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MOB self-rescue for the Chesapeake Bay

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JohnP
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Initially Posted - 06/29/2011 : 10:49:44

I sail single-handed almost all the time, and after all the discussion about the dangers of hypothermia, I have deployed a simple means of MOB self-rescue.

My boat can sail away from me, if I fall overboard and start swimming after 1 or 2 seconds and don't reach the release string attached with velcro to the boarding ladder on the transom. I would guess that it would take five or ten seconds before I got close to the boat, and by then it would be a boat length or two along its course with the tiller held and the sails nicely trimmed.

We have used a boogie board for decades at Cape Cod and along Long Island Sound beaches, but lately it has been gathering dust in our shed because we live so far from the ocean. So I tied 50' of floating polypropylene line to it and put figure eight knots every 6' along the line. Trailing the board off the aft starboard dock cleat would give me a good chance to pull myself back to the boarding ladder on the little surf board.

I tried it while at anchor the other day, and it's easy to surf back up to the boat. I'm waiting for crew on July 4th for a live demo under sail.

The line might be shortened to avoid traffic problems with other boats on the Bay or my local river, and 20' or 25' may be plenty for easy self-rescue.

I think it will also be fun, with another helmsman aboard, riding back there on a 95 degree day while cruising at 5 knots!

JohnP
1978 C25 SR/FK "Gypsy"
Mill Creek off the Magothy River, Chesapeake Bay
Port Captain, northern Chesapeake Bay

Edited by - on

redeye
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 12:21:13

We drag each other on occasion. I'm afraid if you had any wind at all you would be left behind before you could get to the line much less another danger of getting the line in the prop.
I've got 100 feet of 1/2 line with a fender we drag sometimes and dive off the boat while sailing. Any kinda real current and it can be heck to move through the water. But Hey... you need to trial this and let us know what you find. It is a blast jumping off the boat and finding that line while it sails off!

Edited by - redeye on 06/29/2011 12:25:46

redeye
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 12:29:43

It's a new world.. just keep a cell phone on you... then you can call for a rescue and have them pick up a pizza on their way...

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JohnP
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 12:34:46

Hey, does that sushi restaurant deliver, too?

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redeye
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 13:20:39

Not that one, but others. I used the 1/2 braided ( not Nylon ) line as it was softer on the hands, but it would sink. It still was fun to dive off and look for the fender and swim to it before it got by. It would be fun to add a few floats at knots to the line ..

Great Summer Fun for when the wind dies down.

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 14:56:49

If you dove into Galveston Bay you would look like this when they pulled you in -->>

http://www.thomaslaupstad.com/blog/pictures/rattail_Roundnose_grenadier_Coryphaenoides_rupestris_800.jpg

Edited by - GaryB on 06/29/2011 14:58:28

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 20:12:24

You have snow in Galveston??

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 20:20:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 ...Any kinda real current and it can be heck to move through the water. But Hey... you need to trial this and let us know what you find. It is a blast jumping off the boat and finding that line while it sails off!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Ya, at 5 knots, 25' will be gone in three seconds, before you break the surface and start trying to figure out what is where. You might be able to catch a 100' line at 5 knots (12 seconds), but the battle to get back to the boat might not be winnable. You can try it (with a very experienced sailor aboard) and let us know.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/29/2011 20:26:30

Ryan L
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Response Posted - 06/29/2011 : 23:55:11

In my opinion you're better off spending your money and time in jacklines and harness. I think you'll find that your bodyboard idea, while creative, will be ineffective in a real world situation mainly for the reason(s) already stated. If you unexpectedly fall in, fully clothed, especially in cold water, the bodyboard will likely pass you before you have any chance of reaching it. Even if you manage to get to the board it can be surprisingly difficult to pull yourself against even a 2-3 knot current. I just got back from a whitewater SUP event in Colorado and was surprised how difficult it was to pull myself upriver even when in the relatively low flow along the edges. Also I remember during swiftwater rescue training it took two people to pull a victim to shore (one holding a throw rope and another person holding the first person). Easier on a bodyboard than by rope alone but you gotta get yourself onto the bodyboard (remember, fully clothed...) When we do rescue work off of PWCs (jetskis) we use a large bodyboard-like attachment called a "rescue sled". When the ski is moving anything faster than idle speed it gets challenging to pull yourself onto the sled and that's with handles to help. That said, I'm just speculating based on past experience. I look forward to hearing how your experiment works out!

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calden
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 06:57:25

I recall reading (probably in some internet sailing forum, imagine that) someone who had a safety line behind him when singlehanding, but he had it attached somehow to the tiller. Assuming he could grab on, it would yank the tiller and bring the boat around and to a stop.

