Preventing a big headache

[delevi]

It was an absolutely gorgeous day on Clear Lake, as Dawn and I were heading downwind, crossing the big part of the lake. Winds approx 12 knots. Time for the spinnaker I kept the boat on a broad reach and turned the helm over to Dawn as I went on deck to set up the kite. First, perhaps I should…. nah. I proceeded to rig the sheets, halyard, etc, with my back to the cockpit when suddenly we gybed. I grabbed the lifeline to stabilize myself and turned around to find my wife face down on the seat. Boom hit her right on the noggin! I asked if she’s ok & she didn’t answer. Dropping everything I rushed to her aid. She was dazed, startled and in tears. In the meantime, the half un-socked spinnaker was flogging like mad. I asked if she would be Ok for a minute so I could put the sail away and get things back under control. I knew she was hurt but generally ok, so proceeded to regain control of the ship. Now, sails down, I was able to get some ice for her head and provide moral support. A nasty headache and possible concussion put a damper on the rest of our day.

Although she wasn’t paying attention, I blame myself. I was going to rig the preventer prior to going about my business with the spinnaker but figured she wouldn’t gybe. WRONG! It is so easy and fast to rig a preventer. Basically, you just need to have your vang on a snap hook (part attaching to the mast base) Unhook and clip it to the stanchion loop just in front of the mast and tighten the vang. Done. No chance to gybe. I have this exact setup… extra 10 seconds and the situation would have easily be prevented (pun intended.)

Lesson learned and I hope others will learn from my mistake.

Happy Sailing,
Leon

[Sloop John B]

Yeah, my Mate thinks the thing is supposed to steer like an automobile. I was up front one time trying to unfoul the furling drum and she must have come about about six times.

I have to get her behind the helm for experience.

Right now, if something happened to me, all she knows is to dig out the cell and call the cops. Meanwhile, I drift off to Cancun.

[tomasrey88]

When sailing with civilians, (non-sailors such as wives, girlfriends, lovers, etc) you should always remember all the dohs! you went through when you first learned sailing. I suggest that if you have some helmets around the house, everybody on board a boat should have one if you have civilians aboard. Any helmet would do (something's better than nothing). Personally, I use bike helmets. That and life vests are mandatory on board my boat if the passengers have no sailing experience. If I am with other sailors, helmets are optional but life vests are still mandatory. Life lines are also mandatory if there are civvies aboard. For those with sailing experience (my classmates from sailing class), the lifelines are optional. If there is even a drop of alcohol involved, then helmets and lifelines are mandatory regardless of experience level. Since I don't drink at parties, I'm the designated driver.... The only exception is if the boat is docked, tied securely to a marina in shallow water and not moving. Then, no safety equipment is necessary. I often use my boat as a party shack so my wife won't raise hull because guests messed up our house. Everything's either fiberglass or vinyl so it's easy to clean. Plus, there's no breakable stuff on board the Mac. She would have a major cow if a guest broke her china doll collection....

If you like spending money or if you don't have helmets laying around the house, you might want to conisder this:
http://www.sailinghelmet.com/

[Catigale]

That and life vests are mandatory on board my boat if the passengers have no sailing experience.

My wierd experience is I get more pushback from parents of tweens and teens who are proud of their kids swimming prowess when I enforce PFDs. I tell them if they can pass my swim test, they dont have to wear PFDS...the swim test consists of standing on the gunwale and getting wacked by the boom in the head, then seeing how well they swim.....Ive found this has always brought the point home....

[beene]

I have to get her behind the helm for experience.

You are of coarse referring to sailing experience, I assume. My wife wants nothing to due with the HOW it is done, instead would rather just sit out on the deck sunning herself.

If I told her she had to learn how to sail, to be prepared in the event of my inability to capt the ship, for whatever reason, she would have not permitted the purchase of said boat in the first place.

[beene]

Leon

Glad to hear she is OK. Could have been much worse.

If that were my wife..... there would an '07M up for sale...... and maybe a SWF searching none sailing SWM

[waternwaves]

cat,

good test,

I like the

Swim around the boat 3 times without touching the boat,

( While it is being towed...)

[eric3a]

..

[waternwaves]

Eric.........

sad to say.......
That is the norm.

you miss the great one.......

[argonaut]

I have also managed a "death roll" manuever several times when running.
I think our noggins were protected by being seated and having the bimini up. The bimini kind of makes you conscious of when you head's in the "ding zone".
A preventer's good but you need to be able to set it from the helm...

BTW, I think there's a discussion about sailtrim and roundup or "death roll" tendency on a run Sailtrim for a run If there's a lot of wind, a broad reach is the way to go.

I had the advantage of learning the bad effects of gybing on a laser where all you got was a memorable bump on the head if you weren't paying attention. On our bigger boats things happen more slowly but with much more force.

[NiceAft]

I guess I'm just a nervous ninny. I won't allow anyone to stand while under sail. As soon as someone gets up to move, I let them know, WATCH OUT FOR THE BOOM! Getting smacked on the noggin is not the way to learn a lesson. Also, everyone has on a PFD before the boat leaves the dock. I wear one, so everyone else wears one. No exceptions!


Leon, I hope your wife has recovered with no side affects.


Ray

[delevi]

She's fine. Thanks. Fortunately, the winds were not too strong. Also, no 4-sale sign on Rusalka and divorce papers haven't been filed. Not so sure if I can talk her into going sailing this Saturday, though

[beene]

Glad to hear that Leon.

If there's a lot of wind, a broad reach is the way to go.

I quite agree with that statement.

I find I cover a lot more distance and have quite a bit more fun then going just off DDW or W on W.

G

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

I convert the Mac mainsheet blocks to a vang (which is the Mac vang) and use better mainsheet blocks.
I add a snap-shackle, and longer line (21') so that it can be used as a preventer. I attach the snap-shackle to the stanchion base near the winch.

[DLT]

Bill,

What I played around with last year was a dual mainsheet setup, with each shackled to the stanchion bases on either side of the companionway right there at the winches.

This gave me full control over the boom, even without a vang. I basically used the windward mainsheet to control in/out and the leeward mainsheet to control up/down.

The leeward mainsheet also acts as a preventer...