Long range rescue
- Thread starter garymalmgren
- Start date
Lucky guys..
Not to hijack, well maybe so,.. I noticed that the new Apple phone (14 pro?) has a satellite link kinda locator like Globalstar that has basic message capability and locator functions. I thought that was a neat feature.. The Apple guys figured out how to make a small internal antenna work so ya don't have the "cattail" antenna to deal with; the phone has an ap to guide the user to point it so that the small antenna works..
Not to hijack, well maybe so,.. I noticed that the new Apple phone (14 pro?) has a satellite link kinda locator like Globalstar that has basic message capability and locator functions. I thought that was a neat feature.. The Apple guys figured out how to make a small internal antenna work so ya don't have the "cattail" antenna to deal with; the phone has an ap to guide the user to point it so that the small antenna works..
When we were in the cyclone off Fiji I had to cut the jib sheet because conditions made it too dangerous to work on the foredeck or bowsprit. We had reached the point where being hove-to was too dangerous, as every time we hit a wave crest the wind would knock us over.
I think the biggest difference between our situation and theirs was that there was no rescue available to us, so we had to keep at it. Floor boards and under bunk boards nailed on to patch holes and bailing with buckets for hours. However, we did not lose our spars, so all the damage was above the waterline.
I think the biggest difference between our situation and theirs was that there was no rescue available to us, so we had to keep at it. Floor boards and under bunk boards nailed on to patch holes and bailing with buckets for hours. However, we did not lose our spars, so all the damage was above the waterline.
I’ve never experienced this but when the supposed tried and true storm tactic blows up, what’s next? What is the emotional impact on the crew? Or are the demands of survival so urgent that emotions are suppressed . In the situation I was in most danger on a sailboat I was strangely calm. I just wanted it to be over.
I noticed what looked like a few bad scrapes on the taller guys head and his foot was bandaged. They may have also gotten knocked about a little.
On more than one occasion, I have asked about the relative pros and cons of roller furled head sails... and I've gotten smacked down for my position that hanked on is my preference (especially if equipped with a down haul). In this situation, I believe they would have stood a better chance if they could have removed the headsail completely and stowed it below deck.
On more than one occasion, I have asked about the relative pros and cons of roller furled head sails... and I've gotten smacked down for my position that hanked on is my preference (especially if equipped with a down haul). In this situation, I believe they would have stood a better chance if they could have removed the headsail completely and stowed it below deck.
When things go wrong in a survival situation it tends to lead to a snowballing series of problems.
None of them significant under normal conditions, but as seen here the simple parting of a sheet on a roller furling foresail was almost fatal.
I can sit back and say the should have had both sheets cleated off, or they should have had a locking mechanism on the furling drum.
All I can really do is to learn as much as I can from their accident and try to end up in the same hole.
gary
None of them significant under normal conditions, but as seen here the simple parting of a sheet on a roller furling foresail was almost fatal.
I can sit back and say the should have had both sheets cleated off, or they should have had a locking mechanism on the furling drum.
All I can really do is to learn as much as I can from their accident and try to end up in the same hole.
gary
I think this depends on the individual dealing with the situation. I use the singular because it has not happened to me in a setting where I had to involve others to solve the problem (though others were affected by my decisions and actions). I was also surreally calm in the two potentially life-threatening situations I had to deal with (an engine failure in a single engine airplane, and becoming stuck in an oddly-shaped swim through while scuba diving). Psychologists say that when confronted with a threat, your perception narrows to focus on the threat, and I think this can be both good and bad. Training and preparation (do you always play "what would I do if"?) have a lot to do with the outcome, and calmness is always helpful. On the other hand, how do you train for the chain of events that can happen in a storm at sea?
And yes, I think emotions are suppressed when facing survival decisions, if you are calm. Perhaps in such scenarios calm is defined as remaining emotionless, so it may be a chicken or the egg question.
It sounded like it was the furling line that parted which then caused the head sail to unfurl in 85 knot winds. A buddy of mine replaced his roller furling head sail with hank on and a sturdy down haul before setting off to go long distance cruising. I thought it odd but this is the kind of situation where that could really have paid off.
Wish I could put some citations in this post but I heard all of this on a pod cast and have no idea how well vetted this theory really is… so with that said I heard that functional MRI experiments have shown that the male half of the human species has fewer connections between the left and right side of the brain than does the female half. Some evolutionary anthropologist speculate that this differentiation helps the human race in two ways. Women are more socially attuned and are more equipped to help “keep the peace” and ensure the equitable distribution of resources. Men are better equipped to shut down the emotional side of the brain and this can be very beneficial in a crisis. It is also why men seem more susceptible to PTSD.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,304
Need a plan B. In listening to their story on my boat tied safely in my slip, I can think about other options if read about and discussed with other sailors.
Certainly the hove to technique has served many a sailor allowing them to get out of the weather and take shelter below decks. In the conditions they experienced your equipment will be tested beyond their limits. Unless it is fresh and stout failure happens.
Alternatively running before a storm in bare poles can be an option. You must control your speed. You use warps or a drogue as brakes so the boat is controlled and doesn’t bury the bow in the wave troughs. That is not to say it is easy. This is dangerous stuff and you need to practice deployment before you get into the thick of things.
That is (in my opinion) the weakness of many boat owners. They never practice the skills needed for dealing with the foul conditions. Most of us will never experience such conditions. We enjoy sailing our boats on the Saturday or Sunday benign conditions that let us relax.
I am happy for those two Aussie sailors. They survived. Their preparation to go to sea allowed them the to return to shore. They can tell their stories. They can praise the brave marine police crew that rescued them.
Their story reminded me of the Redford movie “All is Lost”, and the CG movie “The Finest Hours”. Both shared the massive power of the sea when the Tempest rages.
Is your boat set up for the connections the sea may share to test you? Are you prepared with a plan or several options?
Stay safe.