man overboard

[Bob White]

I knew a fellow who was skippering a sailboat in a Bimini-Ft. Lauderdale race. He leaned against the stern pulpit to relieve himself while running downwind towardthe fLORIDA COAST when when the srern lifted suddenly and he went overboard.By the timethe crew got back to him, he appeared to have lost all his strength and sank before their eyes.A terrible loss of an experienced sailor and swimmer!

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

Worst Enemy

Bob, That is a tragedy, and I have heard of many personally, read about many, but only was involved in one myself.Methinks OVERCONFIDENCE is the enemy in nearly all subjective danger situatinons, and if you are taking a leak overboard, not clipped in, then you are putting yourself in jeopardy, and it matters not how strait the gate nor how nice a guy you are, the cold water will kill you.My friend was working the foredeck on a J-24 and a guy caught his ankle. The yacht ended up dragging him through the water, until the "captain" (a real overconfident *****) realized what had happened. Did this "captain" recover his creman? No, a ferry boat Captain from Pier 39 did, it happened right in front of Aqauatic Park, San Francisco in 1991; the highly exaerienced cruiser, gentleman, and truely nice-guy was Mr George Fernstermacher. It is in the S.F. Chronicle.I never pee overboard, the crew can go below of use the pee-bucket in the cockpit, when no women are aboard.I never allow ANYONE TO THROW-UP overboard either.

 

[Capt Ron;-)]

You Are Dead!

Overconfidence being the enemy here in PREVENTING a MOB situation, On any ocean cruise, or delivery, I tell the crew: 1) stay clipped in when you are alone, when it is rough, if you are sea-sick or any time going forward.IF YOU FALL OVERBOARD YOU ARE DEAD!Harsh words? Not if it saves their life.Lotta tricky, dicky systems nowadays: neat little MOB buttons to press on a plotter or h.h. GPS, Lifesling, MOB Pole, strobe, and other gadgets & gizmos... If you go overboard alone with the auto-pilot on, you are certainly going to die. If you keep that in your mind and believe it YOU WILL NEVER GO OVERBOARD!A great story was when Miles Smeeton was pitch-poled in South Atlantic in Tzue Hang (sic) his wife went overboard, then swam back to the stricken vessel.