A huge waterspout nearly hit the fleet during the Splash World Championships at Stavoren in the Netherlands. Take a look at the amazing photo of this from Keith Binns:

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/default2.asp?section=64&PID=1661

cool. You could probably get a lift if you played it right.

The scary part is there was probably a couple of people considering that rather than the than the more useful response ingrained by millions of years of evolution "RUN, RUN FAST, HIDE"

Looks like a good way of making an insurance claim

....the 'lift' you mention ,.....might be a verticle one,....


Bruce
St. Croix

You can see that one boat on the far right has taken down his sail....everyone else seems like they're trying to figure out if the left or right side of the coarse is the advantaged one!
Alan Thompson
I20 - San Diego