That self-rescue discussion, and haul-out time

While sailing my other boat on Sunday I saw another sailor using two of the ideas we had discussed for self-rescue: a towed line and loops for climbing back aboard. They were combined in one. He was towing a line with some sort of white float at the end (probably a fender). There were two loops tied in just outboard of where the line was secured on the boat. He was single-handing and looked a lot younger than I am (more and more people are). And this was in a warm-water body, Lake Huron's shallow Saginaw Bay. I can see that at speed, pulling yourself back to the boat would be difficult. But a boat with a weight at the end of a line astern isn't likely to keep sailing at speed indefinitely. It'll head up, probably. The fender would give a way of holding on even if the speed was up and hands were slipping along the line. The loops near the boat would aid in climbing aboard. Or so the theory goes. It was interesting to see the concept deployed, if not in active use. And on a sad note, the last sail of Cal 20 #1220 for this season was last night. I moved my haul date up to Thursday (had been next week) because the weather forecast was better for this week, and frankly, I'd rather unrig and haul when it's nice than when it's nasty. We always seem to get a bit of residue from the southern storms at this time of year and next week's forecast was mostly for rain. Most of my sailing is after work, and the days are getting too short to leave sailing time. So last night I had a good sail under main & genoa, then removed the mainsail and boom. Tonight a neighbor helps me drop the mast, and tomorrow a.m. I'll power up to the travel hoist slip and out she comes. Chris Campbell

Personally, I think it sends a false sense of security. On a cal 20 you would be better off investing in a roller fuller and lazy jacks and the strong system for the main so you never have to go forward or leave the cockpit. On my cal 29, if I ever get enough money, I will install harken mid range tracks on the cabin top to I can hook in w a short leash and walk to the mast. Falling over would not be possible w that system if hooked in. East coast cal 29 sailor > On Sep 13, 2017, at 11:09 AM, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: > > While sailing my other boat on Sunday I saw another sailor using two of > the ideas we had discussed for self-rescue: a towed line and loops for > climbing back aboard. They were combined in one. He was towing a line > with some sort of white float at the end (probably a fender). There > were two loops tied in just outboard of where the line was secured on > the boat. He was single-handing and looked a lot younger than I am > (more and more people are). And this was in a warm-water body, Lake > Huron's shallow Saginaw Bay. > > I can see that at speed, pulling yourself back to the boat would be > difficult. But a boat with a weight at the end of a line astern isn't > likely to keep sailing at speed indefinitely. It'll head up, probably. > The fender would give a way of holding on even if the speed was up and > hands were slipping along the line. The loops near the boat would aid > in climbing aboard. Or so the theory goes. It was interesting to see > the concept deployed, if not in active use. > > And on a sad note, the last sail of Cal 20 #1220 for this season was > last night. I moved my haul date up to Thursday (had been next week) > because the weather forecast was better for this week, and frankly, I'd > rather unrig and haul when it's nice than when it's nasty. We always > seem to get a bit of residue from the southern storms at this time of > year and next week's forecast was mostly for rain. Most of my sailing is > after work, and the days are getting too short to leave sailing time. > So last night I had a good sail under main & genoa, then removed the > mainsail and boom. Tonight a neighbor helps me drop the mast, and > tomorrow a.m. I'll power up to the travel hoist slip and out she comes. > > Chris Campbell > >

