Sailor falls off boat. Makes it to shore.

John Danicic · Post by **John Danicic** » Mar 17th, '16, 18:18

Good story for all us single handers.

http://www.startribune.com/a-michigan-s ... 372305661/

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Mar 17th, '16, 20:32

Truly an amazing story. As the article is written it indicates he was knocked off the boat, nearly made it back aboard but was once again thrown off and summarily stripped of his life jacket which must have incorporated his harness. He was lucky not to have been incapacitated. Luck and currents were with him since he was able to slowly swim and float his way to shore. The denizens of the deep were kind enough to leave him alone also. I presume the first houses he came to were unoccupied but the hotel workers certainly took good care of him and the nearby hospital was a godsend. What if he has washed up on a deserted island?
His luck hadn't run out yet...the Coast Guard retrieved his boat!

John Danicic · Post by **John Danicic** » Mar 17th, '16, 21:23

Yes, a good story he has with a happy ending as well. Both he and boat saved. Of course, we can only speculate the circumstances about the stories with unhappy endings. This one has an eye witness.

Sea Hunt Video · Post by **Sea Hunt Video** » Mar 17th, '16, 22:03

If he had a PFD/harness or even just a harness AND it was rigged with a crotch strap, he would not have had it ripped off by the wave/water pressure. His "cherries" might be hurting a little but ....

The old style "horse collar" BCs used in diving for many, many years had/have crotch straps to keep the BC on a diver when inflated at the surface. A PFD rig is basically a horse collar BC. I still occasionally wear one of my horse collar BCs during dives when I am feeling nostalgic.

In this sailor's situation, I am guessing that if he had crotch straps on his PFD/harness or harness alone he still would not have been able to climb back aboard - given the sea state and his admittedly waning arm strength. However, if he had a PFD/harness rig with crotch straps he could have detached from his tether and had a PFD to assist him float in the water (although swimming with a PFD is a "b$tch").

Several years ago there was a discussion of climbing back aboard a moving sailboat while tethered to a jack line. I commented then that it would be nearly impossible to do so alone without onboard assistance (i.e. not a solo sailor). I repeat that comment here. A young Marine or SEAL in top physical condition could do so but given the average age of most of us (I am old, fat and out of shape) it is not likely we could do so today. Many, many years ago and a lot less lbs. ago I used to climb aboard a very slowly moving RIB-type craft frequently. It was not easy but practice helped. Not today; no way, no how.

It also depends on where you are in the water in relation to your sailboat. Near the bow, along the topsides, at the stern, etc. Depending on the sailboat's design you may or may not be able to climb up the stern; and depending on the freeboard you may have some distance to climb before you can try to grab onto a stanchion or lifeline. Try doing that while your sailboat is moving along - even slowly. As I suggested in a post several years ago, if you think you can, anchor your sailboat in a calm place, jump in with an inflated PFD, harness, tether and jackline and then try to climb back aboard along the topsides and at the stern when your sailboat is not even moving. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A LEAST ONE SAFETY PERSON ON BOARD while doing this exercise.

David Thompson is a very fortunate sailor. He and I are about the same age. The article says he swam about 4 miles to shore. Candidly, despite my "aquatic" background I seriously doubt that these days I could swim 4 miles - with or without a PFD.

My current PFD does not have crotch straps. I think I am planning on ordering a set from Defender (Mustang PFD) and installing them.

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Mar 17th, '16, 22:58

I wear my harness religiously offshore. Day sailing almost never. I know it's wrong but it's the truth. When offshore I don and remove my safety harness in the cabin I have a tether with two attachments, a 6' and a 3'. That allows me to keep myself on a short tether once I reach my destination and ensures I am never unattached if going around a fixed object.
As Roberto state's, most of us do not possess the physical strength to get back aboard if we go over the side, therefore, it is paramount that we stay aboard as our first level of personal protection.
I have a Monitor self steering vane mounted on my stern so the possibility exists that I might be able to get back aboard if I have not been injured and the weather and boat speed are cooperating. To further assist getting back aboard I have a short rope ladder lashed to one side of the mounting bracket. I have given some thought of how to get back aboard even if I fell over the side while at anchor which initially led me to construct the two step rope ladder. If I can deploy that I can easily use the self steering vane as a ladder to get back aboard. I still have lots of sailing I want to do

tjr818 · Post by **tjr818** » Mar 17th, '16, 23:16

Far too many things to consider, level of consciousness, physical fitness, sea state, sobriety....
If you are safely tethered, can you reach that stern ladder or the nice safe ladder on the opposite side of the boat:?:

STAY ON BOARD, it is the only sure way. That guys black box is now totally empty and it is going to take him a long, long time to refill it.

Sea Hunt Video · Post by **Sea Hunt Video** » Mar 18th, '16, 08:27

In my earlier post I stated that, in my current physical condition (old and fat) I did not think I could swim four (4) miles to shore. I would like to qualify that statement.

If I knew that Sophia Loren was waiting for me on the beach with a Guinness I feel confident I could swim the four (4) miles.

I might arrive on the beach useless and gasping for air but . . . . .

tjr818 · Post by **tjr818** » Mar 18th, '16, 09:02

Sea Hunt Video wrote:If I knew that Sophia Loren was waiting for me on the beach with a Guinness I feel confident I could swim the four (4) miles. I might arrive on the beach useless and gasping for air but . . . . .

I understand, the lure of a Guinness drives a man to do great things (or sometimes, not so great).

Carl Thunberg · Post by **Carl Thunberg** » Mar 18th, '16, 10:27

You realize you just completely aged yourself, right? Somehow, an 80-year old woman waiting for me on the beach isn't quite the motivator you intended.

Sea Hunt Video · Post by **Sea Hunt Video** » Mar 18th, '16, 10:43

Carl my friend:

I do not know if this photo will show up on this post. I still have no idea how to post a photo. However, when it comes to Sophia I am willing to try.

I have made this statement many times. I even wrote an article in Masthead entitled (I think) "My Sophia" when discussing the search for my beloved S/V Bali Ha'i.

Sophia Loren is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Yes, she may be 80 but I am no longer an Italian stud either. If one needs a motivation to swim 4 miles, Sophia would be all the motivation I would need.

Sorry to all for diverting this thread.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Mar 18th, '16, 14:33

Roberto,

The problem is that if she sees you coming, for every mile you swim, she might be tempted to move two miles further up the beach.

tjr818 · Post by **tjr818** » Mar 18th, '16, 22:55

Carl Thunberg wrote:... Somehow, an 80-year old woman waiting for me on the beach isn't quite the motivator you intended.

Wait until you are 90, I am quite sure that you will be surprised how motivating an 80 year old woman can be

At 18 I never dreamed that I would be sleeping with a 60 year old woman with three kids

John Stone · Post by **John Stone** » Mar 19th, '16, 13:46

The moral of the story isn't to wear a harness with crotch straps--it's to not fall off the boat.

Craig Curtis · Post by **Craig Curtis** » Mar 24th, '16, 16:24

Washed overboard off the stern with the lifejacket pulled over his head while ending up naked from the waste down? Sounds to me like Neptune didn't care to be on the receiving end of a direct deposit.

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Mar 24th, '16, 20:26

Craig Curtis wrote:Washed overboard off the stern with the lifejacket pulled over his head while ending up naked from the waste down? Sounds to me like Neptune didn't care to be on the receiving end of a direct deposit.

Touché

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