Have you experienced a potentially life threatening situation aboard your boat? A sudden illness, an accident, or a man overboard? Has your boat ever started to sink, another potentially dangerous situation that requires fast action. What did you do to handle the crisis, or how have you prepared should this ever happen to you? Tell your scary stories here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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Rick Webb
Just Once
My Wife found some of the receipts for the stuff I bought, I keep them somewhere else now.
My Wife found some of the receipts for the stuff I bought, I keep them somewhere else now.
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Frank Arndorfer
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Joe Dickson
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Mayday in the anchorage
I had a situation last week to remind me of the truth in the adage about accidents happening close to home. I have been living on my boat for the last month or so (though I sold out and rented an apartment starting June 1). The mooring I was using is about two hundred yards from the head of the dock at the Falmouth Town Landing. Moored next to me is a Tanzer 22. Over the holiday weekend I was on the boat, sitting in the cockpit playing some guitar when I noticed that there were three boys on the boat next to me, and that one was voluminiously chumming the waters. I am an EMT, so I waited a few minutes, and headed over in my dinghy to make sure they were ok. Turns out to be three fourteen year olds, staying on one of their fathers' boats for the weekend. They claim to have had a beer a piece. I motor off for a while, after telling them that I am a medic and that if they needed anything they could come and get me. About a half hour later I went back that way to check in again. The kid whose family owns the boat asked me to help him. Got into the boat and found one of the boys with serious alcohol poisoning, obviously in need of immediate medical attention. So - I'm two hundred yards from the dock, my phone is in the car on land, my patient is unresponsive with seriously decreased vitals, and the water is cold enough that if I drop him while transferring him to my dinghy, he will likely die from the combination of alcohol shock and hypothermic shcok. I'm on a boat I don't know, without any apparent way to get the engine lit. So - I called a mayday. I learned later from the owners of the boat that the kid was ok, but that had had an iffy night. It goes to show you that for all of my planning, all my harnesss, upgraded rigging, storm sails, reinforced rudder, reattached keel, all my everything - there are still things I'm unprepared for. I'll try to remember that. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I had a situation last week to remind me of the truth in the adage about accidents happening close to home. I have been living on my boat for the last month or so (though I sold out and rented an apartment starting June 1). The mooring I was using is about two hundred yards from the head of the dock at the Falmouth Town Landing. Moored next to me is a Tanzer 22. Over the holiday weekend I was on the boat, sitting in the cockpit playing some guitar when I noticed that there were three boys on the boat next to me, and that one was voluminiously chumming the waters. I am an EMT, so I waited a few minutes, and headed over in my dinghy to make sure they were ok. Turns out to be three fourteen year olds, staying on one of their fathers' boats for the weekend. They claim to have had a beer a piece. I motor off for a while, after telling them that I am a medic and that if they needed anything they could come and get me. About a half hour later I went back that way to check in again. The kid whose family owns the boat asked me to help him. Got into the boat and found one of the boys with serious alcohol poisoning, obviously in need of immediate medical attention. So - I'm two hundred yards from the dock, my phone is in the car on land, my patient is unresponsive with seriously decreased vitals, and the water is cold enough that if I drop him while transferring him to my dinghy, he will likely die from the combination of alcohol shock and hypothermic shcok. I'm on a boat I don't know, without any apparent way to get the engine lit. So - I called a mayday. I learned later from the owners of the boat that the kid was ok, but that had had an iffy night. It goes to show you that for all of my planning, all my harnesss, upgraded rigging, storm sails, reinforced rudder, reattached keel, all my everything - there are still things I'm unprepared for. I'll try to remember that. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Boat capsized and sank
A few years ago I took a non-sailing, non-swimming friend out on one of the local lakes in my Missile, which is an old, planing daysailer. It had a daggerboard and no ballast, so to keep the boat trimmed you have to hike, and hike hard. It was late on a cold, gusty November afternoon and we were heading back to the boat ramp when a huge gust put the lee edge of the cockpit under. Even though I dumped the mainsheet, water was pouring in so fast the boat could not right itself. In a flash, it began to sink. Past experience with dinghies told me to stay calm, because the boat should only sink so far, then I could climb on the centerboard and right the boat. Unfortunately, this old boat had no positive flotation and it continued sinking until the bow was barely visible above the water. Since we were both wearing PFDs, there was no danger of drowning. However the water was cold, the light was beginning to fade and like most Florida lakes, there were probably alligators about. I dove and recovered the safety whistle and waterproof flashlight which were still tied to their