Skipper fell of his sailboat in SD and drown

[LuzSD]

Skipper fell off his sailboat in SD and drown

I hope this gives us all pause as we take non sailor friends out without a 5 minute rundown on what to do if things go south. I think it is fairly clear from this report that there was alcohol involved (rarely do they mention it so the fact that it is says volumes) but I think my biggest take away is that we should take the time to give some general instructions on some 'what ifs'. Maybe a laminated one pager on this would be a good idea. What are your thoughts?

No matter, this is very sad and two friends are devastated. The fact that it happened at a time and place that most likely there were a fair amount of boats nearby makes it frustrating also.
http://www.10news.com/news/31316360/detail.html

 

[Stu Jackson]

"Floating face down"

No life jacket?

 

[tommays]

I take out a good amount of people who know next to nothing and other than the lifejacket deal and staying were i TELL you to about the last thing i expect is for them to understand how to do much of anything ?

I do however NOT take them OUT without one other person who has the abilty to run the boat solo

 

[anchorclanker]

Sounds like he jumped off?

Im teaching my wife and daughter the basics about the boat, so in the unlikely event something unfortunate happens someone else besides me knows what their doing.

I went out by myself yesterday, but made sure whenever I left the cockpit I had my vest on. Dont know why but I have never been comfortable swimming in deep water out on a lake, so I wont go in. Probably all those Creature from the Black Lagoon movies when I was a kid, lol.

 

[Rob2435]

I always go thru the drill of where the life vests are and what to do if someone goes overboard. I actually make them start and stop the engine and tell them if someone goes overboard to throw everything that floats at the person in the water.

 

[zeehag]

omg--he was my neighbor for 3 - 4 yrs. drank, but was active in life and sailing--wow...not a true newbie, but kind of a salt...fuji 32.
sorry, but that man would not have jumped off his boat. fallen off, yes. jumped--NO

is a fellow live aboard, keeps boat on a mooring in coronado. plays in ren faires....this is something prolly alcohol did--as he involuntarily leaned over rail to see something, coulda lost balance and poof. too much etoh and ye dont float well on back--only on stomach. seems they were sailing on sd bay in either shallows or channel just south of his mooring.

 

[LuzSD]

Totally agree that he must have fallen, not sure why jumping overboard was mentioned.
Zee, sad that you knew him, we were all trying to place the boat! Don't you guess there was some traffic around at that time and place? I think it was a sad accident and nothing more but alcohol does make everything more critical.

 

[zeehag]

Totally agree that he must have fallen, not sure why jumping overboard was mentioned.
Zee, sad that you knew him, we were all trying to place the boat! Don't you guess there was some traffic around at that time and place? I think it was a sad accident and nothing more but alcohol does make everything more critical.

i think of the last 4 floating face down in sdbay--all were drunk or drinkers and all fell off boat for some unglodly reason--peeing, or trying to gain access to boat and fell in due to wake activity and alcohol---is a busy place where ron fell into water--surprised no one saw or heard...

fuji 32 red trim, based at mooring B-2, coronado, 3 boats north from my ericson

 

[amry69]

Thanks for the eye opener. I'm a newbie and learning as much as I can as quickly as I can. When it's calm (as far as the forecast tells you) I have taken my three girls and wife. I need to make sure they now how to stop the boat (at least) and flag down help. I am a strong swimmer, life long climber (strong grip and good balance), and live and sail in South Texas where the water is warm, but there is always the possibility of hitting your head or getting tangled and dragged. Anyway thanks for the reminder.

So..what do you tell non-sailing guests? Let the sheets go? Head into the wind? Heave to?

 

[anchorclanker]

So many out on the water really have no clue. Powerboaters are screwed without power. Do they have a kicker? Yes, some. Will it start instantly? Who knows. Do they have a trolling motor? Some do, but how many have all three? Not many. How many besides Skippy know how to operate anything? Less, much less.

Now were on a sailboat. Most of us here want to learn all we can, but does our crew? Can Wifey start the outboard or inboard in an emergency? Can she toss a ring? Can your son or daughter? But we came out out to have fun Dad, do we really have to know this crap?

Im thinking next time were all out, motor off, sailing along, im gonna pull a MOB drill. I'm going to get up, let go the tiller, throw the life ring overboard, say I just fell overboard, and go sit in the cabin and not offer any advice until something becomes critical. See how long it takes em to retrieve that ring. That outta teach em something.

