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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Singlehanding for Nimrods

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/23/2008 : 14:00:35

Let's see, single-handing a 33 foot boat in 20-25 knot winds without a tether. Doesn't sound like he had a life vest on or a signalling device either. Wonder why Latitude 38 is giving him a pass on being a dope.

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2008-09-22& dayid=171#Story4

Joe Wergers
Utopia
Fleet 7/Oceanside, CA
78 C25 FK/SR #381

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 14:15:16

He said: "I think my sponsor will understand...."

I think his sponsor should fire him.

Nimrod is too goo a word. Darwin Award candidate.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 14:41:28

Joe, stories like this never surprise me. As he said, he was lucky he was ahead of other boats.
I wear my inflatable vest before leaving my slip and it does not come off until I have returned and back in slip. I also have a handheld VHF on me at all times when solo.
Steve A

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 15:50:57

Joe - lets wear our vest/harnesses at night in the San Diego - Ensenada race and daytime if we are reefed. I have a personal strobe for you to clip on yours (always have one on mine).

Under normal conditions there would be no one around to help. In the race, there are expected to be boats everywhere (although we will soon be bringing up the rear).

Also, as I said last time, no one on the foredeck at night alone.

The story you linked is prominently represented on Sailing Anarchy.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 15:56:54

This guy's incredibly lucky, while on my destroyer, we searched for a guy who'd gone overboard in the Med for two days before giving up, and we were with a battle group, so there were lots of eyes. He fell off of a freighter while refueling, in plain sight of his ship & the oiler. By the time they got separated & circled back to find him, he had disappeared, maybe 15 minutes? We were trailing in "lifeboat stations" behind them maybe two miles or so, launched our captain's gig & motor whaleboat, we never saw the guy. To tread water at night for four hours must have been terrifying, but at least he was found (having his GPS trackback was probably what saved him).

We too wear our inflatable PFD's from the time we launch till we tie back up. Even our hound is wearing a vest (which didn't keep her from taking an unplanned swim at the dock a couple of weeks ago...after we'd taken off her vest). Our vests have integral harnesses with an extra locking carabiner, two point tethers, two lights & whistles each, and one of the lights has a strobe. I have a portable VHF but I don't wear it, it's usually in the cockpit coaming pocket along with the WHAM microphone. I haven't figured out a good way to secure it to one of the vests yet.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 16:21:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Joe - lets wear our vest/harnesses at night in the San Diego - Ensenada race and daytime if we are reefed. Also, as I said last time, no one on the foredeck at night alone.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jim,
Good strategy. I always wear my inflatable whenever I single-hand and always at night. A whistle is built in but I'm thinking the strobe light would be a valuable addition. I was out practicing Heaving-to Sunday. Piece of cake when you get the feel for it.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2008 : 21:48:13

I have gotten use to wearing my inflatable life vest all the time I go sailing.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2008 : 09:01:30

I put on my inflatable vest when I leave the marina. Always. A mini strobe and whistle are kept in the pocket. When I upsize next year and start spending more time offshore I'll be investing in a personal EPIRB.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2008 : 12:21:51

Yesterday evening gave me 15-20 knot winds with gusts to 25 knots to play with, and there was only one other sailboat within sight, except for a dozen kids taking lessons in their dinghies near the marina.

It's generally a half mile or more swim over to the nearest shore, so I think I will start wearing my inflatable lifevest from now on when singlehanding at night.

Nights like that are so beautiful. Gotta keep it that way.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2008 : 12:36:33

David, I have a terrier and have a life vest for him. It came in very handy one time as I was 50' from leaving the jetty for open waters and here comes 2 HUGE power boats who cranked it up to full throttle. These idiots-nice word- were still in the jetty area where the speed limit is 5mph. Long story short, they created such a huge wake that my pouch, who was at the bow, fell in. My kids were also at the bow and were hanging on for dear life while I was trying to control the boat.
My son later dived in and retrieved my dog, Buddy. Again, I was glad Buddy had on his life vest. Thank goodness Buddy doesn't have too good of a memory. At least I hope not.
I no longer allow guests or Buddy on the bow as we exit the jetty, for obvious reasons. I wait till we are out in clear open waters. And if I see a power boat or large sailing vessel coming my way, everyone gets to the cockpit.
Steve A

Edited by - piseas on 09/24/2008 12:43:50

dblitz
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2008 : 09:08:40

One other point that has been made before but you can't mention enough is that the ladder should NOT be secured. If you go overboard and can get back to the boat if you can't swing the ladder down, there is no way to get back aboard.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2008 : 09:22:47

>"ladder should NOT be secured"

A wrap of velcro 'tape' holds my ladder up and there is a tripline that hangs down to the water so a firm tug will release it.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2008 : 12:28:13

I always wear my inflatable but, as I tell my wife whenever on Lake Superior, at 55 degrees I probably won't last more than 30 minutes to an hour in the water - if that. The vest will help the Coasties find my carcus for buriel though.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2008 : 12:36:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 I always wear my inflatable but, as I tell my wife whenever on Lake Superior, at 55 degrees I probably won't last more than 30 minutes to an hour in the water - if that. The vest will help the Coasties find my carcus for buriel though.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Al,

What's the water temp up there at the beginning of the season? A few years ago, we were in the UP and went swimming up at Pictured Rocks. It was coooold!

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