RIP my Canadian friend (almost)…saved by a MOB move!

[Tally Ho]

Went out for a sail today in the remnants of a small craft advisory. Seas were very lumpy at 2-4 feet and an occasional. 6-footer thrown in.

Winds started out light (<10 k outs), but built to 15 as I sailed South East from my marina. I had to do a number of tacks trying to make my way East.

Eventually, the wind filled in and became more North East and I was able to make a SE tack. Seas were still very lumpy, and eventually I decided to tack and head home. But as I leaned over to crank on my jib sheet, my favorite Canada hat flew off in the wind and landed in the lake

I could see it floating in the waves, so quickly decided to practice my MOB drills. I had main and jib out, so only wanted to tack…no jibes in the 15 knots. I came around, extended boat hook in hand, and tried to snag my friend…missed. Came back around on another tack, and a big swell pushed Tally Ho right over the poor Canadian . I thought he was a goner and I could not see him come up to the surface. I turned back for home, already missing my favorite hat. And it had my hat “tether” on it too (obviously not clipped to my shirt .

But as I made that last tack, I spotted him…still afloat. I tried one more pass…and this time let the wheel go when I got close, so I could use 2 hands on the pole…and I snagged him and got him flipped back into the cockpit

You can see the multitude of tacks I made…



But I am happy to report that my favorite Canadian (hat) is no worse for wear.


So, always good to practice your MOb drills, even if you are sailing solo…and if you have a hat tether, make sure you use it!

Cheers,

Greg

 

[dlochner]

Somethings like a good hat are worth the effort. Good job!

 

[PaulK]

Quickstop is what we do for a MOB, and what you did for your hat. Tacking immediately stops the boat from sailing away from the victim and slows the boat down. Staying near makes it easier to spot the target. Keeping the boat moving slowly makes retrieving people safer - you don't rip their arms off cruising by at six knots.

 

[SteveHughessails]

Nice save! I get that; lost mine heading out in the speed boat once.

 

[FastOlson]

I once had my trusty Tilly hat blow off my head.... they have a little piece of closed cell foam inside a compartment in the crown, and it floated as advertised. We needed a couple passes to retrieve it, but the rescue was successful! Those Tilly hats are way too expensive to abandon!
Glad you saved your favorite Canadian!

 

[jssailem]

Happy for you and your save. Guess those Canadians are pretty good swimmers.

Your story brought back the sad experience I had with me favorite Pinehurst golf hat, the hat eating Columbia River, and a low bridge.
Hat went overboard. One pass, just out of reach. Setting up for a second pass the river sweeps the hat towards the bridge. I had to let the hat go before the bridge ate my mast.

As I turned towards open water the brim rose for a moment then sank beneath the cold dark waters. Farewell my friend.

 

[shemandr]

The Canadian hat is a good looking hat! Worth retrieving. But turns in roughish water have some risk.
So far as I can remember, I have never recovered something blown overboard. Certainly not solo sailing. I've been on OPB's when recoveries were accomplished.
Tilliy's rule!

 

[Tally Ho]

The Canadian hat is a good looking hat! Worth retrieving. But turns in roughish water have some risk.
So far as I can remember, I have never recovered something blown overboard. Certainly not solo sailing. I've been on OPB's when recoveries were accomplished.
Tilliy's rule!

I was careful as I thought about my retrieval plan…no jibes…not in the wind and waves I was in. Tacks back and forth, let the jib backwind on every other pass (slowed me down a lot). A big wave crested about the time my bow was even with the hat and I sailed over it (RIP if it was a person). But it must have slid just alongside the hull where I couldn’t see it. Popped out behind me.

I was also very careful not to fall in myself…

I snagged it once, but just lifted it up on the surface again. Couldn’t hook it. But it bought some more time afloat. I was about ready to give up and concede the loss, but I said I would take one last pass. This time, I left go of the helm so I could hold the pole with 2 hands…and I got it.

Good fun (since it had a happy ending).

I got that hat when my wife and I visited family in Ottawa in June and walked around parliament hill, had lunch downtown and I saw the hat at a little vendor kiosk.


Greg

 

[Indysailor]

The saddest day of sailing for me was when my teenage son's favorite hat, full of buttons, got brushed into the drink by the mainsheet. That hat was his best friend, the thing he used as a youngster with autism to show his personality to others and to this day I regret not warning him to stow it below. After seeing it fly off to leeward, I quick stopped/crash jibed and we had one chance before she sunk to the depths, weighed down by his collection. But alas it was not to be and we missed. He sat on the cabin top and wept, I felt as small as could be for not saving his treasure, but I was proud that though poised to jump and go get it, he listened to me and stayed aboard.

 

[justsomeguy]

Those Tilly hats are way too expensive to abandon!

