Missing sailor

[ridgy]

This is sad. It reminds me of my near-misses that might have been a miss on a different day.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/dorset/3848999.stm>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/dorset/3848999.stm</A>

Anyone familiar with the guy or his boat?


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[dralex]

Tragic story- I have heard lots of arguments along the lines of " if you're well prepared and sensible, you'll not go overboard, so you don't need all this safety equipment etc etc" I have also wondered recently about being on deck alone and whether i should have the handheld VHF , handheld GPS and perhaps even PLB about my person. I realise that stories like this are rare, but this just shows they do happen. I'm not totally sure where the fine line is between being sensible and paranoid about safey, especially single handing. Recently did cross channel in a bit of a blow with my wife below feeding baby- made me think.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[robp]

My standard kit when singlehanding or with 11 year down below asleep, is LJ/Harness, clipped on and W/proof VHF tied to the LJ. Everything else very ready for quick exit, God forbid.

It is very tragic, specially on such a short trip. Sincere condolences.

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[racingron]

Terrible story.

When I've been doing long passages and alone on deck at night, always carry one of those personal strobes (in addition to LJ and harness).

Personal epirb would be a good idea to.

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[dralex]

I agree- consider life jacket and harness as minimum standard when alone on deck. The other arguments I have heard are mainly from my father in law who has sailed forever- I have sailed nearly forever, but am younger, therefore forever is shorter. There seems to be a big divide between the way I feel about having certain technology " just in case", and the way he feels, ie your boat should be so safe that you'll never fall over. Saying that, he has just bought a chart plotter so his wife could get them home if he was injured etc- she loves sailing and is good at it, but never does any of the navigation!

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[bedouin]

When I'm single handing (or alone on deck at night) I always wear a lifejacket and carry an EPIRB (406). That way should I end up in the water I reckon I would have a better than evens chance of surviving.

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[jimi]

Yup, bought an EPIRB for that very reason.

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[dralex]

And us!

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[zefender]

I'm not so sure. According to US Search and Rescue, unconsciousness/exhaustion at 12degC water temp takes place in 1 - 2 hours and death in 1-6hours. Assuming anyone overboard is likely to be injured too, I suspect they would be towards the lower end of these bands. That would require a very fast SAR service if an EPIRB were carried (and incidentally, the wearer managed to be not in such a state of shock to be able to switch it on). Lifelines have to be the best way keeping safe.

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[dralex]

Totally agree, but how far do you take the " just incase" scenarios eg you're clipped on but the eye pulls out etc ( incidentally- on my new boat, the surveyor strongly suggested putting metal plates behind the clip on points ie not just washers).

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[dralex]

Also. mini EPIRBS also use 121.5 MHz, so theoretically, if crew realise helm has gone over, they can put out VHF distress and also use radar on the boat ( if fitted) Do people know if PLBs show up on conventional small boat radar? You're right though- all these have to be activated and therefore rely on being conscious.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[AndrewB]

Clipping on when singlehanded.

Will only be useful if you have a means of getting back on board. Definitely not easy specially if the yacht is doing 5 knots under engine. In some circumstances it might even be worse to be clipped on than not.

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[dralex]

The understanding I have is personal locator beacons transmitting on 121.5 will give an active blip on SAR radar- similar I think to the Racon signals on navigational aids. It shows up on the radar screeen as a succession of dots in a line leading to the casualty. YOu can then follow the dots to the casualty- they get less as you get closer. Mini EPRIBs ( the one I have) transmit on 121.5 and 406MHz. The 121.5MHz signal does not alert anybody, it just points them in the right direction once they know you are out there somewhere. I'm still not sure if the signal will be picked up on civilian radar- anybody know?

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[robp]

Re: Clipping on when singlehanded.

Which is why I suffer the inconvenience and discomfort of doubling back the line so that it's very short. I've considered this in the past and still would prefer to be with the yacht even if it was going to be very difficult getting aboard. If the conditions are anything other than benign, I think very carefully before leaving the cockpit.

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[Roberto]

Re: Clipping on when singlehanded.

agree absolutely, I tried being towed for fun and at just 3.5-4kt it becomes very difficult to breathe, even after turning on one's back, I doubt it would be possible when fully dressed and semi-conscious/shocked

glenans have devised a harness supposed to tow one person from the back, but I have not seen it nor know how it performs



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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[ribrunt]

>>personal locator beacons transmitting on 121.5 will give an active blip on SAR radar
Erm - no it won't. It provides a radio DF source for ALBs or helos once tasked to you - but that's it. You're thinking of a Search And Rescue Transponder - SART - which does the 12 dot thing on most radar sets, SAR or civvy.

>>Mini EPRIBs ( the one I have) transmit on 121.5 and 406MHz.
406Mhz is primary alerting - 121.5 is homing as above.

If you are in the water with a 406Mhz EPIRB - chances are you'll have SAR assets being tasked within a very short time. In the past, alert-to-rescue times have been as low as 1 hour, as the initial fix is accurate to about 3 miles. A GPIRB is accurate to..well the GPS fix..innit!!!

Survival time is 1 hr@ 5deg, 2 hrs @ 10deg, and 6 hours @ 15 deg. This means 50% of healthy, uninjured adults will live (or equally die) for these times. Search times are taken at six times survival time.

Hope this helps

Ribrunt
(Lifeboat crew)

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[dralex]

As I said, I'm not sure-shame I can't set one off at the weekend just to see. Don't think that would go down too well. Could put a new thread on main section and ask. I also agree with being towed behind boats-tried it in the Med in warm water- OK at 2 knots, but if malicious wife hardens up and gets over 3 knots, I tend to submerge, and thats holding onto a fender!

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[dralex]

Thanks for that- useful information.

Alex

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.