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I must say I had a close call last October. Me and two mates went out to test the boat out and do some water skiing. I've never done it before but fancied I'd be good at it. Anyway, we're out to sea and it's fairly cold. My mate's lending me a wetsuit and I'm assured it'll keep me warm. Well I strip off and struggle into the wetsuit. I'm right up for this skiing caper and I'm just about to dive straight in, my mate shouts out.."Charlie, put on a lifesaver". I do so and jump straight in.
The cold takes my breath clean away, I'm shivering my nuts off. Anyway, I'm a tryer. I get my skis on but I've got absolutely no control of my movements, the skis lifting my legs, the choppy sea rolling me over and over,. taking mouthfuls of water and gasping for breath. Every so often I can see my two mates cracking up laughing, I'm exhausted now, have absolutely no strength left, the skis have floated off and my mate pulls the boat up and drops the ladder. I can't get up, not enough strength. It took both mates and all I had left to get back onboard.
The wetsuit, although tight, was too big and had filled with water. The water sloshing in the suit meant I couldn't control my movements. I've thought about this incident so often since then, it makes me shudder every time. As it happens the boat broke down and Rye Harbour Coastguard had to tow us in. We were in water 35 feet deep.
If I'd have jumped in like I was going to, I'd have sunk like a stone. I just thank my lucky stars my mate said....."Charlie, put on a lifesaver".
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