Sea survival recovery

[runswick2000]

I think that this is the most important advice.

Mayday as soon as possible.

Even if you are certain that you can sort things out yourself. Better to make the Mayday call then cancel it than build in a delay to the emergency services reponse by putting it off.

I've been in the situation of a MOB from a lifeboat and the first thing that was done bythe navigator was make a MAYDAY call. It was in due course cancelled but was certainly the right response.

 

[WoodyP]

Terry,
A quick look at google came up with this link
http://www.answers.com/topic/block-and-tackle
Basically, I think it is saying if we take a weight of 17 stone that is 238 lbs. If you can pull 40 lbs comfortably you will need a mechanical advantage of 6 times to raise it. So 2 x triple pulleys. To raise this 8 feet you will need 8x6= 48 feet of rope around the pulleys, plus the drop and the length to the handler. How about a bit of trial and error, without too long a drop please.

 

[WoodyP]

John,
I fully agree with calling for help, but 500 miles from land is going to be a long wait for the cavalry. The rationale behind calling first is that they will be on the way while you(me ) are pratting about with danbouys, floats, MOB position on the plotter, crash tacking and generally doing everything that seems sensible at the time.
In reality, the dinghy will be in its bag in a locker, the cavalry will be 2 days away, the person asleep below will have heard the MOB alarm go off and blearily go up to find no one at the helm/or on watch.
The concensus to make sure you don't go over - hooked on with a short strop, seems the best defence to me, and one that I fully intend to follow.
Cheers,
G.

 

[ccscott49]

Totally agree, short strop to boat, no chance of falling over the side.

 

[runswick2000]

Hmmm, 2 issues really. You are very right, best not to fallover in the first place, the best way to prevent that? Hook on.

However, once someone has gone over the side, the sooner the cavalry are called, the sooner they arrive. In a sense it doesn't matter how far off shore you are, ask Tony bullimore and the likes.

jg