The cover story of the Kansas City Star detailed the loss of 3 young sailors, students at Kansas State University. These were young but experienced sailors who liked to race and knew the tricks of gusty prairie lakes but something went wrong. Only one has been found so far but not much hope remains for the other two. Most of us don't realize the value of a PFD when sailing close to shore but this should wake us up. Ken S/V WouffHong
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Steve Hall
PFD
Wow! That is tragic. At what point do YOU, (reader of this post), put on a PFD? Steve S/V Helen Highwater
Wow! That is tragic. At what point do YOU, (reader of this post), put on a PFD? Steve S/V Helen Highwater
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David R. King
PFD II
The writer of "PFD" raises a good question. I and my crew put on a PFD anytime someone goes forward on my h26. Do we conduct man overboard drills? I know we should but, "No." We discuss the matter. If someone goes overboard with me at the tiller, I know what to do. If I go overboard, the skipper is supposed to immediately turn into the wind and luff. I know, that's not good enough. David King
The writer of "PFD" raises a good question. I and my crew put on a PFD anytime someone goes forward on my h26. Do we conduct man overboard drills? I know we should but, "No." We discuss the matter. If someone goes overboard with me at the tiller, I know what to do. If I go overboard, the skipper is supposed to immediately turn into the wind and luff. I know, that's not good enough. David King
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Daniel Jonas
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Carl and Juliana Dupre
PFD's
What a tragedy! There but for the grace...etc. We both have inflatables, and putting them on is the last thing that we do before leaving our mooring. Every time, all the time, we wear them until we are back at the mooring. What we struggle with is what to do with our adult guests (we have yet to have children on board; they would get one, no questions). We only have the two inflatables; guests would get the standard, cheapo, uncomfortable, DPW-orange type-II's. To date, we put our inflatables on, and discuss the PFD issue with the guests; if they want one, they get it; if not, we haven't forced it, at least not to date. The needle on our angst/guilt meter always goes up when they decline, but...they're our friends...and we don't want to push...and they are uncomfortable...you know how it is! We now have yet another opportunity to ponder that policy. They ARE our friends (and relatives), and we want them to return to the mooring along with us. Maybe it's time to buy another couple of inflatables. We would apprecaite hearing not only what YOU do, but also what you do with adult guests. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
What a tragedy! There but for the grace...etc. We both have inflatables, and putting them on is the last thing that we do before leaving our mooring. Every time, all the time, we wear them until we are back at the mooring. What we struggle with is what to do with our adult guests (we have yet to have children on board; they would get one, no questions). We only have the two inflatables; guests would get the standard, cheapo, uncomfortable, DPW-orange type-II's. To date, we put our inflatables on, and discuss the PFD issue with the guests; if they want one, they get it; if not, we haven't forced it, at least not to date. The needle on our angst/guilt meter always goes up when they decline, but...they're our friends...and we don't want to push...and they are uncomfortable...you know how it is! We now have yet another opportunity to ponder that policy. They ARE our friends (and relatives), and we want them to return to the mooring along with us. Maybe it's time to buy another couple of inflatables. We would apprecaite hearing not only what YOU do, but also what you do with adult guests. Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
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Jon Bastien
PFD's aboard Adagio
Our policy aboard Adagio is for all hands not in the cabin to put on a PFD when the winds reach 15-20 knots and/or the seas are higher than 1-2 feet; we also keep a 75' length of line and a throwable PFD within reach of the tiller in such conditions. There's a little leeway in the range, as the conditions around Key West vary widely depending on which part of the island you're sailing near (sometimes there's no wind with huge waves, other times the inverse is true). For Carl and Juliana, regarding the issue of inflatable PFD's for your guests- there is another solution. We keep a few 'comfortable' PFDs aboard- the same type one would use aboard a performance sailing dinghy (like a Laser or JY-15), and offer these to the guests when it comes time for everyone to 'suit up'. They're available in highly visible colors (yellow is our choice), much more comfortable than the 'standard' orange ones, not much more expensive, and a WHOLE lot cheaper than the inflatables. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
