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The Fatal Statistics
The sad fact is that almost half of all crew overboard incidences result in a fatality. According to United States Coast Guard statistics, more than 2500 crew overboard incidences occurred during the five-year period from 2001 through 2005. Of those occurrences, nearly a thousand resulted in drowning. That's too many lost lives.
Among survivors, almost 90% were injured. Let us not take a liaise faire attitude toward falling in the water. The results are likely to be far worse than just getting wet.
For cruising couples, the potential consequences require more than just our attention; they demand our active involvement in preparing, practicing and implementing a comprehensive plan of action to master crew overboard situations for any sea state, any weather condition, any point of sail.
So as you plan that sabbatical, in addition to insuring you have adequate spares, tools, provisions and medicines, you must also include the equipment and time necessary to be ready in case your mate goes in the water. Because if it happens, you are the only
hope he or she has.
The Existing Methods
Virtually all crew overboard methods now taught assume a crew of three or more. Someone is appointed a spotter. Someone counts boat lengths. Someone handles sails through the maneuver. That’s a lot of someones.Yet the vast majority of cruising is done with a crew of two (over 90%). It’s you and your sweetheart. And if one of you goes overboard, it’s up to the one person left aboard to manage a recovery. If you can’t do it, your boatmate will likely drown.
So how do you adapt the existing methods to effect a recovery by yourself? Who keeps sight your sweetheart while you put the boat through a COB maneuver?
That’s what this blog is about.
Absolutely not! The existing methods were developed after years of research and testing. They should be rehearsed on any boat you sail, with all your crew, so any one at the helm is competent to execute each method.
The Couples Only Approach
This blog is for cruising couples. It addresses real situations with tested methods developed for use by a crew of two, one of whom is overboard when a recovery is needed.
The recovery methods explained here are adaptations of the methods taught by US Sailing and American Sailing Association, designed to simplify or modify the techniques, so that one person can actually do it all, with practice.
“With practice.” I cannot emphasize this point enough. Having this book sitting on your shelf is not enough. Having it on your boat is not enough. Having read it once is not enough. It must be read, understood fully, and practiced on YOUR BOAT. Many times. Every boat is different. Even these methods, adapted from the US Sailing and ASA techniques, might need to be further adapted for use on your boat. Only study and practice will reveal which adaptations work best for you.
Next time: sharpen your skills ladies (and gentlemen). You'll need them.
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