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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/20/2003 : 10:35:54

Yesterday, a friend and I went to a sailing seminar called "Getting Ready for the Challenge" sponsored by the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society (GLSS) and, with me being primarily a singlehanded sailor, it was quite informative. For those who haven't heard of this organization,

"The Great Lakes Singlehanded Society is an organization established for the perpetuation of the sport of solo sailing. Its purpose is twofold, the first being to encourage the development of suitable techniques, equipment, and gear for shorthanded passage under sail; its second being the recognition of accomplishments of singlehanded sailors in the Great Lakes region."

"Membership in the society is conveyed only to those individuals who successfully complete the Port Huron to Mackinac Island Singlehanded Challenge or the Chicago to Mackinac Singlehanded Challenge. The satisfactory completion of either of these challenges is viewed as a singularly significant individual accomplishment. The society views all who do so as winners of this event."

The seminar covered sailing techniques, medical needs, sleep requirements, protective clothing, and requirements and rules for entering the solo challenge. The crowd consisted mostly of GLSS members with me, my friend, and a couple others being the only non-members in attendance.

It was obvious that this group has a passion for their sport, demonstrated by their spirited debates(read cursing) on race rules and procedures, to safety requirements. The hottest topics were tethers and a new radio call-in procedure that were instituted after a recent race trajedy. In that race, they lost one of their own when he fell overboard and died. He was properly tethered to the boat, but apparently when he fell overboard he was unable to get back in the boat. They speculated that when he fell overboard and was being dragged, he was unable to release his tether because it had a snap hook and not a quick-release shackle. One of the GLSS board members suggested that he may have been dragged for 5 hours before he died all the while getting pounded by the waves and the hull.

Interestingly, there were three sides to the tether issue; using tethers with manual snap hooks, using tethers with quick release shackles, and not using tethers whatsoever.

The argument for using the snap hooks was that it was less likely to snag and open accidently. Those for hooks speculated that the quick release shackle could snag and release on rigging or lifelines as you were falling overboard.

Tether w/Snap Hooks
<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/wic7005.gif" border=0>

The main argument for the quick release shackle was that it is virtually impossible to unhook the snap hooks when either suspended from the hull or being dragged through the water by the tether.

Tether w/Quick Release Shackle
<img src="http://www.sailnet.com/store/prodimage/160x160/sosteh1001.gif" border=0>

The argument against using tethers(ie. not making them mandatory when not down below) was presented by a seasoned singlehanded sailor who had participated not only in GLSS events, but also major open ocean singlehanded races. This gentlemen stated that he once tripped on his tether and almost flipped over the bow pulpit. It was somewhat ironic that this grizzled sailing veteran, who advocated against mandatory tethers, also volunteered that he couldn't swim.

All in all, it was a very interesting and informative seminar, and maybe someday I will take the solo challenge and become a member of the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society.

For further information on the GLSS, here is a link to there website.

http://webhost.sailnet.com/glss/index.cfm

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2003 : 23:53:10

Don, I've been somewhat intrigued by the GLSS. Seems like I read their requirements a while back and felt that it was a doable endeavor. Perhaps the greatest cost beyond the normal cruising outfit is the self inflating live raft.

They did (may still do) require a 100 mile solo qualifying run prior to one of the Mackinaw runs. I'm not sure but this may can be done with crew...as long as the crew doesn't assist in the boat handling, navigation, etc.

As far as the man overboard loss... we had a great discussion about this very thing on this site several years ago. Until that discussion...I'd felt comfortable as I had harness, teather and jack lines and used them. That thread of course presented the question of what would happen if one did go over the rail on a six foot teather. Someone, (it may have been Bill Holcomb) challenged the forum that its almost impossible to get back over the rail and this story confirms what we concluded was likely the reality of going over on a teather.

That thread got my attention... and caused me to both think about what I had not...and take some action. My response was in consideration of the concensus of that discussion, specifically... that the best chance for a single hander reboarding was to reach the swim ladder. That the swim ladder must be able to be released by a lanyard near the water surface.

I added a 15 foot backup teather to my harness. It is like a whistle or strobe light...there if I need it. It is coiled and locked in place with velcro. The plan would be that if I should find myself over the side and needing free of the six foot teather to reach the swim ladder, prior to releasing the snap shackle...the 15 foot teather would be made to the ring of the snap shackle on the six foot teather. This would give twenty one feet of teather... enough to reach the swim ladder.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2003 : 00:28:32

Arlyn,
with all due respect (& it may have been Bill), but I also raised the question of being dragged and not able to get back on board. Your solution is very practicle and when single handing I keep my swim ladder in the down position but I will instead add a line to release the ladder. I really like the idea of keeping an additional 15' of line coiled and easy to snap into place to manage getting back onboard without help. When the water warms I am going to practice this with the Admiral just to see if I can accomplish the task...we never practice emergangy procedures enough..and it can be fun, informative and keep you cool on a hot day!
Steve

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc32b3127cce94d57c8cff3b0000001010" border=0> Moon Chaser #385WK <img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/forum1.gif" border=0>

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2003 : 00:32:37

Arlyn,

The sailing experience requirements for entering the Port Huron to Mackinac Solo Challenge consist of at least 1,000 miles of sailing experience on a body of water equal to or greater than the magnitude of Lake Huron. Additionally, you must document at least one singlehanded passage under sail that was no less the 100 statute miles and no less than 24 hours.

As for the tether issue, one member had a good idea. He had sewn a small dive knife(about a 3" blade with plastic locking scabard) to his harness just below the shoulder. The scabard was sewn with the blade pointing up(handle down) so the knife could be withdrawn with either hand by depressing the release button and pulling downward. The knife could come in handy if you had to cut the tether, entangled lines, or sails.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2984 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2003 : 07:55:39

Don... I think the knife makes a lot of sense... but remembering this is the Great Lakes... Exposure factor comes into play... so I would want to stay with the boat rather than cut the teather... unless wrapped around my neck.

Steve... the thread I referenced was probably back in about '97 as I've had the safety section of teather attached to my harness for all of the cruises I've done on my boat in the Great Lakes and did the first in '98. I do recall your comment.

Good idea to do a controlled situation test on the technique. The 15' teather I made is of webbing and has the usual carabiner on the one end and a snap release shackle on the other. One concern is that if the boat were moving very fast...releasing the six foot teather would set the stage for a serious jolt when the 15' teather came up taught...maybe enough to cause injury.

I'm doubtful that one could hand the teather tight enough to ease out on it... more thought is needed.

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224
<img src="http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/rr.jpg" border=0>
N/E Texas and Great Lakes

[url="http://www.cox-internet.com/arlynstewart/"]Arlyn's C250 Mods n Cruisin Stories[/url]

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/22/2003 : 12:30:58

Arlyn,

I agree that staying in the boat is the preferred scenario, especially in the colder northern lakes, and the person leading this seminar thought so too. He emphasized, over and over, that his strategy is to Stay in the Boat. He advocated running the jacklines down the centerline of the boat instead of separate lines run along the port and starboard sides. It was recommended that the tethers be of a length that wouldn't allow you to get past the lifelines, so the falling over the side and dangling issue doesn't come in to play.

<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>Don Lucier<img src="http://www.catalina25-250.org/c25sm.gif" border=0>
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d904b3127cce9f7cd9ffdf1d0000003010" border=0>
North Star SR/FK

Edited by - on

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