Our policy aboard Adagio is for all hands not in the cabin to put on a PFD when the winds reach 15-20 knots and/or the seas are higher than 1-2 feet; we also keep a 75' length of line and a throwable PFD within reach of the tiller in such conditions. There's a little leeway in the range, as the conditions around Key West vary widely depending on which part of the island you're sailing near (sometimes there's no wind with huge waves, other times the inverse is true). For Carl and Juliana, regarding the issue of inflatable PFD's for your guests- there is another solution. We keep a few 'comfortable' PFDs aboard- the same type one would use aboard a performance sailing dinghy (like a Laser or JY-15), and offer these to the guests when it comes time for everyone to 'suit up'. They're available in highly visible colors (yellow is our choice), much more comfortable than the 'standard' orange ones, not much more expensive, and a WHOLE lot cheaper than the inflatables. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
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Ken Shubert
UPDATE INFO
The one body that's been found was wearing a PFD so they probably all were. These 3 young men were all Eagle Scouts that loved water sports -- whitewater rafting, canoeing, and sailing. The boat was found with keel and rudder torn off possibly indicating a violent grounding even though they were in familiar waters. Ken
The one body that's been found was wearing a PFD so they probably all were. These 3 young men were all Eagle Scouts that loved water sports -- whitewater rafting, canoeing, and sailing. The boat was found with keel and rudder torn off possibly indicating a violent grounding even though they were in familiar waters. Ken
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Ray
We sail a H26 and anytime we're reefed
we have our PFD's on. Any time I am away from the tiller (unless in the cabin or head) I wear a PFD, even if my wife is in the cockpit. This gives her a sense of time and security as she does a MOB drill should I fall overboard. She wears a PFD at all times when out of the cabin. Grandkids always have a PFD on, always! If we beach for the night then they can go naked. We hang PFD's on the rear cabin outside bulkhead, in the cockpit, for all guests onboard. If we reef, they don the PFD's. Obsessive? Yes. But in realility, neither the wife or I are good enough swimmers, or healthy and strong enough to save someone overboard. Although restrictive to some extent (we bought the nicely fitting watersport vests for all applications)it allows me to sail much, much harder. I know my best, and only mate, is comfortable in her ability to take over the boat and fetch my sorry, soggy butt because of our PFD rules. Just be sure to keep paying the life insurance premiums 2 months late out of your account. Ray S/V Speedy
we have our PFD's on. Any time I am away from the tiller (unless in the cabin or head) I wear a PFD, even if my wife is in the cockpit. This gives her a sense of time and security as she does a MOB drill should I fall overboard. She wears a PFD at all times when out of the cabin. Grandkids always have a PFD on, always! If we beach for the night then they can go naked. We hang PFD's on the rear cabin outside bulkhead, in the cockpit, for all guests onboard. If we reef, they don the PFD's. Obsessive? Yes. But in realility, neither the wife or I are good enough swimmers, or healthy and strong enough to save someone overboard. Although restrictive to some extent (we bought the nicely fitting watersport vests for all applications)it allows me to sail much, much harder. I know my best, and only mate, is comfortable in her ability to take over the boat and fetch my sorry, soggy butt because of our PFD rules. Just be sure to keep paying the life insurance premiums 2 months late out of your account. Ray S/V Speedy
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Dick Vance
That's Tragic
Ken, That is tragic. This time of year, even a PFD isn't enough....cold water and hypothermia can be killers too. Do you know what kind of boat and weather conditions? Dick
Ken, That is tragic. This time of year, even a PFD isn't enough....cold water and hypothermia can be killers too. Do you know what kind of boat and weather conditions? Dick
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Ken Shubert
The Boat --
According to a news release, the boat was a 15' yellow Snipe. This is the 4th day and the remaining 2 boys have yet to be found. Ken
According to a news release, the boat was a 15' yellow Snipe. This is the 4th day and the remaining 2 boys have yet to be found. Ken
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Bruce
Always!
My wife and I have inflatables with integrated harnesses; this Christmas, Santa is bringing my 7 y.o. daughter one of the USCG approved hybrid inflatables. We wear them at all times when we are out of the slip. Adult guests? I orient them to the vests (we have both Type IIs and Type IIIs on board) and encourage them to wear them, but it is clearly their choice in calm conditions. If the wind picks up/ a storm rolls in, EVERYBODY on deck wears one. This is the skipper's rule. Bruce H260 "Alli D"
My wife and I have inflatables with integrated harnesses; this Christmas, Santa is bringing my 7 y.o. daughter one of the USCG approved hybrid inflatables. We wear them at all times when we are out of the slip. Adult guests? I orient them to the vests (we have both Type IIs and Type IIIs on board) and encourage them to wear them, but it is clearly their choice in calm conditions. If the wind picks up/ a storm rolls in, EVERYBODY on deck wears one. This is the skipper's rule. Bruce H260 "Alli D"
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