How not to go swimming

[kielboatsa]

I am posting this so that hopefully some may learn from my mistake.
Yesterday I went out with guests that do not have any real knowledge of how the boat operates. It was a great sailing day, NW winds 15-20kts and about 2 foot waves on Lake Michigan. We hove to so that we could enjoy lunch, probably about 5 miles from shore. After lunch, I decided to take a quick plunge to cool off. Every other time that we have gone swimming from the boat we fully drop the sails and then go for a swim. Well yesterday since I only planned on jumping in and immediately going to the ladder to come back on board, I left the sails hove to and jumped in (stupid mistake). By the time I bobed up, the boat was slowly drifting away from me, at about the same speed that I could swim toward it. Fortunately I quickly realized that I was not going to catch up with the boat and told my guests to drop the sails. I then told them how to drop the sails. They did exactly what I asked, the boat stopped and I was able to swim to the boat and re-board.

In case you have ever thought of swimming while your sails are hove to, thinking that you can keep up with the boat.... Don't do it. I was lucky that my guests kept their cool and followed my instructions. Otherwise it would not have been a very nice ending.

 

[Tim R.]

Do you not have a throw-able ring or horseshoe buoy? Those are also good to have in this situation.

At that point it would have been more important to ensure you were as safe as you could be and then drop the sails.

 

[kielboatsa]

We do have a throwable horseshoe, but the first priority to me at the time was to get the boat stopped so that I could catch up to it, so that was what I was asking my guests to do. I was concerned that if I asked them to do multiple things it might get more complicated. But I agree, if for some reason they did not get the sails down quickly, the horseshoe bouy would have been a very good thing.

 

[James10016]

Kielboatsa,

Your willingness to poke fun at your own misfortune has encouraged me to do the same.

Similar overall story, however, my wife and I just spent 6 long, HOT hours motoring up the Detroit River heading back into our home port in Lake St Clair.

After a mile or so of additional motoring to ensure that we were well clear of the current flowing into the mouth of the river, we shut the engine off and BOTH jumped into the cool water before the boat had come to a complete stop.

To our joint amazement, the boat glided along for another 100-200 yards before coming to a halt.

The resulting Olympic swim to get back to the boat, left us cooler, But, much wiser before ever doing that again! ;^)

 

[kielboatsa]

Watching your boat drift away at a pace that you can not catch up to is not good feeling. I was surprised that I was not nervous and was able to calmly direct my guests. I think my calmness helped them a lot. I also thanked them for being an excellant crew when I got back on board

 

[Rob2435]

We have plenty of current here in NY so I always throw a line attached to a fender off the stern, "just in case".

 

[kpgraci]

A hove to boat is not stationary

I toss out the floatable with line attached whenever I go swimming. Of course, I also anchor the boat.

Now my embarrassing story:

I once had a rope swim ladder. I had never used it, but a guest once did and he complained that it was very difficult to climb up on - we were in the boat to give him a hand. Once I went out by myself and went for a swim with that stupid rope swim ladder - I could not get back in the boat - what a great feeling that is. I did eventually manage (as evidenced by my presence here) but I immediately went out and spent the $300 plus on a very nice, long, study swim ladder.

 

[Big Windy]

We have plenty of current here in NY so I always throw a line attached to a fender off the stern, "just in case".

I do basically the same thing...have a 25' trailer line...that's easy to grab.

 

[Sandy Stone]

Rope ladders ...

Are nearly impossible to climb the 'regular' way. They are almost possible if you climb up off of one side, putting your feet on the rungs alternately from the front and back. Did that make any sense at all?
Anyway, I agree, rope ladders are for the birds.

 

[amry69]

Thanks for sharing. Had a similar experience with he sails down. The boat still moves a fair about. I could out swim it but my girls struggled a bit. Now we swim with lines in the water.

 

[kenn]

I once had a rope swim ladder. ...I immediately went out and spent the $300 plus on a very nice, long, study swim ladder.

Quoted for truth. A solid dependable swim ladder is essential equipment, in our view. It took us two tries to find the ladder that worked the best and can be deployed from the water.

We keep a floating rescue rope in the lazzarette. I think I will always deploy it whenever a boat-swim is called-for and we're not close to shore.

(kielboatsa! awesome handle. My wife has some Polish blood in her, and there's lots of kielbassa and pierogies in me)

 

[Steve_Catalina]

What were you thinking?????

Kielboatsa,

Someone needs to say it…………………………….

Your words; “Yesterday I went out with guests that do not have any real knowledge of how the boat operates. It was a great sailing day, NW winds 15-20kts and about 2 foot waves on Lake Michigan”

As the operator of vessel you are responsible for the safety, health and well being of all onboard and you chose to leave the vessel.

What were you thinking??????

Five miles from shore "with guests that do not have any real knowledge of how the boat operates”.

Any you chose to think only of yourself and leave the vessel and cool off.

