I sail Lake Pontchartrain at night occasionally, and I worry about finding anyone who goes overboard at night. Can anyone suggest a likely response to the risk? What seems to make sense is having everyone on board wear a lanyard with emergency strobe and whistle attached. I expect flares are impractical. Thank you.
Overboard at Night
- Thread starter fwild3
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You are right that it is near impossible to see someone who has gone over the side at night. I had that unfortunate expereince once and spent 5 hours swimming back to shore.
As a result, my first priority is ot make sure everyone stays on board. At night we use harnesses without fail.
If someone does go in, everyone has a working (strobe) light on their harness or lifejacket. That will make it easier to spot someone in the water. If sailing in open waters, I carry a waterproof hand held VHF. If I go in it may be easier for me to see the boat than for them to see me.
Lastly we always have the GPS on and are ready to hit the man-overboard button. This will give the folks on the boat a place to return to and to start their search.
Most important, make sure to stay onboard!
Cheers
Matt
As a result, my first priority is ot make sure everyone stays on board. At night we use harnesses without fail.
If someone does go in, everyone has a working (strobe) light on their harness or lifejacket. That will make it easier to spot someone in the water. If sailing in open waters, I carry a waterproof hand held VHF. If I go in it may be easier for me to see the boat than for them to see me.
Lastly we always have the GPS on and are ready to hit the man-overboard button. This will give the folks on the boat a place to return to and to start their search.
Most important, make sure to stay onboard!
Cheers
Matt
They would definitely need some long legs. The lake is 24 miles wide and averages 15 feet deep, 30 feet deep along the south shore seawall. It gets pretty dark and lonesome two or three miles offshore at night. Being so shallow, the lake also develops quite a chop very fast.
you could add a horseshoe pfd if you have a stern rail. -its required for offshore racing.
+ waterproof lights for eveyone aboard. water activated is better. but they also need regular maintenance. (everyone needs at least 1 light at night. I usually carry 2).
a gps w/ MOB button close to the helm is also good.
-Last Saturday we had an night offshore race. w/ 6 aboard (bene 39)
instructions were 1) throw the horseshoe. 2) one person keeps an eye on the person over board, and never let your eyes off them. Everyone else will sail the boat back to the MOB.
but on a mac, I doubt you have the crew for that. so tethers, and jacklines w/ lights as your backup.
+ waterproof lights for eveyone aboard. water activated is better. but they also need regular maintenance. (everyone needs at least 1 light at night. I usually carry 2).
a gps w/ MOB button close to the helm is also good.
-Last Saturday we had an night offshore race. w/ 6 aboard (bene 39)
instructions were 1) throw the horseshoe. 2) one person keeps an eye on the person over board, and never let your eyes off them. Everyone else will sail the boat back to the MOB.
but on a mac, I doubt you have the crew for that. so tethers, and jacklines w/ lights as your backup.
I have whistles attached to each life jacket. Lights would be a great idea too. I have about a dozen of the small LED flash lights between the vehicles, house, shop and boats.
I haven't sailed at night yet though. I do think I will use the harness when doing so.
I haven't sailed at night yet though. I do think I will use the harness when doing so.
fwiw, I'm always looking for cheap waterproof lights. I just ordered 2 of these.
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___84056
http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___84056
I sailed the offshore race from Gulfport to Pensacola for many years. It was mandatory that we had the MOB pole, light and horseshoe buoy all attached. But when we tried a mob drill, it took so long to get them all off that we could be a long way from where the person went over. As a result, our routine was to attach a whistle and water activated light to a throwable cushion and have it near the helmsman, where everyone knew where it was - out of the way but not attached to anything.
If someone went over, the procedure was to throw the cushion immediately. At the same time, the helmsman was to round up. If the person overboard was unconscious or otherwise in trouble, the thrower was to jump in with the cushion and help. Otherwise, the thrower was to stay on board and keep watch. The rest of the crew was to get enough sails down to be able to control the boat under the conditions.
