Real rescue with 26X

[NiceAft]

I think I wrote this up for the Board once, but it won't hurt to do it again.

I used to keep my Lifesling II ready for quick deployment until I figured out you can only throw it about 30 feet.

6 knots is 10 feet per second, so if you can't deploy in under 3 seconds you won't get the LS-II to the POB - and practically speaking 3 seconds to react to a POB is completely unrealistic.

if you did not have anything pressing that you need to attend.

While this is quite true at least you have a leash so you can circle him and bring the floatation to him just like you would a ski rope to a skier so you could then drag him to the boat and to safety.

A very good point. I hope one never has to make use of it, but a good idea.

Ray

[Catigale]

I think I wrote this up for the Board once, but it won't hurt to do it again.

I used to keep my Lifesling II ready for quick deployment until I figured out you can only throw it about 30 feet.

6 knots is 10 feet per second, so if you can't deploy in under 3 seconds you won't get the LS-II to the POB - and practically speaking 3 seconds to react to a POB is completely unrealistic.

if you did not have anything pressing that you need to attend.

While this is quite true at least you have a leash so you can circle him and bring the floatation to him just like you would a ski rope to a skier so you could then drag him to the boat and to safety.

Right, but this completely shifts the priorities.

If you get a POB - we throw a floatable (no tether) as close to POB as we can, then start planning on turning the boat depending on if we are under power.

You don't deploy the Lifelong with tether until you have a clear idea of your POB recovery course, or else Murphy will almost certainly get your tether wrapped around your prop, rudder or centerboard.

[Russ]

Great work and it must feel good to know that you probably saved a life.

Did you ever learn how he ended up in the water?

I hope he taught his girlfriend a bit more of boat handling after that. Case in point why you need to train crew on essentials.

--Russ

[Tomfoolery]

Did you ever learn how he ended up in the water?

I reread the OP a couple of times, and it would seem the guy in the water wasn't wearing a PFD. I too would be very interested to know how he got in that situation, though a good guess would be he went on deck to raise/lower the main sail and lost his footing or balance. A life jacket would have bought him some precious minutes. It was awfully lucky of him that Herschel was there.

[Herschel]

Did you ever learn how he ended up in the water?

I reread the OP a couple of times, and it would seem the guy in the water wasn't wearing a PFD. I too would be very interested to know how he got in that situation, though a good guess would be he went on deck to raise/lower the main sail and lost his footing or balance. A life jacket would have bought him some precious minutes. It was awfully lucky of him that Herschel was there.

He was wearing only a bathing suit and was barefooted. U.S. Sailing insists we have our students in closed toed shoes with good traction. It was choppy, made more unpredictable from the wave reflections bouncing off the sea wall. Remember high school physics experiments? Makes predicting movement of the boat very iffy.

[JotaErre]

That guy was born again... Herschel you are a guardian angel.

[Bilgemaster]

Well done, Herschel! Being a Com-Pac 16 owner too and a relative newbie to boot, I actually feel something like "vicariously grateful." I'm not saying that dumbass in the drink could've been me, but it could've been me.

[Herschel]

Deeply appreciate all the positive feedback. Thank you. I did want to make one more point before this tread closes out. Since I am topside a lot on my Mac, and, consequently, have the Admiral or another family member or friend at the helm for a while, I like to wear bright colored clothing so I will be easily visible in case of a slip off the boat. We might be in the water for some time while a less experienced person figures out the best way to respond and, hopefully, approach for a recovery. Don't want them to not see me. Stay safe folks.

[Tomfoolery]

. . . I like to wear bright colored clothing so I will be easily visible in case of a slip off the boat. We might be in the water for some time while a less experienced person figures out the best way to respond and, hopefully, approach for a recovery. Don't want them to not see me.

This is a little off-topic, but that's a pet peeve of mine - PFDs that are not brightly colored. I have a couple of speed-rated PFDs for tubing and wakeboarding that are nicely decorated in light and dark gray. They're great to wear, and work as intended, but they sure don't help to make someone in the water any more visible than the, well, light and dark gray water.

I don't worry so much about me not seeing my kids in the water with them, but the nimrods in powerboats and PWCs at speed are less likely to see them than if they were brightly colored. Every little bit helps.

I should probably replace them. Or maybe I'm just overly cautious. But then, the bay I'm in is long and skinny and essentially a power boat highway to/from Lake Ontario, so maybe not.