Carlos

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GaryB
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 07:41:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 You have snow in Galveston??
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's not snow, it's pollutants that have been whipped into a froth!

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Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 07:47:53

I have a drag line tied to the base of the ladder. It's 25' long and has 4 floats on it, those oval plastic ones like you see in a pool that floats the deep end rope. Three orange ones and a red one at the end.

It's not intended to be a rescue device like what you're doing. I put it out when we're stopped, sails down and drifting, for swimming. I also use it to drag a swim float so someone can relax back there in the cool water.

I have a Lifesling2 for MOB....but don't have anything for self rescue MOB. I don't use a tiller tamer, so my boat will round up pretty quick if I let go of the tiller for more than 10 seconds.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 07:59:31

I'm a singelhanded sailor myself. Do what I do. Don't fall overboard. It's worked for me for the past 17 years of sailing and 48 years years total on the water. For guests, I have a strict "no unauthorized swimming" rule which has resulted in zero man overboard situations.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 10:09:56

I did some math on this, and at hull speed (6 knots) the boat's moving slightly more than 10'/sec. So with 50' of line out before your boogey board, you've got less than 5 seconds to catch your breath (difficult to do in cold water), get a hold of the line, and not get it snatched out of your hands as the board goes by. Climbing back up the line to the boarding ladder would also be difficult, but probably doable. Attaching the line to the rudder somehow might be a good idea to force a broach when you load it.

Couple that with cold water shock and you've got little to no chance to grab that line going by in 5 seconds.

You also stand a decent chance of vertigo if you get water in your ear(s). Having experienced this firsthand while diving off of a tour boat in Turkey in the balmy Med, I cannot see any way for you to be able to locate the line rushing by you, much less swim toward it. In my case, I was less than 3' from the side of the boat I'd dove off of, and I was incapable of swimming to it, or the shore, which was about 20' away. Two things were in my favor, flotation (the Mediterranean is very salty, and I have "extra" flotation built in), plus an alert ex-Turkish commando as our tour guide who pulled me out of the shallows. I'm a pretty good swimmer, but this was a terrifying experience, fortunately there was another tour boat no more than 15' away from us and the folks on board pointed me out to the folks on shore (where the commando was). The freeboard on my tour boat was so high, that my friends couldn't see me and assumed I was alright (as I had been throughout the rest of the day doing the exact same thing at other islands we were touring).

I'm with Don with the harnesses, double lanyards, and clipping in whenever you're not sitting on your butt in the cockpit. Rita goes so far as to clip in all the time, which I encourage. I need to run a jackline from the cockpit to the mast, last weekend it was just a bit breezy and getting to the foredeck to clear a fouled jib halyard (got tucked behind my radar reflector) was interesting. Even clipped into the mast ring didn't feel particularly safe.

Had some downtime at work today & cooked up this spreadsheet for calculating line length vs boat speed for time to grab line.

[url="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ah2G20JjQpoJdExVZmJoR2RIbF9jamJqSVo3aW5fWVE&hl=en_US&authkey=CMXXmeQN"]Boat Speed vs MOB line calculator.[/url]

Anyone with that link has write access to the spreadsheet, so you guys can go figure out line lengths vs your boat speed in knots or MPH. Please only edit the areas in green (boat speed and/or line length), and don't edit anything in yellow or rose. Have fun!

Edited by - delliottg on 06/30/2011 15:50:24

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 15:20:27

Guess my math was a little off, but my point has been reinforced.

A neighbor fell off his boat at our condo dock last year, fully clothed, and was momentarily disoriented and "terrified." And he was in about 5' of water, next to a floating dock, which he was unable to climb back onto. (Later, I showed him where the ladders are.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/30/2011 15:21:20

Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 20:51:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 In my case, I was less than 3' from the side of the boat I'd dove off of, and I was incapable of swimming to it, or the shore, which was about 20' away. Two things were in my favor, flotation (the Mediterranean is very salty, and I have "extra" flotation built in), plus an alert ex-Turkish commando as our tour guide who pulled me out of the shallows. I'm a pretty good swimmer, but this was a terrifying experience, fortunately there was another tour boat no more than 15' away from us and the folks on board pointed me out to the folks on shore (where the commando was).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You're talking about your vertigo experience?

I can induce vertigo reliably....coming up from a deep dive, as my ears vent (lose pressure), if I look up and see a shimmering surface (bright sunshine) I will get vertigo every time. It is a shockingly disorienting experience. However, I've had it happen enough I recognize it for what it is, can stay calm, and it goes away as soon as I break the surface. In each case, I feel for my bubbles with my hand, trust that they will go to the surface and follow them up.

