Falling off while sailing

Best they could do. They still had a long journey, with his body on board, to think about it.

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

Former Coastguardsman here.

Three simple rules -
1) Always wear a good quality PFD - wear it, not carry it and it should have a whistle (and a light if out after dark)
2) One hand for you and one for the boat - whenever possible
3) When solo or at night, always tether - regardless of the weather/sea conditions

Nothing sadder than to have to fish a sailor out of the sea and return the body to the family knowing that their death could have been easily prevented.

Just my $0.02 and ymmv...

~BoP

Thank you all again for the input. Didnt expect such a discussion but it seems tethering is the way to go, for me anyway.
I think the outer end of an Aka would be best as at least you would in a "worst case/cleated sheet"scenario not just drag behind the boat but rather bring it off the course (which was probably quite good and fast as it made you fall out in the first place)

Hope none of us is ever forced to test this but if any have experiences to share here or are able to test this out with buddies it would be very useful to know what actually happens.

Thanks again all!

_________________
_________________________________________________________
2015 Adventure Island
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-PHLN ... EKefepPXQ/
Blog: http://www.irishrockpoolaquarium.com

WaterTriber JollyRoger (Roger Mann) during his "Race to Alaska," which was a grueling 750 mi race, was washed off his boat once by big waves half way up his mast. He said he was tethered with a surfboard leash and simply climbed back on. If he had not been tethered, his race could have had a very different ending. Roger is going to write up some kind of a trip report, and we will get much more of the nitty gritty details.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Marius, in my feeble mind, getting dragged behind the TI is the best thing that could happen to me.

Watching the unmanned boat cruise away is not.

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

I really think we need someone to jump overboard while sailing (tethered) and see just how fast the Island can keep sailing. My serious guess is complete stop

PS. One could argue that the test is best done alone, as (a) a second person could perform a man overboard action and (b) even if they are incapable of (a), their presence on board would almost double the remaining weight (and momentum) of the Island.

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

I think if you attach your tether to the "outer end of an aka," you will break the aka shear pin if you fall out. Attached that far out doubles the leverage (according to fusioneng) on the aka pin joint. If the winds are up, that will likely result in a capsize. I think most attach the tether on the sturdy xbar.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Agreed Keith. A sudden force applied to the rear of the outer aka will have the same effect as hitting an object with the ama bow.
I've always done what Chrisj mentioned and clipped the mainsheet into a carabiner on my PFD if conditions are a bit iffy.

Hi guys,

What would be worth investigating is a method to automatically pop the mainsheet in the
event of an unplanned exit from the boat. With the sail un-powered, at least the boat won't
speed off into the distance (well, not quite as far!)

I did have a few ideas which use a short length of 3mm VB cord to pop the mainsheet cam-cleat.

A bit like the sailing-equivalent of a kill-switch.

I haven't search online, but I'll bet there's a commercial system that does a similar already out there.

Mike.

have you all ever tried to swim after a drifting kayak?

I have, wearing breathable Caddis waders. I was actually wading the Island around a sandbar as the other side of the sandbar led to a bridge just high enough for my TI to fit through, and the tide was trying to send it at the lower side of the bridge. I fell over in the shallows and lost my grip on the TI's line, so had to swim after it (in panc mode) to save the mast.

Personally, I am 100% for using a tether in ANY circumstances where being separated from the Island could be life-threatening. However, I am certainly not convinced that any modifications are needed to the Island (eg some device to uncleat the mainsheet as Mike has suggested), and would only consider this if someone can convince me that a person on a tether in the water won't work as the ultimate drift anchor, and bring the Island to a stop.

_________________
Tony Stott
2012 Tandem Island "SIC EM" with Hobie spinnaker

I did. Didn't stand a chance. I began thinking crazy stuff, like "If I ditch this lifejacket, I can probably swim 1 knot faster and catch her."

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

I'm wondering if the best place to hook the tether line to might be the mainsheet control line above your head, maybe on a hog ring or a large carabiner that easily allows the two control lines to slip thru. It would easily slide forward and aft if you need to climb around the boat.
I'm sure I am now over thinking everything.

Eduardo shows us the safest way to tether. DIRECTLY TO THE SAIL!

http://youtu.be/3J0NJtJQg1s

_________________
The Wind Is Your Friend...

I am almost certain someone from this forum did that a few years ago (using an AI) and as you say, the result was the boat came quickly to a dead halt.

_________________