Will,

Nasty story!! We should be thankful for no serious injuries.

Here's my pp experience (my definition of violent being from high speed to stop), if one or both are on the tramp, the likelihood of hitting the shroud, mast, jib stuff, the other person/s is high. When one or both are on the wire the tendancy is to become like a rock on the end of a string and be flung clear of the boat. I try to jump and avoid falling in to the boat. If trying to save it (usually fruitless [read violent vs. slomo]) is when myself or someone gets hurt. Even when blowing over we always try to jump away from the boat (in this case off the back). Attempting moves like sliding between the boom and tramp more times than not result in injury.

In pitchpoling or blowing over, I liken it to that miracle shot out of the woods on the golf course ("I know I can save this hole!!"). I'm way better off if I take my lumps (we're going over) and take the easy way out.