[Rhodes22-list] Beer Overboard

[Bill Effros]

Rummy,

Up here hypothermia is always an issue.  The water rarely goes above 75 
degrees, and it can quickly sap your strength, especially if you start 
to panic.  I've been in this water from a capsized Sunfish in September, 
and lived.  But I thought about dying, while I was in the water, if I 
had been unable to right the Sunfish and get back on board with my 
soaking wet clothing.  Then I had to get back to shore before I got so 
cold I could not recover from it.

I have also saved a kayaker's life in the middle of the summer on a 
beautiful 85 degree day.  He had capsized, surrounded by other kayakers, 
and was unable to right his boat and climb back in.  They were watching 
helplessly, as he righted his boat, and then capsized it again in an 
effort to climb in.  Anyone who tried to help was also nearly capsized 
as his panic grew, and his strength waned.

When I realized they weren't just fooling around, I anchored upwind, 
drifted down toward him, and threw him a line to pull him to my swim 
ladder.  He barely had the strength to climb aboard.  I gave him 
clothing and towels and took him back to shore.  His friends towed his 
Kayak back, and took him to the hospital.

I have whistles attached to all my life vests.  I carry only the bright 
orange life vests.  I put Solas reflecting strips on them.  I keep them 
under the cockpit seats, and make sure that everyone knows where they 
are, and starts throwing them overboard as soon as anyone notices 
someone is missing.  I tell people to learn to keep an eye on the 
floating life vests because they just disappear if you don't know where 
to look.

In a Rhodes 22 I always "drop" sails after starting my trusty Tohatsu in 
emergency situations.  This is standard operating procedure for me, and 
it is always the best way to handle an emergency in my boat.  I tell 
others on board how to do it, too, so I will at least have a chance of 
being rescued, should I be the one to fall overboard.

I've read lots of stories written by the non-sailing spouse who watched 
the sailor drown because he/she didn't know how to get the boat close 
enough for a rescue.  Apparently, it's something people don't soon forget.

Bill Effros

R22RumRunner at aol.com wrote:
> Slimmy,
> It is a drink holder attached to his life vest. I believe there is a straw  
> from which he can get a sip whenever he wants. Past experience with my Hobie  
> tells me this is a brilliant device.
>  
> Bill,
> Practicing the MOB drill is very important. We have a rule on Rum Runner  
> that should anyone ever go overboard, the next thing done is to throw a cockpit  
> cushion towards the individual. This eliminates the need for a hasty recovery, 
>  unless you happen to be in cold water where hypothermia becomes an issue. 
> With a  good floating device in the water, you can take your time coming back to 
> the  MOB, even dropping sails and motoring over to them. It would also give 
> them some  time to get over how stupid they were in the first place for going 
> overboard,  unless of course, they have been drinking massive quantities of 
> rum, which is a  legal excuse anywhere. IMHO.
>  
> Rummy
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