lanyards. Since we were about a mile from the ramp, I figured it would be easy to attract the attention of another boater heading back. The first two boats to go by were bass boats that didn't see us or hear the whistle. So as not to panic my friend, I told him that the only reason they hadn't seen us was because they had been going so fast, and that a regular boat would definitely see us. Finally, after about 45 minutes in the water and with night falling, we were about to abandon the boat and head for the ramp when we were seen by three men in a ski boat. Initially, they had not seen the flashlight but rather the dark shape of the hull on the water. They brought us aboard, shivering, and towed our boat back to the ramp. It turned out that we had been further away from the ramp than we had thought, and that we were on the last boat off the lake that night. Lessons learned: 1) PFDs should be worn in an open daysailer or dinghy, especially with inexperienced crew. 2) as long as the boat remains afloat, stay with it 3) essential items should be secured with a lanyard so they don't sink or float away if the boat capsizes 4) most powerboaters can't see people in the water nor are they likely to hear you, so visual distress signals are very important 5) do not panic The down side...I cannot convince my friend to come sailing with me again. Can't say I blame him though, for things could have been much worse. Peter H23 "Raven"
A few years ago I took a non-sailing, non-swimming friend out on one of the local lakes in my Missile, which is an old, planing daysailer. It had a daggerboard and no ballast, so to keep the boat trimmed you have to hike, and hike hard. It was late on a cold, gusty November afternoon and we were heading back to the boat ramp when a huge gust put the lee edge of the cockpit under. Even though I dumped the mainsheet, water was pouring in so fast the boat could not right itself. In a flash, it began to sink. Past experience with dinghies told me to stay calm, because the boat should only sink so far, then I could climb on the centerboard and right the boat. Unfortunately, this old boat had no positive flotation and it continued sinking until the bow was barely visible above the water. Since we were both wearing PFDs, there was no danger of drowning. However the water was cold, the light was beginning to fade and like most Florida lakes, there were probably alligators about. I dove and recovered the safety whistle and waterproof flashlight which were still tied to their lanyards. Since we were about a mile from the ramp, I figured it would be easy to attract the attention of another boater heading back. The first two boats to go by were bass boats that didn't see us or hear the whistle. So as not to panic my friend, I told him that the only reason they hadn't seen us was because they had been going so fast, and that a regular boat would definitely see us. Finally, after about 45 minutes in the water and with night falling, we were about to abandon the boat and head for the ramp when we were seen by three men in a ski boat. Initially, they had not seen the flashlight but rather the dark shape of the hull on the water. They brought us aboard, shivering, and towed our boat back to the ramp. It turned out that we had been further away from the ramp than we had thought, and that we were on the last boat off the lake that night. Lessons learned: 1) PFDs should be worn in an open daysailer or dinghy, especially with inexperienced crew. 2) as long as the boat remains afloat, stay with it 3) essential items should be secured with a lanyard so they don't sink or float away if the boat capsizes 4) most powerboaters can't see people in the water nor are they likely to hear you, so visual distress signals are very important 5) do not panic The down side...I cannot convince my friend to come sailing with me again. Can't say I blame him though, for things could have been much worse. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Charlie Crews
OVERBOARD
My wife and I were sailing back to homeport after a long weekend of party hardy. We saw the wind line approaching and a companion boat heel over and then round up. Don't know exactly what went wrong but do know my wife went through the lifelines when the gust hit us. No, she didn't have on a PFD. Fortunately, I was towing our dingy behind and she was able to catch the tow line. After what seemed like an eternity, I was able to pull her back onboard exhausted, frightened, but with no major injuries. It was at this moment that the life and death situation happened, I'm only glad that she wasn't armed with any type of deadly weapon or this article would not have been written. She no longer enjoys sailing with me, especially if I am rounding Barbers Point, Hawaii in the afternoon. Lesson learned - NEVER,NEVER laugh (even as a stress reliever) when your spouse comes (back) onboard after an unscheduled swimcall.
My wife and I were sailing back to homeport after a long weekend of party hardy. We saw the wind line approaching and a companion boat heel over and then round up. Don't know exactly what went wrong but do know my wife went through the lifelines when the gust hit us. No, she didn't have on a PFD. Fortunately, I was towing our dingy behind and she was able to catch the tow line. After what seemed like an eternity, I was able to pull her back onboard exhausted, frightened, but with no major injuries. It was at this moment that the life and death situation happened, I'm only glad that she wasn't armed with any type of deadly weapon or this article would not have been written. She no longer enjoys sailing with me, especially if I am rounding Barbers Point, Hawaii in the afternoon. Lesson learned - NEVER,NEVER laugh (even as a stress reliever) when your spouse comes (back) onboard after an unscheduled swimcall.