[Herschel]

. . . I like to wear bright colored clothing so I will be easily visible in case of a slip off the boat. We might be in the water for some time while a less experienced person figures out the best way to respond and, hopefully, approach for a recovery. Don't want them to not see me.

This is a little off-topic, but that's a pet peeve of mine - PFDs that are not brightly colored. I have a couple of speed-rated PFDs for tubing and wakeboarding that are nicely decorated in light and dark gray. They're great to wear, and work as intended, but they sure don't help to make someone in the water any more visible than the, well, light and dark gray water.

I don't worry so much about me not seeing my kids in the water with them, but the nimrods in powerboats and PWCs at speed are less likely to see them than if they were brightly colored. Every little bit helps.

I should probably replace them. Or maybe I'm just overly cautious. But then, the bay I'm in is long and skinny and essentially a power boat highway to/from Lake Ontario, so maybe not.

I wonder about that as well. I was in West Marine today, and their standard PFD set is dark blue with yellow straps. I wonder what they are thinking. I suspect it has more to do with making them attractive so people, especially kids, will want to wear them. I appreciated wearing a bright orange shirt when sailing one day about three months ago. I had a flat on my car on the left side and had to pull over to the side of a super highway on the way home from sailing. I really liked being able to be seen easily by the cars and trucks passing by a few feet away going 70+ mph while I changed the tire.

[NiceAft]

Since I always wear my self inflating PFd while sailing, and will not permit passengers to do otherwise, I am glad that when inflated, those PFD's are bright yellow.

I consider myself very strong and nimble, but the old saying of "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." holds true when it comes to wearing a PFD. When not in the cabin, a PFD is worn. Any other logic is a non-sequitur.

Sorry for Pontificating.

Ray

P.S. Again, a hearty congratulations Herschel for a job well done.

[dive4it]

I really enjoyed reading this thread....you did an amazing job! I would like to pose a question to the group though. It sounds like everyone that has responded is planning on practicing some scenarios, at least I hope they do. My question is this....Has anyone ever thought about what they would do if they had a POB that was unconscious? How would you get them back on the boat? This is a very real situation that, unfortunately, I've had to deal with on several occasions over the years on various boats (working in rescue). Everyone really needs to ask themselves if they could haul their sailing partner in by themselves. Minutes count, heck seconds count when you have someone unconscious and in the water....no matter what situation put them there (medical, accident, etc)....they need to be pulled out of the water and put on board before any medical assistance can take place (short of rescue breaths). Pulling someone on board with back/neck injuries can pose an even greater challenge....Let me assure you, there is not time to wait for the Coasties to get there and hope for a survivable outcome.

Since we're talking Macs here....(my suggestions vary between boats)....I'll offer a couple of scenarios:

1: Someone simply falls overboard and is just plain too out of shape to climb back in using whatever ladder you have.

2: Someone is knocked unconscious from a fall or getting hit by a swinging boom, etc.

3: Medical issue (heart attack, etc)

4: Unknown condition (found someone floating in the water)

I'll post my techniques if anyone would like to hear them....

[Herschel]

Great questions. The main approach I have only read about, not practiced, sadly, is using the mainsail (unhanked from mast, but still attached to boom) as a sling to put under the disabled MOB and winching him or her up with the main halyard. Assuming halyards led aft near winch. Can not imagine doing that with a suspected neck or back injury. It would seem the need to get MOB out of the water and prevent drowning would override the need to immobilize, at least until clear of water and boat safely under control.

[Bilgemaster]

I'll post my techniques if anyone would like to hear them....

By all means, do tell. In fact, I'd just been wondering if I should stow one of these Gambrel and Pulley Hoists (only about ten bucks with this coupon this weekend) under the floor for just such an MOB eventuality or to more easily get my inflatable dingy aboard. But yes, what would you do?

[dive4it]

Don't bother with that Harbor Freight pulley hoist....the rope is 1/4" nylon....they're made for hoisting a baby bamby at most. Use your boom vang or main sheet in a pinch (I use my main halyard run aft to the winch). I keep about 100 feet of nylon tubular webbing on board at all times to make any number of slings for hoisting. Our boats are already equipped with a hoisting system with the mast and boom. People use them all the time to hoist heavy gear onto the boat from the dock and even to lift inboard diesel engines out of the engine rooms for their larger boats. I'm sure everyone has a slightly different setup on their Macs but I would encourage anyone to not only learn, but to practice recovering not only a heavy object, but a person from the water. Set up a sling that can easily be deployed and put on a person in the water and practice your hoisting skills....I can go into detail if you'd like.

JT