Season ends so soon in your neck of the woods. We're getting thunder and lightning here in Monterey and SF bays the last few days. But I just flashed on your description of hands sliding down that rope. Yikes, rope burn and maybe that blob at the end of the line doesn't hold. If there was a way to douse the sheets and pull the tiller . Getting silly now, but a second line fed back through loops, maybe...I 've read a few sad stories. The conscience level raised here in these discussions is great for a reality check. We usually try to avoid negative thoughts when we hit the water. The personal locator beacon is excellent, a strong whistle attached to life jacket can aid others looking for you. We need to consider weather and our abilities. Let others know where you plan to be. If you have a sailing partner, have them take a skipper-saver class. Practice man (Or object)-overboard drills. Helen Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 7:09 PM, Jim Englert sa… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Personally, I think it sends a false sense of security. On a cal 20 you would be better off investing in a roller fuller and lazy jacks and the strong system for the main so you never have to go forward or leave the cockpit. On my cal 29, if I ever get enough money, I will install harken mid range tracks on the cabin top to I can hook in w a short leash and walk to the mast. Falling over would not be possible w that system if hooked in. East coast cal 29 sailor On Sep 13, 2017, at 11:09 AM, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: While sailing my other boat on Sunday I saw another sailor using two of the ideas we had discussed for self-rescue: a towed line and loops for climbing back aboard. They were combined in one. He was towing a line with some sort of white float at the end (probably a fender). There were two loops tied in just outboard of where the line was secured on the boat. He was single-handing and looked a lot younger than I am (more and more people are). And this was in a warm-water body, Lake Huron's shallow Saginaw Bay. I can see that at speed, pulling yourself back to the boat would be difficult. But a boat with a weight at the end of a line astern isn't likely to keep sailing at speed indefinitely. It'll head up, probably. The fender would give a way of holding on even if the speed was up and hands were slipping along the line. The loops near the boat would aid in climbing aboard. Or so the theory goes. It was interesting to see the concept deployed, if not in active use. And on a sad note, the last sail of Cal 20 #1220 for this season was last night. I moved my haul date up to Thursday (had been next week) because the weather forecast was better for this week, and frankly, I'd rather unrig and haul when it's nice than when it's nasty. We always seem to get a bit of residue from the southern storms at this time of year and next week's forecast was mostly for rain. Most of my sailing is after work, and the days are getting too short to leave sailing time. So last night I had a good sail under main & genoa, then removed the mainsail and boom. Tonight a neighbor helps me drop the mast, and tomorrow a.m. I'll power up to the travel hoist slip and out she comes. Chris Campbell On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 7:09 PM, Jim Englert sa… [at] gmail.com [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: Personally, I think it sends a false sense of security. On a cal 20 you would be better off investing in a roller fuller and lazy jacks and the strong system for the main so you never have to go forward or leave the cockpit. On my cal 29, if I ever get enough money, I will install harken mid range tracks on the cabin top to I can hook in w a short leash and walk to the mast. Falling over would not be possible w that system if hooked in. East coast cal 29 sailor On Sep 13, 2017, at 11:09 AM, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats] <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: While sailing my other boat on Sunday I saw another sailor using two of the ideas we had discussed for self-rescue: a towed line and loops for climbing back aboard. They were combined in one. He was towing a line with some sort of white float at the end (probably a fender). There were two loops tied in just outboard of where the line was secured on the boat. He was single-handing and looked a lot younger than I am (more and more people are). And this was in a warm-water body, Lake Huron's shallow Saginaw Bay. I can see that at speed, pulling yourself back to the boat would be difficult. But a boat with a weight at the end of a line astern isn't likely to keep sailing at speed indefinitely. It'll head up, probably. The fender would give a way of holding on even if the speed was up and hands were slipping along the line. The loops near the boat would aid in climbing aboard. Or so the theory goes. It was interesting to see the concept deployed, if not in active use. And on a sad note, the last sail of Cal 20 #1220 for this season was last night. I moved my haul date up to Thursday (had been next week) because the weather forecast was better for this week, and frankly, I'd rather unrig and haul when it's nice than when it's nasty. We always seem to get a bit of residue from the southern storms at this time of year and next week's forecast was mostly for rain. Most of my sailing is after work, and the days are getting too short to leave sailing time. So last night I had a good sail under main & genoa, then removed the mainsail and boom. Tonight a neighbor helps me drop the mast, and tomorrow a.m. I'll power up to the travel hoist slip and out she comes. Chris Campbell