Zeehag, very sorry for your loss. Hopefully it was just some odd mistake other than being three sheets to the wind.

 

[anchorclanker]

So..what do you tell non-sailing guests? Let the sheets go? Head into the wind? Heave to?

Maybe we need to have a rule that at least one other person aboard has basic operating skills. Having a bunch of clueless people aboard and not being aboard yourself is likely worse than having no one aboard.

 

[Sail123]

Sorry. Sad story. Has a point of focus for me as I spent some time studying Fuji 32's recently. Joined a Fuji forum to say hello a week ago. It is a boat design not dissimilar to mine.

If after sailing along trying to get the attention of other boats, people boarded the sailboat to find the skipper face down in the water, sounds like he was safety strapped to the boat, and he was pulled along and drank water till he drowned.

 

[LuzSD]

From what I read, they just said once someone boarded and got the sails down, they then found him floating in the water. I don't think he was strapped to the boat 'cause it’s generally not done much in SD bay unless he was tangled up in a line or??
I also think that if he'd been dragged, it would have been the focus of those left on board making it even more frantic. I don't get that sense, but I'm just reading the article like everyone else.

Regarding having more than one person who knows what they're doing..... I think most sailors I know actually do that because they sail as a couple (experienced) who takes another (inexperienced) out but when I think back at my 80 year old dad, fairly new to sailing, go out with just my mom of same age and no true understanding of anything he had her do.....it makes me shiver.

I like the idea of throwing something in the water and then doing a MOB drill too, done that a few times and it’s been pretty successful. We only lost one hat!

 

[MrBee]

"Floating face down"

No life jacket?

I always like the "No Life Jacket" people .

do you wear a life jacket EVERY SECOND THAT YOU ARE ON A BOAT !

My sympathies to the family and friends .

 

[Sail123]

My wife wears a L J 24/7 and is the last person to ever get near the water.

she does not even like walking on the concrete docks without one.

Better safe than sorry.

I just don't understand how in a huge body of water, they could retrace the whereabouts of the sailboat to find the drowned man? Small lake maybe.

"That boat came over to assist, pulled down the sail [and] saw the body in the water face down," said Ganon.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Maybe we need to have a rule that at least one other person aboard has basic operating skills. Having a bunch of clueless people aboard and not being aboard yourself is likely worse than having no one aboard.

I tell non-sailors, that they should release all the sheets (ropes holding the ends of the sails, and let go of the tiller (wheel). and throw anything floatable over towards the MOB.

the boat will head into the wind, and there's a chance the MOB can swim to the boat.

and where the VHF is and use channel 16 for help.

beyond that, they may not remember, or do it wrong.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

What is happenning more and more, people do not have the respect for water. When I was a dealer, my emphasis was to respect the water and it will respect you but when you go beyond that line, then people will get hurt. One way to help, I always included lessons with new and used sailboat sales no matter what which should be standard in this industry but that is not the case. I have seen a few hours of orientation by others which was not enough.

It will hit home when you pull a body or two out of the water with one facing face down in the water with alcohol involved. I should know as I did pull one body out like I did in this description. I am in the process of writing one Boy Scout Council regarding safety on water.

Crazy Dave Condon

 

[zeehag]

what happened i believe is that he went sailing after tipping too many--way too many souls will do just that--drink and sail or power--doesnt mix..doesnt matter if ye have pfd on or not--drink and water dont mix.

 

[LuzSD]

'I just don't understand how in a huge body of water, they could retrace the whereabouts of the sailboat to find the drowned man? Small lake maybe.

"That boat came over to assist, pulled down the sail [and] saw the body in the water face down," said Ganon.'

This happened in the Bay and I doubt there was a huge amount of time between him going in and the other boat coming over to help. I'd have to see exactly where it took place but once you know someone is in the water, it would not be that much of a search unless the current was really strong and winds crazy....... I'm not saying it could not have happened but I doubt it. Also, I wonder if you are imagining them racing along, trimmed sails, etc...... when most likely they were creeping along, sails out of trim maybe boat rocking....... he goes over, boat stays close but he has no strength to help himself.

 

[zeehag]

ye know--this man was not in good shape--he could well have had a heart attack then fallen into water--too close to boat to have been off too long, and even 15 mins, he would not be face down unless dead first.