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When I was about 9 years old my dad had a sailboat that he kept in Plymouth. It was a 28ft Herreschoff slopped rigged cutter. These rigs have a lot of clutter on the foredeck. It was a windy day and we were sailing out of Wellfleet Harbor, I was standing afore the mast as we cleared the harbor a big gust came and heeled the boat over. I went tumbling ass over teakettle and landed with my body from the chest down over the side. The swells were running up my chest and covering my face with water. I knew that if I let go I would drown. My dad was busy with the boat and did not see me. I was holding on to the boarding ladder, which was attached to the boat with bungee cord. The cord was about 4 inches from my face. I watched as the individuals elastics snapped one by one. They had dried out over the course of the summer and had no give in them. I know I was in serious trouble. My adrenalin cranked in and I pulled myself over the rail while expecting the cord to snap and me and the ladder to plunge over the side and any moment. I stood up and made my way back to the cockpit, my mother asked me if I wanted a sandwich. I just started crying.
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