfish hull.  it’s not clear if a motor was meant to be added or not, or if the original Sunfish mast and sail would be used? no oar locks visible either – so I’m not sure if this contraption was ever meant to see the water? or perhaps it was just going to be a prop for parades and things like that?

the “boat” is listed for sale on Craigslist at the Jersey Shore.

I’ve posted about this unique boat before – looks like it has a fresh coat of white paint… but only on the plywood.  don’t bother painting the dirty old fiberglass hull to match!

today’s tunes: the system only dreams in total darkness

the 1st single off the upcoming new album from The National.

am I excited? yep, maybe just a smidge.

the new album will be released September 8, 2017 and is titled “Sleep Well Beast”. you can pre-order the album here.

Tracklist:

• Nobody Else Will Be There
• Day I Die
• Walk It Back
• The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness
• Born to Beg
• Turtleneck
• Empire Line
• I’ll Still Destroy You
• Guilty Party
• Carin at the Liquor Store
• Dark Side of the Gym
• Sleep Well Beast

j crew sunfish t-shirt

available, and on sale now, at J Crew.

this is not a promoted post, I get nothing for pointing it out.  I just wanted to share a cool t-shirt available for fellow Sunfish sailors… I ordered one for myself already!