Going forward in a blow

[pugwash]

When you have to leave the cockpit and go forward in bad weather, should you work your way along the windward or leeward side of the deck?

The windward side is least attractive because you feel like you're on the South Col of Everest, with fewer handholds but any slip is likely to tilt you downhill and to leeward on to the coachroof etc. Also, if you clip on to the windward jackstay and fall to leeward (presumably the most likely direction), a six-foot safety line keeps you inboard. The leeward side looks safe and comfortable by comparison with all those handholds along the coachroof easy to grab, but the jackstay is down by your feet and if you do happen to slip you'll be over the side.

I have sailed with a STA outfit that insisted on the windward option (on a 70-footer) every time, but on my own 30-footer the leeward side is a lot more convenient and the many handholds provide less risk of falling overboard in the first place.

What think?

 

[Guest]

What think?

I think windward. Decks clearer, no sails to duck under and obscure view. Further away from the water.

Couldn't work out what you meant by hand holds - same both sides on my boat.

Geoff

 

[chas]

I tend to use the windward side:

Dont have to negotiate mainsheet or boom
If you do slip, normally fall against the sail
Deck clearer as jib is sheeted on opposite side
Easier for helmsman to see you
As well as saftey line keeping you inboard

And, for some reason, I feel safer!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

I think first thing you should do is inspect your harness regularly and repair it immediatley any stitching appears loose.

personally i prefer windward. it is easier for the helm to see me if i do fall or go over. is also find it easier to lean 'uphill' so to speak rather than lean down on the leeward rail.




Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[davel]

I was always taught windward side 'cos if you do fall, you have a chance to grab something on your way down to the oggin. (where does that term come from?)

Dave L.

 

[vyv_cox]

Windward for me. Less to trip over.

 

[pugwash]

Re: What think?

If you're standing in the lee scuppers the coachroof is tilting towards you (assuming you're on the wind or hove-to) so there are plenty of things to get a grip on -- handrails, liferaft, rolled-up dinghy, etc.

When people do go over the side, how often is it to windward?

 

[kdf]

Windward side every time -
1) Visibility - you can see better, waves, more wind coming and you can stand up. Not so easy on the low side
2) Security - if you fall you are likely to fall toward the low side but you have a better chance of being able to stop your fall on the rigging, vang etc. If you are on the low side and you fall theres nothing to stop you.
3) Less clutter. No sail in your way, no sheets (maybe flogging in the wind) so less to get tied up in.
4) I've seen people washed away from the low side when the boat heeled.



<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kdf on 21/11/2002 14:19 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Re: What think?

See what you mean but if you go to windward you have the guardrail higher than you all the way - plus you're probably crouching or even kneeling so the hand holds on the coach roof are still easily getatable.

Geoff

 

[Guest]

Send somebody else

 

[Twister_Ken]

Uphill

Uphill side every time. Apart from the other reasons given, on the downhill side, if a wave comes aboard it might well take your feet away, which could be the start of an 'incident' (as they're described on London Blunderground).

If you need to get to the downhill side, go uphill around the mast and come back, staying clipped on uphill, or reclip to the mast itself.

 

[Forbsie]

I fell off while gybing the spinnaker and grabbed the shroud on the way, took all the skin off my palm. /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

Always wore gloves after that.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/forbsie>My Project Pics</A>

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Re: What think?

you wanna be windward in case they have to let fly the sheets

on a 70ft that is some pressure on those sheets. plus the water on leeward side can floor you.

Come on brain.get this over and i can go back to killing you with beer

 

[Mirelle]

I never thought of the leeward side

I have never imagined that anyone would use the lee side. No visibility, mainsail in the way, wet feet, uphill struggle when you get there....and suppose she gives a lee lurch at the wrong moment....

Weather side every time.

 

[Guest]

Now that is a good point

Every time I nick a finger or burn my palm I promise myself to always wear gloves. But do I?

Geoff

 

[AndrewB]

Oggin

Naval slang, said to be a corruption of Hogwash. See the 'Covey Crump' website at http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/378.html.

 

[Viking]

Re: \"Every little helps\"

Has well as the other ressons mentioned in the lists below. On a 30 footer your weight on the windward side is another minor advantage.
"Every little helps" said the old lady as she pee-ed into the sea!

 

[jimi]

Lost the plot!

Surely it depends what you're tring to do! Most of the time it will be on the uphilll side so no problem, but if there's a problem needing fixed on the down hill side surely it makes sense to clamber along down hill, although in reality if you're well heeled and a bit of a sea running you'd probably heave to first. I'd rather go along the downhill side attached to the jackstay and holding onto the appropriate handholds than cross the large flat coachroof.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The large flat coachroof.

Ah well, I don't have one of them, just a nice narrow, well cambered one!

 

[jimi]

Re: The large flat coachroof.

Surely the words "nice" and "well" are subjective circumstancial judgements! In a short sharp Solent chop that the Twister copes with reasonably well it may be useful in allowed the large quantities of water you collect to drain away, However whilst basking peacefully in the sun surrounded by admiring women a bit more space is often appropriate,