On 9/13/2017 11:01 PM, Helen Horn he… [at] sbcglobal.net [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > Season ends so soon in your neck of the woods. We're getting thunder > and lightning here in Monterey and SF bays the last few days. But I > just flashed on your description of hands sliding down that rope. > Yikes, rope burn and maybe that blob at the end of the line doesn't > hold. If there was a way to douse the sheets and pull the tiller . > Getting silly now, but a second line fed back through loops, maybe...I > 've read a few sad stories. The conscience level raised here in these > discussions is great for a reality check. Well, the boat came out today. The mast came down last night and this morning I went aboard at about 8:30 and wiped the dew off, then powered up to the marina in comfortable temps--about 65 degrees and light wind. While waiting for my turn I was chatting with a friend, a licensed captain and astute sailor, about the line-towing idea. He said that his brother in law had jumped overboard holding a line just to see what happened. He was dragged through the water and it didn't affect the boat much. Of course, somebody was at the helm and keeping the boat sailing, and I'll bet the line wasn't very long. I still favor the trailing-line-and-footloops idea for those days when the full harness-and-jackline concept isn't justified. If I were way offshore or in bad weather I'd be more cautious, but on a nice summer day in near-shore conditions I'm just not going to do it. That's the reality right now. So the question is whether it might be appropriate to have some less burdensome option. I am lucky to be sailing in fresh water and in water that tends to warm in the summer. And call me stubborn, but on my little boats I like my hanked-on jibs. They're simple & inexpensive & functional. They make me feel like a sailor. While I waited at the marina the boat hauler was pulling the mast on a 40-something foot BeneCondo. Lots of work, and that big furler and foil had to be harnessed. Chris Campbell TC

We still like to hank on jibs on our cal 36, and drive with a tiller. It is kind of hard on the knee caps of the crew as it goes almost to the bridgedeck. With the aft traveler the crew doesn't have a nice seat there either. One of these days....a plus for a smaller boat, less crew needed, more opportunities to sail. Helen Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Thu, Sep 14, 2017 at 8:46 AM, ccampbell cc… [at] lsnm.org [Cal_Boats]<Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> wrote: On 9/13/2017 11:01 PM, Helen Horn he… [at] sbcglobal.net [Cal_Boats] wrote: Season ends so soon in your neck of the woods. We're getting thunder and lightning here in Monterey and SF bays the last few days. But I just flashed on your description of hands sliding down that rope. Yikes, rope burn and maybe that blob at the end of the line doesn't hold. If there was a way to douse the sheets and pull the tiller . Getting silly now, but a second line fed back through loops, maybe...I 've read a few sad stories. The conscience level raised here in these discussions is great for a reality check. Well, the boat came out today. The mast came down last night and this morning I went aboard at about 8:30 and wiped the dew off, then powered up to the marina in comfortable temps--about 65 degrees and light wind. While waiting for my turn I was chatting with a friend, a licensed captain and astute sailor, about the line-towing idea. He said that his brother in law had jumped overboard holding a line just to see what happened. He was dragged through the water and it didn't affect the boat much. Of course, somebody was at the helm and keeping the boat sailing, and I'll bet the line wasn't very long. I still favor the trailing-line-and-footloops idea for those days when the full harness-and-jackline concept isn't justified. If I were way offshore or in bad weather I'd be more cautious, but on a nice summer day in near-shore conditions I'm just not going to do it. That's the reality right now. So the question is whether it might be appropriate to have some less burdensome option. I am lucky to be sailing in fresh water and in water that tends to warm in the summer. And call me stubborn, but on my little boats I like my hanked-on jibs. They're simple & inexpensive & functional. They make me feel like a sailor. While I waited at the marina the boat hauler was pulling the mast on a 40-something foot BeneCondo. Lots of work, and that big furler and foil had to be harnessed. Chris Campbell TC

On 9/14/2017 2:44 PM, Helen Horn he… [at] sbcglobal.net [Cal_Boats] wrote: > > > We still like to hank on jibs on our cal 36, and drive with a tiller. > It is kind of hard on the knee caps of the crew as it goes almost to > the bridgedeck. With the aft traveler the crew doesn't have a nice > seat there either. One of these days....a plus for a smaller boat, > less crew needed, more opportunities to sail. Helen I love the tiller. And I was just making my favorite comment today to the boat hauler, "small boats get sailed more." I always had my Dad as crew but when he became ill I got frustrated about finding crew and learned to single-hand. The boats are small enough that I can do it. Chris Campbell >