Rather odd MOB

[Sandyman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22348416

Did he jump or was he pushed ? Seems odd to me. Could just be the way the story has been reported.

 

[prv]

Not sure what's supposed to be odd about it. He fell overboard, she didn't know enough about sailing to get back to him, she called (satphone?) for help. They've retrieved her and are (or were) still looking for him.

Obviously it's possible that all kinds of things may have happened, from him going mad and jumping overboard, to her stabbing him and pushing him in, but I can't see anything in the story to suggest anything beyond the face value.

I reckon just as many people fall overboard in average conditions as in storms, as you hold on tighter when it's rough.

Pete

 

[ChrisE]

They (the USCG) are now saying that it was 25knots and 2 metre waves. Easy enough to lose your balance and go flying.

A sorry tale regardless of the cause.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

A sad story indeed. Many of us are in a similar position: we sail with our spouse or partner, and many of said spouses and parners don't have the skills or the strength to recover a MOB. I think my wife could keep our boat in my vicinity if I went overboard, but she would stand no chance of getting me back aboard. Hence our rule that we clip on most of the time, and always when not in the cockpit.

Did anyone else smile at the idea of the USCG crew "switching the boat's navigation lights on"? How long did they think the batteries would last?!

 

[fireball]

Did anyone else smile at the idea of the USCG crew "switching the boat's navigation lights on"? How long did they think the batteries would last?!

Depends if they are LED nav lights and if there is wind and or solar generation going on....

 

[TQA]

A sad story indeed. Many of us are in a similar position: we sail with our spouse or partner, and many of said spouses and parners don't have the skills or the strength to recover a MOB. I think my wife could keep our boat in my vicinity if I went overboard, but she would stand no chance of getting me back aboard. Hence our rule that we clip on most of the time, and always when not in the cockpit.

Did anyone else smile at the idea of the USCG crew "switching the boat's navigation lights on"? How long did they think the batteries would last?!

They were in the middle of the Pacific, 2 up, she must have had some idea about sailing. However if they were in downwind mode with poles and preventers it can take a while to get things sorted out and turn around.

Re the lights given where they were and what they were doing either solar or a wind genny is pretty likely.

I wonder if like Windigo she will make it across and finish up on an Oz beach with the lights still burning.

 

[maby]

A reminder of the value of PLBs.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

They were in the middle of the Pacific, 2 up, she must have had some idea about sailing. However if they were in downwind mode with poles and preventers it can take a while to get things sorted out and turn around.

The news articles make a point of saying she was inexperienced. Obviously she could probably handle routine tasks like steering - though on an ocean crossing, they presumably relied on some form of self-steering, so she may not have had much actual time at the helm. I'd guess it is like our boat - I do most of the sailing; my wife relies on me telling her what needs doing, usually in terms like "release that rope, then pull in that one".

Point taken about wind and solar generation!