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Al Sandrik
Chain Plates ripped out.
Was on a boat (not mine) racing in about 20-25 knot winds when the starboard chain plate let loose and the mast came a tumbling down. We had wire cutters on board, cut the mast free and left the problem for the owner and insurance company. Could have been bad if anyone what been playing beef or foredecking at the time, but no one was injured.
Was on a boat (not mine) racing in about 20-25 knot winds when the starboard chain plate let loose and the mast came a tumbling down. We had wire cutters on board, cut the mast free and left the problem for the owner and insurance company. Could have been bad if anyone what been playing beef or foredecking at the time, but no one was injured.
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Joe
responce to Rick, a little off topic
That was a good story Rick, I kinda' had the tables turned on my wife the other day. I was working on the boat in the cabin and was sweating like crazy when she came aboard. She said "Gee Honey, you should get a fan in here." I said,"Well, I got one for the forward hatch, but I haven't had a chance to make a mount for it and get it wired yet." She just kinda locked up when she realized that she had just suggested spending money on the boat. I guess I used up my allotment of sympathy for the week. Fair Winds, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage
That was a good story Rick, I kinda' had the tables turned on my wife the other day. I was working on the boat in the cabin and was sweating like crazy when she came aboard. She said "Gee Honey, you should get a fan in here." I said,"Well, I got one for the forward hatch, but I haven't had a chance to make a mount for it and get it wired yet." She just kinda locked up when she realized that she had just suggested spending money on the boat. I guess I used up my allotment of sympathy for the week. Fair Winds, Joe C. in NC '01 H260 Windward Passage
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BART FORD
man overboard
I was alone in the middle of the lake, with the motor trolling forward and fell off the boat. I did not have a life preserver on. Fortunately the water wasn't cold and I wasn't far from shore. I swam for the shore. After this happened to me, I bought an inflatable and force myself to wear it when I am out alone.
I was alone in the middle of the lake, with the motor trolling forward and fell off the boat. I did not have a life preserver on. Fortunately the water wasn't cold and I wasn't far from shore. I swam for the shore. After this happened to me, I bought an inflatable and force myself to wear it when I am out alone.
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Mike Turner
Knockdown/Capsize
I was sailing my older O'Day Daysailer on an inland lake in North Carolina in the early spring. The weather was blustery and threatened rain. Close-hauled on a starboard tack, I came from behind a point of land to windward, and was hit by a violent gust that knocked the boat down, throwing me right out of the boat on the lee side. This was an older model Daysailer with an open cuddy cabin, which immediately began to fill with water. I swam around the boat to right her, but she filled with water so fast that she completely capsized and the rail sank below the waterline -- trapped air kept her minimally afloat. The wind blew us away from shore into the middle of the lake. There were no other boats about because it was so cold, and I began to consider my options. I had an inflatable PFD on so was in no immediate danger, but I stayed with the boat. Before long an man and his teenage son arrived in a bass boat. They told me they watched me from the shore and come out to effect the rescue -- the man told me he was a Thistle sailer and had been in similar situations himself. I dove below and released the main and jib; we tried to right the boat but because the rail was under and the cabin full of water it was clear it wouldn't happen. So he threw me a line and towed us, inverted, in towards shore; once in shallower water we looped the line across the sides of the boat and, with him pulling at a 90 degree angle to us, pulled her upright, albeit awash. I then spent the rest of the day bailing and cleaning. Lessons: (1) Always wear the PFD. I didn't use it but might have needed it before it was all over. (2) Stay with the boat. I didn't see my rescuers coming, and they were navigating by the boat -- they wouldn't have seen me in the water if I'd struck out for shore. (3) Pay attention to shore conditions that might affect wind. Easing the sheets before I'd cleared the point probably would have prevented the knockdown. Mike Turner S/V Amity/Long Beach
I was sailing my older O'Day Daysailer on an inland lake in North Carolina in the early spring. The weather was blustery and threatened rain. Close-hauled on a starboard tack, I came from behind a point of land to windward, and was hit by a violent gust that knocked the boat down, throwing me right out of the boat on the lee side. This was an older model Daysailer with an open cuddy cabin, which immediately began to fill with water. I swam around the boat to right her, but she filled with water so fast that she completely capsized and the rail sank below the waterline -- trapped air kept her minimally afloat. The wind blew us away from shore into the middle of the lake. There were no other boats about because it was so cold, and I began to consider my options. I had an inflatable PFD on so was in no immediate danger, but I stayed with the boat. Before long an man and his teenage son arrived in a bass boat. They told me they watched me from the shore and come out to effect the rescue -- the man told me he was a Thistle sailer