Ouch - that wasn't meant to happen.

The end of a training day can often bring relief and a sense of accomplishment. But sometimes, unexpected moments turn a routine day into a memorable one for all the wrong reasons. That was the case when Mark accidentally hit his forehead on a shackle attached to the underside of the boom.

What happened during the incident

The day had been going well, we had had fun charging around Weymouth Bay at speeds in excess of 10 knots in 25 knots of wind. As we were preparing to reverse down to the berth the strong wind was rattling the boom around and Mark headbutted a shackle at the boom end.

Within a few seconds the stern of the boat was covered in blood. Having recently completed our First Aid courses this was an ideal opportunity to practice....

Applied pressure did indeed temporarily staunch the bleeding and we were able to finish berthing.

Aftermath

Regrettably, each time the cut was disturbed, the bleeding resumed, leading to a hospital visit later that evening where four stitches were needed... because apparently, my skin has a flair for the dramatic.

Just another day in training, I guess. Who knew we were auditioning for a medical drama?