You want to get as close as possible, but remember that the propeller can't be turning when you're near someone in the water. Ideally, I think you want to get close and throw a line to pull them to the boat.
If someone went over, the procedure was to throw the cushion immediately. At the same time, the helmsman was to round up. If the person overboard was unconscious or otherwise in trouble, the thrower was to jump in with the cushion and help. Otherwise, the thrower was to stay on board and keep watch. The rest of the crew was to get enough sails down to be able to control the boat under the conditions.
You want to get as close as possible, but remember that the propeller can't be turning when you're near someone in the water. Ideally, I think you want to get close and throw a line to pull them to the boat.
Serious question: doesn't a flashing strobe attract certain marine carnivores with big teeth?
Jeff
^ that's not my experience...
I've used an underwater strobe light tied to the anchor line (more than a few years ago). during night dives. never had any problem with sharks. (*but haven't done a night dive in 15 yrs)
Besides, that light is for my personal use above water. in my foul weather gear or harness. -but its waterproof, and has dual modes.
-I've been diving over 40 years, and don't think sharks target people. when you look at shark attacks its usually a shark 'biting' not 'eating' one bite, and they are done. they don't normally come back for a 2nd or 3rd bite. (but you can still die from 1 bite by bleeding out.).
-Back to the OP question:
Consider a 'lifesling'. its darn near impossible to board a person that is not helping. (knocked out, injured or just too tired). especially on a mac with its high freeboard.
I've used an underwater strobe light tied to the anchor line (more than a few years ago). during night dives. never had any problem with sharks. (*but haven't done a night dive in 15 yrs)
Besides, that light is for my personal use above water. in my foul weather gear or harness. -but its waterproof, and has dual modes.
-I've been diving over 40 years, and don't think sharks target people. when you look at shark attacks its usually a shark 'biting' not 'eating' one bite, and they are done. they don't normally come back for a 2nd or 3rd bite. (but you can still die from 1 bite by bleeding out.).
-Back to the OP question:
Consider a 'lifesling'. its darn near impossible to board a person that is not helping. (knocked out, injured or just too tired). especially on a mac with its high freeboard.
I sail on the northshore, mostly at night in hot months. I have whistles on each life jacket, but have also been looking for relatively inexpensive flashlights to attach as well. I don't require anyone to wear one, except small kids and others who might feel more comfortable with one on. When I lived on the southshore, we used toss a beach ball or cushion out to practice MOB drills. My wife and I had a system, she would stand up and point continuously at the ball and I would maneuver based upon her hand pointing. It became a regular thing we did and really honed my skill. I would use the "figure eight" method that would bring us alongside while rounding up into the wind.
I have a new boat now, went from tiller to wheel and has an overall different feel. I have been thinking about doing the beach ball drill on a regular basis again. It was actually fun and guests usually enjoyed it too. Maybe it made them feel better to realize how quickly we could actually get back to the spot. I'm not so certain i could get back as quickly in this boat. I tried one in heavy breeze on Mobile Bay a couple of months ago, to retrieve a lost hat. Even using the pointing routine, we couldn't find the mostly submerged hat in choppy seas. The boat was still pretty new to me at that time, and i am certain i could do much better now, i still know practicing makes it easier under stress.
I have a new boat now, went from tiller to wheel and has an overall different feel. I have been thinking about doing the beach ball drill on a regular basis again. It was actually fun and guests usually enjoyed it too. Maybe it made them feel better to realize how quickly we could actually get back to the spot. I'm not so certain i could get back as quickly in this boat. I tried one in heavy breeze on Mobile Bay a couple of months ago, to retrieve a lost hat. Even using the pointing routine, we couldn't find the mostly submerged hat in choppy seas. The boat was still pretty new to me at that time, and i am certain i could do much better now, i still know practicing makes it easier under stress.
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