This relates to my first ever volunteer crew trip on the Robby back in 1989. We were following the Spirit of Chemainus south through Haro Straight near Sidney BC, with just enough wind to keep steerage way. It was late afternoon just before dinner and we were just holding the main and fore on a port tack, broad reach.

Suddenly Skipper Jerry yells "hit the deck" and thankfully everyone did. The wind suddenly backed almost 90° and hit is with a gust from starboard! this brought the main around in under 2 seconds with a resounding thud!

The amazing part (other then this being the only un-controlled gybe I ever experienced in the 7 years I crewed on the boats) was the fact that the main sheets caught on the flag bracket on their way by.

Now the flag bracket is screwed into the cap rail with 4" long .25" dia wood screws... well, those sheets ripped it straight out of the rail (a chunk of rail and all) and flung it a good 10´ off the port quarter of the Robby!

needless to say quiet ensued for the next few seconds followed shortly by "All hands to lower sail"