There are some folks that should not have a boat and maybe you should be included in that select group

What the HELL were you thinking?


Steve_Catalina

 

[dscribner]

Not the same but a story that must be told.

We sailed south on a perfect reach, RARE for Maine. We averaged 6 knots (hull speed is 6.6 and I am a novice). We got to York Beach Maine in record time, so fast that my lovely bride decided we should swim in and get some salt water taffy at the Goldenrod. After anchoring 100 yards from the nearest swimmer, she slowly slid into her ultra cool, shorty wet suit and jumped in. I put on my PFD, and a pair of fins and tripped over the coaming entering the water with all the finesse of a 2000 lb film vault, falling from orbit. In my defense, I was carrying a bag and trying to keep the contents dry and she was training for a triathalon sprint. So . . . about 5 minutes later, we emerged from the rolling surf, her looking all sleek and sexy, kind of Halle Berry without the tan. Me, on the other hand, flopped out of the water like a wounded water buffalo with a crock on his tail. The only thing I was missing was a pocket protector and a sign that read "Bet me up and steal my date". All I can hope is they figured I had . . . other, hidden attributes, that made me desirable to such a cute young thing. Hey, I can hope! After 34 years I must be doing something right.

 

[justsomeguy]

Not the same but a story that must be told.

We sailed south on a perfect reach, RARE for Maine. We averaged 6 knots (hull speed is 6.6 and I am a novice). We got to York Beach Maine in record time, so fast that my lovely bride decided we should swim in and get some salt water taffy at the Goldenrod. After anchoring 100 yards from the nearest swimmer, she slowly slid into her ultra cool, shorty wet suit and jumped in. I put on my PFD, and a pair of fins and tripped over the coaming entering the water with all the finesse of a 2000 lb film vault, falling from orbit. In my defense, I was carrying a bag and trying to keep the contents dry and she was training for a triathalon sprint. So . . . about 5 minutes later, we emerged from the rolling surf, her looking all sleek and sexy, kind of Halle Berry without the tan. Me, on the other hand, flopped out of the water like a wounded water buffalo with a crock on his tail. The only thing I was missing was a pocket protector and a sign that read "Bet me up and steal my date". All I can hope is they figured I had . . . other, hidden attributes, that made me desirable to such a cute young thing. Hey, I can hope! After 34 years I must be doing something right.

Pictures would be nice.

 

[Stu Jackson]

We always tied a long line with a cushion tied on when we hove to for a swim during the summer.

Yup, the boat moves when hove to.

Glad you're safe, thanks for sharing.

Going sailing with novices is nice, it gets someone else into sailing.

It's no different than going out singlehanded.

You and they returned safely, that's what counts.

 

[sailorjoel96]

When we have a swim call I always toss out a 1" 25' line withe a fender tied to the end for something to jump at and to grab ahold of.
I would NEVER jump off of my boat with the sails "hove to" with that kind of weather. Let alone with a group of novice at best crew.
Count your lucky stars and your crew that you made it back to your boat.

Kielboatsa,

Someone needs to say it…………………………….

Your words; “Yesterday I went out with guests that do not have any real knowledge of how the boat operates. It was a great sailing day, NW winds 15-20kts and about 2 foot waves on Lake Michigan”

As the operator of vessel you are responsible for the safety, health and well being of all onboard and you chose to leave the vessel.

What were you thinking??????

Five miles from shore "with guests that do not have any real knowledge of how the boat operates”.

Any you chose to think only of yourself and leave the vessel and cool off.

There are some folks that should not have a boat and maybe you should be included in that select group

What the HELL were you thinking?


Steve_Catalina

 

[Ward H]

Glad you're safe, thanks for sharing.

Going sailing with novices is nice, it gets someone else into sailing.

It's no different than going out singlehanded.

You and they returned safely, that's what counts.

Gotta agree.

You learned a lesson you will never forget and shared that lesson here so that someone else may not have to learn it the hard way, risking some blunt replies. Thanks much!
I'm a novice sailer and appreciate "mistake" posts. Hopefully I will remember them rather than make the same mistake.

 

[c_witch]

WOW,

By any chance are you related to 'Forest Gump' ???

c_witch

 

[sailormanbigd]

WHAT

hey Steve catalina, so you've never done anything dumb????? He who is without sin cast the first stone. Saying that people who make mistakes should not own boats is one of the craziest things I've heard. Its all apart of learning. The situation described before he went in was clearly laid back and under control. So he messed up, who does'nt! But to suggest he should not sail is ludicrus. My own mistakes are some of my best and most vivid memories. Next time he will be prepared with the what-if lessons he learned.
Me personaly would have just decended the boarding ladder to take a dunk, never letting go of the ladder.

 

[FourPoints]

We have plenty of current here in NY so I always throw a line attached to a fender off the stern, "just in case".

I do the same thing with a 50' line on the fender, even when anchored.