Foolish Muse
Member
http://www.xssailing.com/article/boat-skipper/
A few weeks ago long time sailor and singlehander Brian Hancock wrote a lengthy article in which he lectures AGAINST the use of harnesses for singlehanders: This time it’s about the use of life harnesses. Yup as you might imagine I am not really big on them. I think that they give sailors a false sense of security. I have always been a “one hand for the task, one hand for the boat” kind of guy. Knowing that you are not clipped on heightens your awareness. Makes you super sensitive to your surroundings.
See: http://sailinganarchy.com/2016/09/16/death-threat-anyone/ for the full article.
Guo Chaun has set a tragic example for all singlehanders. The weather he faced was nothing special, but he fell off none the less.
In my singlehanded tips book I clearly make the point in favor of harnesses. I'll tell you right now that I've gone singlehanding more than 1,000 times including some 300 races. I have worn my harness every single one of those times. In my book I tell the tale of a Mini sailor who fell overboard near France while working on the bow. He readily admits that even though it took him 10 hard minutes to climb back on board, his harness was the only thing that saved him from certain death. In fact he had to puncture his PFD to get between the lifelines.
I strongly believe that a singlehander will not fall overboard in a storm, where he is being extra careful about every single movement and crawling to the bow. Rather, he will fall overboard on a nothing day, when the winds are normal and the seas are normal, but he just lets his guard down for 1/2 a second or slips on a rope underfoot. Nobody can be 100% careful 100% of the time, especially a singlehander facing lack of sleep. A harness is the only thing between our boat the deep blue sea.
Fair winds and following seas in your next great adventure Guo Chaun.
A few weeks ago long time sailor and singlehander Brian Hancock wrote a lengthy article in which he lectures AGAINST the use of harnesses for singlehanders: This time it’s about the use of life harnesses. Yup as you might imagine I am not really big on them. I think that they give sailors a false sense of security. I have always been a “one hand for the task, one hand for the boat” kind of guy. Knowing that you are not clipped on heightens your awareness. Makes you super sensitive to your surroundings.
See: http://sailinganarchy.com/2016/09/16/death-threat-anyone/ for the full article.
Guo Chaun has set a tragic example for all singlehanders. The weather he faced was nothing special, but he fell off none the less.
In my singlehanded tips book I clearly make the point in favor of harnesses. I'll tell you right now that I've gone singlehanding more than 1,000 times including some 300 races. I have worn my harness every single one of those times. In my book I tell the tale of a Mini sailor who fell overboard near France while working on the bow. He readily admits that even though it took him 10 hard minutes to climb back on board, his harness was the only thing that saved him from certain death. In fact he had to puncture his PFD to get between the lifelines.
I strongly believe that a singlehander will not fall overboard in a storm, where he is being extra careful about every single movement and crawling to the bow. Rather, he will fall overboard on a nothing day, when the winds are normal and the seas are normal, but he just lets his guard down for 1/2 a second or slips on a rope underfoot. Nobody can be 100% careful 100% of the time, especially a singlehander facing lack of sleep. A harness is the only thing between our boat the deep blue sea.
Fair winds and following seas in your next great adventure Guo Chaun.