I hear they'll replace it for free.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I've been witness to a number of lost hats, but the sailors I have known would not even think of changing course for a hat. My wife will never forgive my father for not stopping in the middle of the Atlantic to grab one of those large glass net floats out there all by itself somewhere between Burmuda and the Azores.

-Will

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Greg, You ran your friend over! In all seriousness, there were reports of 8' waves. I've been working by the downtown marinas the last few days and those masts were swinging!

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Earlier this year my sister was at the bow and lost her hat. Somebody else was at the helm and we all were slow to react. There was some confusion and the wind also seemed to be picking up so I took over the helm and eventually made a jibe, headed back for home. I wasn't even thinking about the hat as I figured it was lost and so did my sister, it seemed. It wasn't even in sight. About 30 seconds later, my sister called out that her hat was floating just up ahead. By sheer luck, I was pointed right at it. We had a boat hook on deck and it was an easy recovery. I was given credit for expert piloting and I didn't bother to confess that I hadn't even been trying!

 

[Tally Ho]

I've been witness to a number of lost hats, but the sailors I have known would not even think of changing course for a hat. My wife will never forgive my father for not stopping in the middle of the Atlantic to grab one of those large glass net floats out there all by itself somewhere between Burmuda and the Azores.

-Will

I was sailing by myself, wasn’t really ready to go in, and decided the MOB drill would be fun

Greg

 

[Tally Ho]

Greg, You ran your friend over! In all seriousness, there were reports of 8' waves. I've been working by the downtown marinas the last few days and those masts were swinging!

It was a sporty sail for sure, and the waves made the recovery much more difficult! A big one hit Tally Ho broadside about the time I was bringing the bow up for a pass and washed the bow right over the hat.

In retrospect…always keep the MOB upwind (or up wave) from the boat!

I saw 2-4 footers, with an occasional 6-footer to keep things interesting

Greg

 

[FastOlson]

My first Tilly hat was indeed replaced by the factory when it started coming apart. The new hat arrived with a warning to launder it more often as perspiration can degrade the cotton....
They also sent the old hat back in case I wanted to preserve it for the 'memories'. I have never tried to invoke their warranty again, however, so I have no idea if they still do that.

Also: the hat retrieval is properly/often called an HOB (hat overboard) drill !

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Year ago I was wering nothing but my swim trunks and a baseball hat for the former Montreal Expos which was my favorite hat. I had put a rubber attach on my bifocals sunglasses and was sure that I would not loose them with that. But the hat remained and issue when checking the windvane up the mast. Being smart (so I thought LOL), I put a tether with croc jaws on either end to the hat...and to the rubber attach, figuring that if the wind blew up the hat, it would fall behind my head and I would not loose it. Of course in the first gust as I lifted my head the hat lifted away. Much to my horror, it flew up, taking the very expensive glasses in the water with them. . I was sailing solo as usual ! Several tacks and jibes later, I watched in dismiss as the glasses, still attached to the hat, sunk taking the now water loaded hat with them. .Not only did I loose my favorite hat, but had to spend $$$ to get new glasses.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

A few weeks ago we were sailing when the admiral said a fender went missing and there was one in the water. Indeed it looked like it had slipped off the line. We motor sailed back to it. She made a few attempts to get it but it was difficult without a line attached. I got us lined up again and we switched. She took over the the helm and I grabbed the dock hook. I just barely managed to pull it against the hull as we came to a stop. As I pulled the fender up, I realized our fender was in fact attached but was hanging in the water. Free fender!

I actually like the challenge of fetching things from the water

 

[jssailem]

I am thinking. With all the lost gear, Davy Jones and crew must be really styling down on the sea floor. There is no sun in their eyes, and they are sporting the best baseball caps. They even improved their eyesight with all the free prescription glasses.

Now, if only they could figure out how to get cell service, they might freak us out with a FaceTime call.

 

[thinwater]

Hats are good practice. But ...

Not the same as recovering a human singlehanded, which requires stopping the boat the right place so that you can leave the helm and use both hands for potentially 5 minutes or more. Heaved to is best. A weighted fender is good practice.

The other thing I know is that every boat is different, and the crewed is different from singlehanded. Upwind is different from downwind. I am most successful single handed if I sail away in a straight line, just far enough to get well organized. Then tack back, and tack one last time to heave to by the casualty. Quick-stop does not work with most multihulls; the tacking and drift properties are wrong and you end up far away.

The other thing I have learned is that like driving a nail with a hammer, one good blow is better than a bunch of missed attempts. That is why I let myself sail away a short distance, to get organized and pick it up on the first pass. A sail a straight line, so I don't loose track (the boat was likely on autopilot; if not, I will put it so while I get organized).

And of course, never discard the idea of just dropping sail. Single handed or short on talent, it may be the smart way. Stay close, get everything stowed, and then motor back nice and easy. Don't leave a line in the water, obviously.