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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/22/2009 : 17:40:37

A 57 year old sailor single handing from Fairfield CT took his 30 footer out of Captain's Cove in Black Rock Harbor last Saturday morning, headed for Block Island.

At 2:30, one of my fellow sailors from the Housatonic Boat Club, on Carpe Diem reported it unmanned to the USCG, and the boat was under power making lazy circles 2 miles off the Milford CT coast.

At 4:30, CG and local authorities showed up and performed a search and rescue lasting for two days. The sailor has not been found and they called off the search. There was a possible sighting reported today in New Haven.

Here's a link to the local newspaper reporting on the incident.
http://www.connpost.com/breakingnews/ci_12892053

Not that it's foolproof, but like it or not, I wear my PFD every time I go out under power or sail. The only time I take it off is when I'm in the hook, or back at the dock.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 18:03:09

It's sad reminder to us all, not to take safety for granted, regardless of the conditions. I trail a 100' line w/ a float at the end when out alone...the hope is I could get to the line and hang on waiting for the boat to round up w/o me...

Edited by - on

Turk
Admiral

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USA
736 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 18:03:43

I'm with you Ross. I wear my auto inflatable every time I sail alone or when we race.

There has been many times I've lost my footing onboard.

Buy em & wear em.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 18:27:24

About 50 years ago, my brother fell off a US Navy vessel 50 miles off the coast of the Philipines. My hope has always been that he died quickly because I can't imagine watching a ship sail away knowing that all hope is lost. My greatest fear while singlehanding is just that.

Turk's right. Buy 'em and wear 'em. I'd add, use a tether.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 19:21:28

Latest is they have a body, found off New Haven harbor--reasonably close considering tidal currents.

I've sometimes wondered, for singlehanders with tiller pilots, whether a 100' line trailing behind the boat could be rigged in a way that would disconnect the pilot it if a person grabbed the line. For motoring, maybe it could be run through the kill-switch lanyard in a way that a good tug could pop the collar off the switch...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/22/2009 19:24:34

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 19:26:52

John,
So sorry to hear about your brother going overboard. I've been on one S&R mission for an overboard crewman, and it caused me nightmares thinking about it. He went overboard in a storm in the Mediterranean and was never found. We searched for more than two days along with probably close to two dozen other ships in the area, nothing. Up till that point, I always enjoyed sitting on the fantail at night staring at the stars in the utter blackness, but after that, I could never get the thought of that guy out there, all alone, out of my head.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 19:36:24

John's right. PFD and tether.

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 20:44:24

Terrible. This is my worst nightmare. Poor fellow.
When single-handing, I'm always tethered, even in the cockpit, but one of these days I'm going to have to slide my butt over the side to see what's involved in getting back into my 250. Has anyone ever tried that?

Edited by - windsong on 07/22/2009 20:51:19

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 21:03:13

Do it at anchor, but be warned that the boat will still swing around on the hook sufficiently to let you know how tough it is to swim after the swim ladder.

After I fell off the dock this spring, I checked on reboarding the boat via the swim ladder. First thing I noticed was (1) its a lot higher than it looks, (2) if you tie it up in place, it's nearly impossible to untie from the water and (3) it's not easy to pull yourself up on the ladder into the boat.

I added a very thin line to the swim ladder tied in a bow which releases as soon as you tug the line, then if you pull the line some more, it will pull the ladder down.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2009 : 22:13:01

On our 250 and many of the others on the forum, we've rigged a trip line on the boarding ladder that allows you to both open the gate and pull the ladder down to yourself. It dangles from the gate down near to the water and back up, within easy reach if you can get to the stern.

I like the idea of a tripping line drug behind the boat, especially when motoring, that yanks the kill switch lanyard when it's jerked hard enough. Maybe rig it to a bungee to absorb "normal" shock loads, but once a large enough load is on, the bungee stretches to it's limit and yanks the lanyard. Maybe when the large load is delivered it also trips another bungee to pull your rudder to one side to guarantee a round up if you're sailing.