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delliottg
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 21:06:57

Mine occurred as I dove off the second deck of the tour boat and drove water into my right ear. It seemed like every time I tried to swim toward shore, I'd end up swimming at 90 degrees to my intended path. I don't know how long it lasted, but it was only the second time in my life that I thought I might drown. I'd managed to get my toes touching the bottom about the same time Akmed got to me and pulled me to shore. I think I'd have been ok had he not, but I was very grateful for the assist. I was still very disoriented and had a hard time standing up or walking in a straight line.

I developed an infection a few days later in that ear and had to find a doctor to take a look at it. Unfortunately, he only spoke Turkish & German, me, English & Spanish. That was an interesting office visit. His diagnosis? "Schmutz" in my ear. I stil am prone to infections in that ear.

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Joe Diver
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 23:22:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by delliottg
 
I developed an infection a few days later in that ear
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ear Beer after every dive...pool, salt or fresh....every time...no exceptions....

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delliottg
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Response Posted - 06/30/2011 : 23:45:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Ear Beer after every dive...pool, salt or fresh....every time...no exceptions....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Had to Google that, never heard of it before.

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redeye
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Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 04:15:58

<< Climbing back up the line to the boarding ladder would also be difficult, but probably doable. >>

It is very difficult to get back up the ladder with any forward boat speed. You normally bring your feet forward to place them on the lower rung, and the current prevents you from bringing them forward. you can grab the lower rung and drag, but as you grab higher rungs the current pulls the ladder up into your belly. Hard to get it down and you feet up to it. If you had a longer ladder it would make it easier but you would have to pull yourself up with your arms until your feet reach the lower rung.
If you are built like me it is difficult. I'm sure others might find it less difficult. Something I think everyone should try themselves, but not alone or on a windy day.

Edited by - redeye on 07/01/2011 04:19:02

JohnP
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Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 06:53:10

I agree that the move from lying prone on the boogie board to standing on the boarding ladder will be hard underway. Adrenaline will help.

I'll let you know how the test goes.

It's supposed to be 95 degrees and sunny on the 4th here. We may have to test it over and over again!

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aeckhart
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Response Posted - 07/01/2011 : 07:39:12

After I enstalled jack lines several years ago, I spent a few minutes examining man overboard scenarios. I came to realize that if I fell overboard from anywhere on the boat, I would be left dragging over the side from my six foot tether. Not a problem if crew is aboard but single handing is another situation altogether. I could end up being dragged along until I drowned or the boat hit something.

My solution, which I believe came from one of our members, is to carry 25 feet of line and two carabiner clips in a small pouch attached to my harness. Theoreticly I would be able to clip the end of the line to my tether and harness and ease myself to the back of the boat where I might be able to grab the ladder. I have not tested this solution, but it seems a better option than dragging a line behind the boat which I may never see or be able to grab when needed.

In the final analysis, getting back into the boat by yourself is extremely difficult. When single handing one should avoid leaving the cockpit unless it is very necessary and then with extreem caution. It is primarily for that reason that I installed roller furling and have all lines, including my cunningham, led aft to the cockpit. The only lines I have to handle forward of the cockpit are to deploy my asymetric spinnaker and the anchor.

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redviking
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Response Posted - 07/02/2011 : 16:37:12

Never leave the cockpit when singlehanding in double seas and weather. Jacklines and tethers should not allow you to go over lifelines. Tether to port when walking starboard and vice versa. Simple solution. Lazy jacks and lines running aft....

sten

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jerlim
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Response Posted - 07/02/2011 : 17:30:45

Sten - what great specific direction - THANKS!
JL

Edited by - jerlim on 07/02/2011 17:31:18

redviking
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Response Posted - 07/02/2011 : 18:55:56

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Ryan L
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Response Posted - 07/02/2011 : 21:36:01

I agree with tethering on opposing sides but only if you're moving forward on the low side of the boat (relative to heel). For example, I'll tether to the starboard line if I'm moving forward on the port side while on starboard tack. I disagree that it's a good idea to tether opposing if you're moving forward on the high side. In that case you are most likely to fall "down" (across) the deck. On a boat as small as ours that means an almost certain swim combined with maximum tether length (due to the gunwale being closer to the water). When moving forward on the high side I run my shorter tether on the same side jackline. I'm not saying "my" way is right or that your statement is wrong, just posting to give more info to consider.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 Never leave the cockpit when singlehanding in double seas and weather. Jacklines and tethers should not allow you to go over lifelines. Tether to port when walking starboard and vice versa. Simple solution. Lazy jacks and lines running aft....

sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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