and had been in similar situations himself. I dove below and released the main and jib; we tried to right the boat but because the rail was under and the cabin full of water it was clear it wouldn't happen. So he threw me a line and towed us, inverted, in towards shore; once in shallower water we looped the line across the sides of the boat and, with him pulling at a 90 degree angle to us, pulled her upright, albeit awash. I then spent the rest of the day bailing and cleaning. Lessons: (1) Always wear the PFD. I didn't use it but might have needed it before it was all over. (2) Stay with the boat. I didn't see my rescuers coming, and they were navigating by the boat -- they wouldn't have seen me in the water if I'd struck out for shore. (3) Pay attention to shore conditions that might affect wind. Easing the sheets before I'd cleared the point probably would have prevented the knockdown. Mike Turner S/V Amity/Long Beach
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gary jensen
pretty serious incident
My wife had laid her purse on deck. While we wern't looking someone STOLE it.All her credit cards were in it!! I did not report it because whoever stole it was spending LESS money than her!!!
My wife had laid her purse on deck. While we wern't looking someone STOLE it.All her credit cards were in it!! I did not report it because whoever stole it was spending LESS money than her!!!
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Dave
Very Close Call
I had 3 friends on a week long cruise and around Thursday we ran out of beer. We also didn't have any other alcoholic beverages on board. They were ready to kill me but I bought a case of Carling Black Label in Newport and they were very happy after that. Dave
I had 3 friends on a week long cruise and around Thursday we ran out of beer. We also didn't have any other alcoholic beverages on board. They were ready to kill me but I bought a case of Carling Black Label in Newport and they were very happy after that. Dave
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T J Furstenau
And the mast came tumbling down...
Last September, after a very uneventful day sailing out of Racine with a buddy, I dropped the main before coming into the pullout basin. Being that the wind was just right, I held off starting up the engine and came in under jib. Finally, I furled the jib, turned around to start the outboard, and heard a familiar and unwelcome sound. It was the furling drum hitting the foredeck, as I have heard it do numerous times when stepping and unstepping the mast, but not what I want to hear out on the water. I looked forward, saw the sagging forestay and the mast starting to go. For a fleeting moment I stepped up thinking I'd catch it on the way down, then my math and physics education kicked in and I realized that I would lose. Quickly getting out of the way, the mast reached horizontal and fortunately, rather than going through the bimini and stern rail, hit the mast crutch, which I often leave on. It snapped the mast right off at the spreaders, and I quickly hauled in any stray rigging so as not to foul the prop. I was able to motor to the dock, and with some help from the peanut gallery around the pullout basin, get it secured and stowed. Results: Bad - two piece mast, broken gooseneck on boom, cracked front hatch caught by quickly retreating furling drum, hurt ego. Good - no one was hurt, kids weren't on board, happened in the pullout and not out in the middle of the lake, happened close to end of season, insurance provided me with a new mast, boom, etc. Cause - failed fitting in furling drum coupled with improper original rigging (bought used and didn't realize) Lessons learned - found one more place to better inspect, need to get an emergency antennae for VHF, trailer sailing can put additional wear and strain on some components. Then I have the man overboard incident from when I sailed Hobies, but that's another story!
Last September, after a very uneventful day sailing out of Racine with a buddy, I dropped the main before coming into the pullout basin. Being that the wind was just right, I held off starting up the engine and came in under jib. Finally, I furled the jib, turned around to start the outboard, and heard a familiar and unwelcome sound. It was the furling drum hitting the foredeck, as I have heard it do numerous times when stepping and unstepping the mast, but not what I want to hear out on the water. I looked forward, saw the sagging forestay and the mast starting to go. For a fleeting moment I stepped up thinking I'd catch it on the way down, then my math and physics education kicked in and I realized that I would lose. Quickly getting out of the way, the mast reached horizontal and fortunately, rather than going through the bimini and stern rail, hit the mast crutch, which I often leave on. It snapped the mast right off at the spreaders, and I quickly hauled in any stray rigging so as not to foul the prop. I was able to motor to the dock, and with some help from the peanut gallery around the pullout basin, get it secured and stowed. Results: Bad - two piece mast, broken gooseneck on boom, cracked front hatch caught by quickly retreating furling drum, hurt ego. Good - no one was hurt, kids weren't on board, happened in the pullout and not out in the middle of the lake, happened close to end of season, insurance provided me with a new mast, boom, etc. Cause - failed fitting in furling drum coupled with improper original rigging (bought used and didn't realize) Lessons learned - found one more place to better inspect, need to get an emergency antennae for VHF, trailer sailing can put additional wear and strain on some components. Then I have the man overboard incident from when I sailed Hobies, but that's another story!
