Do you leash yourself to an AI/TI ?

After reading some other posts on this board (Hobie Getaway) about parting company with the boat when you're out in the middle of the pond, could you/should you/should you never, tether yourself to the boat ?

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

I use a longboard surf leash as a tether to my Adventure. The ankle cuff is around my upper arm and the leash is behind the seat and then tied to the deck.
Would hate to capsize/get pitched offshore and oddly have my kayak sail away. If I get tangled in the lease just pull the quick release and hold on so the kayak doesn't drift away.

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I think it is a good idea to be attached to the boat in some way.

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Paul, Rebecca & Stephanie

If you are the only one on your boat, or the only one that can handle it well, I would (and I do) leash myself to it with a surfboard leash.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

Thanks for that info.

I was out on my Oasis the other day on a relatively calm and glassy Noosa Bay and my mate fell over showing me how well she can balance standing up.

Anyway, it was interesting seeing how easily the non sail Oasis was blown gently away from her (no...I wasn't pedalling ) as she madly started swimming after me.

Just that combination of underwater tidal movement and an opposing above water breeze.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

thats not a stupid question. losing ones ai when out deep is pretty stupid, though. my advice would be to know the conditions to be expected, and any potential changes in the weather over the duration of your planned sail. dress correctly, and carry extra as required, take a life jacket and wear it when in stronger winds, as very little happens fast in light winds and it could easily be donned as required. lash it down when not wearing it. i carry a surfboard leash inside the hull. again, when conditions dictate, i attach it to my aka bearer and attach it to myself. when sailing in light winds everything is very managable and stable, and bar having a heart attack or being run over, safe. just having extra kit handy and knowing when to use it should see you sailing safely.

Thanks T Wet, all very good sound advice.

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Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

As a long-time sea kayaker, I'm very nervous about tethering myself to an AI. Suggestions people have made here are good. Unfortunately, there is probably little real (falling out tethered) experience in this area. There is little doubt that, if you fall out and do not hang on to your boat, it is going on w/o you very quickly!

Are there any other solutions to this potential problem other than tethering? I am thinking along the lines of having a throw rope (like used by whitewater kayakers) w/ one end attached to the boat and the bag containing the bulk of the rope tied to you. The rope would not actually be tied to you so, if you fell out, you would have to grab the rope as it unthreaded itself from the bag.

Keith

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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

Keith, you must have thought of this in Key largo last week. Having forgotten my vest, when the winds in front of the cloud bank got over 20, it certainly crossed my mind. The kayak throw rope is not a bad idea. It would be like running a safety rope behind the kayak, but without the drag. I have a kayak tow rope about 10' in length to use as a tether on the mono hull, but never actually used it. Seems like, if you had the tramps installed, it would be very difficult to fall out of the boat.

Ted

One other clarification, it's never advisable to be leashed or tethered while launching or landing.

The best safety (in my opinion) overall is numbers. Best would be sailing in 3's or 4's - two to three others you trust your safety with. In Maui we try to do both, sailing together, and leashing when the wind waves get larger than 3-4 feet.

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006

I'm not about to test this for you Keith, but "theoretically" tying yourself off to the bow (or outer Aka) should turn the boat toward you or perhaps the wind, your drag will slow it VERY quickly, and because the leash is short, so you would not have far to go to pull yourself back to the boat. I wear it on my left wrist.

As a water rat, I'm not too concerned about being dragged to my death by a 5mph kayak.

Hopefully, I won't be dragged over razor sharp coral at the time, through a hammerhead breeding ground.

There are too many leashes and lines on my boat already so I hate to put on another one. But I guess I deserve the same respect as a $150 rod and reel. The only times I would tether would be for solo sailing or fishing in 3ft+ seas or transiting surf zones.

Or maybe hooking a marlin.

Next time I have a passenger on the tramps, I promise to toss her overboard, for the sake of science.

Till then,.

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

I can say how I might like to fall off my AI, but when accidents happen they (1) happen when least expected, (2) they happen fast, and (3) they almost always happen in ways you least expect. A short tether to the bow of the boat would be one of the most dangerous situations in my mind.

An example of an unexpected accident happened to a friend of mine. She was out fishing from a sit-on-top kayak. A medium sized sting ray jumped out of the water and struck her in the head knocking her off her boat. She survived w/ a sore neck and minor bruises.

Stay safe Nohuhu.

Keith

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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

A few years ago, I tried to get over a large breaking wave coming toward me. It stood the AI straight up and flipped it over backwards. The idea of the boat and the wave coming down on me was not a good one. All I wanted to do was get separation from the boat as I went over backwards. I wasn't tied to the boat then and I think it kept me from being seriously injured.

Now, if conditions warrant a tether, I usually read a book.

That doesn't sound like fun.

But if the boat turns on you, you could easily get tied up in the lines, or tramps, or sail as well. At least the AI won't be getting away from you (while it's upside down).

I carry a knife w/ serrated blade on me, should I need to cut the umbilical chord (or wrestle sea monsters).

DRG, you must REALLY be comfortable on the water. I always get seasick trying to read out there!

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

All my surfboard leashed are kept coiled up with the coil in a soda (or beer) can cousy.


It releases easily with a light pull on the leash, and mine are 9' long so it shouldn't stop me from getting out of the way.

If you study kayaking fatalities, going out alone, and being separated from your boat seem to be major factors. A great book (not completely related, but relevant) is Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble. A recommended read for kayakers (and kayak sailors).



http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Kayakers-Deep-Trouble-Magazine/dp/0070084998

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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006