I can hear the spirit of Rube Goldberg laughing right now.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 06:12:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 ...(2) if you tie it up in place, it's nearly impossible to untie from the water...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Bruce, I found that the ladder on Passage would lean against the stern-rail with just enough friction and no tie. (Maybe your new rail changes that.) Once or twice it fell and dragged, but I decided I preferred that to not being able to get it down from the water.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 07:22:42

I always wear a pfd when singlehanding, and wear an inflatable pfd with safety harness and tether whenever sailing in heavy weather or in a very isolated area, regardless of whether singlehanding or sailing with crew. I haven't fallen overboard in more than 30 years, and don't consider it a likelihood, but it only has to happen once.

I don't like the idea of trailing a 100' line, because it creates considerable drag, and makes the boat tack badly, and it would have to be reeled in before I could start the engine without risk of fouling the prop, and it could foul another boat crossing my stern, but, a pfd and/or harness and tether obviate the need for such a thing unless you're sailing in a very isolated area.

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1778 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 07:39:29

Very sad indeed

Not to take this to the dark side but something to consider. Earlier this month I lost a friend who drowned off Stamford CT. He was a very experienced sailor, former Commander of the local Power Squadron, a teacher of boating safety, etc. He always wore his PFD when sailing his Cat 22. For a number of reasons the authorities determined his death was a suicide. His PFD was stowed below where he always put it -- after sailing. When I hear of anyone who drowns in coastal waters, besides thinking about wearing proper safety equipment, I truly hope that it was an accident and not some other demon taking charge.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 07:43:37

And while 100' seems like a lot, that is about 12 seconds at 6 kts.

Edited by - on

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 08:42:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Do it at anchor, but be warned that the boat will still swing around on the hook sufficiently to let you know how tough it is to swim after the swim ladder.

After I fell off the dock this spring, I checked on reboarding the boat via the swim ladder. First thing I noticed was (1) its a lot higher than it looks, (2) if you tie it up in place, it's nearly impossible to untie from the water and (3) it's not easy to pull yourself up on the ladder into the boat.

I added a very thin line to the swim ladder tied in a bow which releases as soon as you tug the line, then if you pull the line some more, it will pull the ladder down.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This kind of reminds me of that movie Open Water 2 where a group of high school friends go on a weekend cruise and decide to go swimming. After everyone jumps in the water, they realize no one remembered to pull the ladder down.

I fell off my dock a month or so ago and it taught me a couple important lessons:

No matter how strong you think you are you can't lift yourself out on an elevated dock, at least not me and most of the people I know.

Have an escape plan! If it hadn't been for my gal being on my boat and me being able to ask her to lower the ladder it's very possible to panic and not be able to figure a way out of the water. Since then I've looked at all the boats in my immediate dock area and figured out who's ladders stay down and where I can crawl out.

I really like the idea of having a way to lower the ladder from the water, that's some great thinking that didn't occur to me. I will set that up this weekend. that's even better than the escape plan as long as it works.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 10:10:15

The water temp on Lake Superior is still in the 40's - 43 degrees two weeks ago. As I often tell my wife when going out alone - "a life jacket will help the CG find my body". I suspect hypothermia will claim me before I can get myself on the boat or anyone finds me. I wear the vest for her peace of mind, not mine.

Edited by - on

windsong
Captain

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USA
318 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 11:08:38

Ken Roper, aka "The General," who has single-handed the Transpac race 9 times will NOT wear a safety harness for all the reasons given above. He's 79 years old. I've crewed with him a few times, and he says that he knows he won't be able to get back aboard, so what's the point? Falling overboard while sailing alone is a death sentence, especially in the great Pacific, and he treats it as such.

Edited by - windsong on 07/23/2009 13:08:17

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 11:23:11

WOW - didn't think that 100' would pass that quickly...maybe another 100' is necessary...of course that will start to risk getting fouled w/ the various floating trap markers that litter these waters...seems like a tether is really the way to go.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2009 : 13:36:02

Sailors during the time of great explorations (ya know, Magellan, et al) intentionally avoided learning to swim for just that reason.

I think that trailing a line is false security. The speed at which it goes by, the sailor's ability to grab and hold on to a wet, slippery line then the aforementioned difficulty with getting oneself safely aboard after the struggle of pulling in that 100 feet of tethered boat makes it unlikely to have any real safety value.

The key is to have a thether that prevents falling overboard in the first place.

Edited by - John Russell on 07/23/2009 13:36:47

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