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Kelly Purinton
PFDs in Re: to Knockdown/Capsize
You know - Justin (odayowners moderator) recommended PFD's to me as I'm an intermediate boatperson but a novice sailor and I'm learning on the Atlantic in Maine. I pooh-poohed the idea (no self-respecting sailor uses PFD's - unless they're children) - but after your story I am reconsidering. I sail in moderately protected waters, but there are a few "points" I could "round" that put me directly in the on-shore breeze area (read: not broken by any land at all.) I am learning mostly by myself, and it amazes me how quickly the situation can turn from enjoyable to a little more than I'm prepared for. It doesn't take much wind to become too much. Thanks for the story.
You know - Justin (odayowners moderator) recommended PFD's to me as I'm an intermediate boatperson but a novice sailor and I'm learning on the Atlantic in Maine. I pooh-poohed the idea (no self-respecting sailor uses PFD's - unless they're children) - but after your story I am reconsidering. I sail in moderately protected waters, but there are a few "points" I could "round" that put me directly in the on-shore breeze area (read: not broken by any land at all.) I am learning mostly by myself, and it amazes me how quickly the situation can turn from enjoyable to a little more than I'm prepared for. It doesn't take much wind to become too much. Thanks for the story.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Kelly, I'll add another story to Justin's...
Last year in a major regatta for which my boat was RC, a boat lost its keel and turtled. Winds were above 35 that day, the temps were in the low 50s, and the early spring water temp was still below 65. Fortunately all 4 people aboard were wearing PFDs...our pin boat picked 'em up, but it was a challenge--they were in the water for close to 15 minutes--and brought 'em aboard my boat where the heat and the coffee pot were on and we had every blanket and beach towel I owned ready to wrap 'em up as soon as they'd stripped out of their wet clothes. When they came aboard, all 4 were so hypothermic that they weren't only disoriented, their conversation didn't make much sense, and they kept insisting they didn't need to shed their wet clothes, they weren't cold (we convinced 'em to strip anyway--on the grounds that they were dripping all over my carpet, but it wasn't easy). Without PFDs, it's almost certain there'd have been a tragedy instead of just 4 very cold wet people. They all were wearing heavy jackets, sweaters, jeans and foul weather gear--which becomes an anchor when it gets wet--and were so hypothermic that even if they could have shed enough clothes to remain afloat, if they'd had to expend any energy just to keep afloat till the pin boat got to all of 'em, it's highly doubtful he'd have gotten to all of 'em in time. PFDs may be for sissies and children, but better to be a live sissy than a dead "Mr. Macho."
Last year in a major regatta for which my boat was RC, a boat lost its keel and turtled. Winds were above 35 that day, the temps were in the low 50s, and the early spring water temp was still below 65. Fortunately all 4 people aboard were wearing PFDs...our pin boat picked 'em up, but it was a challenge--they were in the water for close to 15 minutes--and brought 'em aboard my boat where the heat and the coffee pot were on and we had every blanket and beach towel I owned ready to wrap 'em up as soon as they'd stripped out of their wet clothes. When they came aboard, all 4 were so hypothermic that they weren't only disoriented, their conversation didn't make much sense, and they kept insisting they didn't need to shed their wet clothes, they weren't cold (we convinced 'em to strip anyway--on the grounds that they were dripping all over my carpet, but it wasn't easy). Without PFDs, it's almost certain there'd have been a tragedy instead of just 4 very cold wet people. They all were wearing heavy jackets, sweaters, jeans and foul weather gear--which becomes an anchor when it gets wet--and were so hypothermic that even if they could have shed enough clothes to remain afloat, if they'd had to expend any energy just to keep afloat till the pin boat got to all of 'em, it's highly doubtful he'd have gotten to all of 'em in time. PFDs may be for sissies and children, but better to be a live sissy than a dead "Mr. Macho."
