Self rescue when sailing alone?
- Thread starter Ray Bowles
- Start date
the viedo show a good system in practice... providing you catch the line and have practiced it. if you get rolled over and/or shaken loose from the board in rough conditions, history will be written....
in the video the guy makes it look easy.... but 3 things in his favor are, #1, he was fully expecting to splash in the water, and actually chose his moment... #2, he has had previous practice with the board.... #3, conditions are about as good as you could ever hope for in an actual MOB event.
in an actual event, you WILL be surprised, you may be injured or disoriented...and the conditions probably wont be so kind, but if you can catch the line, I think your chances will be greatly improved...
...At night, in the rain, in cold water. Which way is the boat?
I think I would have dual trip lines, one on each quarter, particularly for a multihull, though even on a mono a few feet can make the difference. It would be nice if the trip line were a loop, like a drogue... but then it becomes a drogue.
Would you really feel the line if you were swimming like mad, wearing foul weather gear, in the pitch dark, or would you plow right over the light trip line? Try finding a water ski rope with your eyes closed wearing heavy clothes.
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Better idea: Bring the trip line along the side of the boat, not too far above the water line. If you go over the lifeline with a tether (should have one, right?), grab the trip line, and release the tether. Would still require nerves of steel in the dark or single handed.
On my boat, I would rather the trip line was a loop, ending near the transom. Just climb uo the sugar scoop. But I'd rather use short tethers.
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Forget it.
That's it in a nutshell. Regarding MOB while soloing, there are three places you can spend your energy and invest your faith.
1) Staying on the boat - GOOD idea.
2) Getting back on the boat - BAD idea.
3) Getting rescued after you fall off - GOOD idea.
When it comes to the possibility of falling off, I ignore #2 and focus on #3. I ALWAYS sail with my GPS equipped iPhone in a waterproof case in my shorts pocket. Always. Whiteout fail. When offshore, my GPS/DSC equipped VHF is clipped to my vest. Those give me a chance for as as long as I can stay alive in the water, and are not dependent on me grabbing a thin rope as it goes by in the dark.
No matter what you reasonably do, falling overboard when sailing solo is a life threatening matter. I practice prevention, when sailing solo I go into a high mode of being extra careful. Always one hand for the boat and one hand for myself. Do not leave an uncoiled line on deck. Watch the wind direction and the boom. No handling of knives or sharp tools. Make slow determined moves and watch every step. Keep a life jacket handy (should be wearing it but I don't). I really have not given it much thought as what I would do once I hit the water; I guess I consider it "not an option".
tie self to boat when going forward.
tie self to boat when peeing overboard
tie self to boat when dronk
tie self to boat when changing sails.
hell, just tie self to boat when on deck and in cockpit, aka , all the time.
tie self to boat when peeing overboard
tie self to boat when dronk
tie self to boat when changing sails.
hell, just tie self to boat when on deck and in cockpit, aka , all the time.
And I doubt (3) will help right now (winter). Unless you are wearing a dry suit, you'll be a popsicle before anyone gets there.
Back to (1).
I am with you. Stay on the boat but don't miss an opportunity to go sailing for fear of the sport. I would much rather die doing something I love to do that end up dying from something like the big C or this pancreatitis or sepsis crap