The Accident

25/08/2010 – Poundta Beach on 110L + 6m then 128L

On the way back to the apartment that evening I came across a road accident on the road from Parikia to Naousa with many people around as it must have happened a few minutes prior.  I could see a motorcyclist in the distance laying facing down in the middle of the road with a helmet on. I tried to help and shortly after the Abulance arrived.

I started to write alot more detail of what happened but in the end did not think it was appropriate due to the outcome of the incident.

Reflecting back on the situation, although it was a difficult situation with not possibility of helping it anymore, I now have read about accident scene management afterwards and feel I may have been able to help the situation better had I read the suggested guidance notes found on this website http://www.molenda.com/accident.html

I would suggest that anyone who has completed a first aid course read the notes for guidance or as a refresher should the situation ever happen to them.

26/08/2010

I woke up in the morning and spoke to Maria (our apartment owner) she told me that Unfortunately the young man died, it is not known who’s was at fault as a vehicle may have been turning whilst the motorbike was passing at a reasonable speed.  I saw the large motorbike on the floor about 30metres from the motorcyclist and a car with the side caved in when passing the previous day.

Due to hearing the bad news the rest of the day did not seem to go well, went to Toukalia on the East side of Paros, the beach here has a windsurf club and generally gets better waves but not always so much wind as it points further south of the Island.  When I arrived I tried to rig my 400cm mast on my 4.4m NP Core, whilst rigging I had to pull the mast up through the luff from top end.  Consequently the mast became everso slightly detached unknowingly, so when I went to put on the downhaul what was 4m weather – you guessed it, I broke my 60% carbon power X mast L.  I then went onto rigging the 4m sail, by the time this had all happened the conditions dropped to flukey 5.7m weather L

There only appeared to be a short window of opportunity at this location for the day around 1 hour, I must admit, it would have been nice to get out on the wave there as they looked more testing than all the other locations we have sailed at on the Island.

We headed to New golden beach and bought a used Ka sails mast from the centre there 75% carbon for 150 euros which I thought was very reasonable considering my 60% was £220 new in the UK this year.  I went on to rig the 4.4m then 6m on the 91 Litre and head out and made the best out of the rest of the day.