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Mike Turner
PFDs
To Kelly and Peggy and everyone else out there in cyberland -- I think any singlehander who doesn't wear a PFD isn't practicing good seamanship. Too much can happen too fast out there, and as Peggy points out hypothermia can rob you of your ability to reason faster than you'll realize it (actually, it creeps up on you so that you may never realize it). With today's technology turning out fanny-pack style inflatable PFDs I just can't see not using one. My story was from my sailing adventures in the East but my wife and I now sail a Catalina 30 out of Long Beach and we have an iron-clad rule that any time either of us is alone in the cockpit, or goes forward in daylight, we've got an inflatable on. Period. If we ever do any heavy weather or night sailing we'll be adding jack lines and harness/ tether to that equation. It may sound like overkill to some, but the sea is called "unforgiving" for a reason and you only have to lose your balance for an instant to be over the side. Good seamanship includes a healthy dose of respect for the sea. But I'm preaching to the choir, right? Mike Turner S/V Amity Long Beach
To Kelly and Peggy and everyone else out there in cyberland -- I think any singlehander who doesn't wear a PFD isn't practicing good seamanship. Too much can happen too fast out there, and as Peggy points out hypothermia can rob you of your ability to reason faster than you'll realize it (actually, it creeps up on you so that you may never realize it). With today's technology turning out fanny-pack style inflatable PFDs I just can't see not using one. My story was from my sailing adventures in the East but my wife and I now sail a Catalina 30 out of Long Beach and we have an iron-clad rule that any time either of us is alone in the cockpit, or goes forward in daylight, we've got an inflatable on. Period. If we ever do any heavy weather or night sailing we'll be adding jack lines and harness/ tether to that equation. It may sound like overkill to some, but the sea is called "unforgiving" for a reason and you only have to lose your balance for an instant to be over the side. Good seamanship includes a healthy dose of respect for the sea. But I'm preaching to the choir, right? Mike Turner S/V Amity Long Beach
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Tim Schaaf
A long tow
Sailing down the California coast some years ago, I was struck by the mainsheet during an unintentional jibe. My head hit either the dodger frame or the toe rail and I was knocked unconscious for quite awhile. This happened at dusk off Point Sur in a rising wind. The tricky part was that my crew had never sailed before. To his great credit, he got the main down, and.called the Coast Guard on the VHF. They sent a helo and a cutter, and, some hours later found us. The rescue diver was able to determine that I was stable, if incoherent (I have only the haziest of recollections of any of this) and then promptly became sea-sick to the point of incapacity. The cutter eventually got to us and, after about a six hour tow into tough seas, we made Monterrey. My buddy deserved a medal, even though he has been very leary about sailing, ever since. The morals of the story are that the mainsheet can be as lethal as the boom.Teach your novice crew a few basics, which I had not....I was very lucky to be with a basically calm and capable person who worked things out pretty much for himself as I was useless and semi-comatose for the duration. Oh, and if you have ever contemplated getting rid of that enormous single bow cleat on the Hunter 33, don't! You never know when it might save the day.
Sailing down the California coast some years ago, I was struck by the mainsheet during an unintentional jibe. My head hit either the dodger frame or the toe rail and I was knocked unconscious for quite awhile. This happened at dusk off Point Sur in a rising wind. The tricky part was that my crew had never sailed before. To his great credit, he got the main down, and.called the Coast Guard on the VHF. They sent a helo and a cutter, and, some hours later found us. The rescue diver was able to determine that I was stable, if incoherent (I have only the haziest of recollections of any of this) and then promptly became sea-sick to the point of incapacity. The cutter eventually got to us and, after about a six hour tow into tough seas, we made Monterrey. My buddy deserved a medal, even though he has been very leary about sailing, ever since. The morals of the story are that the mainsheet can be as lethal as the boom.Teach your novice crew a few basics, which I had not....I was very lucky to be with a basically calm and capable person who worked things out pretty much for himself as I was useless and semi-comatose for the duration. Oh, and if you have ever contemplated getting rid of that enormous single bow cleat on the Hunter 33, don't! You never know when it might save the day.
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SailboatOwners.com
Final results
Final results for the Quick quiz ending 6/10/2001: Have you had a life or death situation on your boat? 86% No 07% Accident 04% Fire or sinking 03% Illness
Final results for the Quick quiz ending 6/10/2001: Have you had a life or death situation on your boat? 86% No 07% Accident 04% Fire or sinking 03% Illness
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