Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents)

3 messages2008-01-10 16:15 UTCthrough 2008-01-11 12:09 UTC

Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents)

Donald Dutton2008-01-10 16:15 UTC

Back when we were in the warm, swimmable waters of the Gulf Coast, we always deployed our horseshoe float on a 50 foot floating line off the stern while swimming. No one was allowed to go past the bright yellow float and if they drifted that far, they could grab the line and pull themselves back toward the boat. This had the added advantage that the line for the horseshoe was always freshly stowed and guaranteed to deploy well should it ever be needed in a man overboard. In 21 years of owning our boat, we have never had a man overboard, but we still practice a drill for it once a year. We were sailing in a race in Houston on J24's in 25+ knots when another boat lost a crewman overboard. He had those heavy deck boots on and foul weather gear, but no life jacket. On the third pass at trying to pick him up, he disappeared below the surface for the last time. They recovered his body before the end of the race. I have never raced without a life jacket since! I now have one of the inflatables that you can hardly tell you are wearing. I did have a child fall off our Flying Scot in Florida once. She had a life jacket with a handle behind the neck. I saw her fall in, pinched the boat up, grabbed the handle with my right hand, swung her in the boat, bore off and continued sailing as if nothing had happened. She just giggled and thought it was fun! Don Dutton, 1986 Cal33, "Quantum Evolution" From: Alfred Poor <ap… [at] bellatlantic.net> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:59:28 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents) On our boat, I generally stand watch for swimmers when we’re not anchored. I’m often viewed as a party pooper, but I think it’s just prudent, whether or not the sails are still up. We also use a long floating (polysomething) line with a sizable monkey’s paw at the end that we trail out behind the boat, if the boat is not at anchor, or if it is and there is any current running. The rule is that you do not let yourself drift past the end of that rope. It reduces the chances that we will have to go retrieve a swimmer. Alfred (remote on my laptop, and I don’t have my sigs stored on this)

Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (Alfred)

Gerald Sobel2008-01-11 06:44 UTC

Alfred, I would suggest that if anyone go overboard with heavy boots on, that they immediately eject them. To get any propulsion out of your legs you need to be able to point and flex your feet at the ankles. Anyway, I think thats the case. Maybe I need to take my rubber boots down the pool and try this out. Perhaps those boots would keep your feet warm it you had an adequate PFD and didn't need to go far, or the water was extra cold and a rescue wasn't at hand. I think the big problem is many people panic when the land in the water, and try to hold their head high out of the water, perhaps both their head and arm(s), and this pushes them under, the head being the heaviest part of the body. Keeping your lungs inflated with air gives you positive buoyancy; exhale and inhale quickly to keep your lungs inflated and when possible keep your head immersed. Then,the biggest danger of course, is hypothermia. Heck, maybe it's a good idea to practice immersing in a pool fully outfitted, with help at hand, so if the worst happens, you'd know what to do and what not to do. It's something we did in the Navy, practice getting out of a mock cockpit upsidedown, and getting out of a parachute harness while being towed at 3+ knots behind and LST. Any kind of practice would dampen the panic factor. Jerry --- On Thu, 1/10/08, Donald Dutton <dn… [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Donald Dutton <dn… [at] sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008, 8:15 AM Back when we were in the warm, swimmable waters of the Gulf Coast, we always deployed our horseshoe float on a 50 foot floating line off the stern while swimming. No one was allowed to go past the bright yellow float and if they drifted that far, they could grab the line and pull themselves back toward the boat. This had the added advantage that the line for the horseshoe was always freshly stowed and guaranteed to deploy well should it ever be needed in a man overboard. In 21 years of owning our boat, we have never had a man overboard, but we still practice a drill for it once a year. We were sailing in a race in Houston on J24's in 25+ knots when another boat lost a crewman overboard. He had those heavy deck boots on and foul weather gear, but no life jacket. On the third pass at trying to pick him up, he disappeared below the surface for the last time. They recovered his body before the end of the race. I have never raced without a life jacket since! I now have one of the inflatables that you can hardly tell you are wearing. I did have a child fall off our Flying Scot in Florida once. She had a life jacket with a handle behind the neck. I saw her fall in, pinched the boat up, grabbed the handle with my right hand, swung her in the boat, bore off and continued sailing as if nothing had happened. She just giggled and thought it was fun! Don Dutton, 1986 Cal33, "Quantum Evolution" From: Alfred Poor <apoor@bellatlantic. net> To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:59:28 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents) On our boat, I generally stand watch for swimmers when we’re not anchored. I’m often viewed as a party pooper, but I think it’s just prudent, whether or not the sails are still up. We also use a long floating ( polysomething ) line with a sizable monkey’s paw at the end that we trail out behind the boat, if the boat is not at anchor, or if it is and there is any current running. The rule is that you do not let yourself drift past the end of that rope. It reduces the chances that we will have to go retrieve a swimmer. Alfred (remote on my laptop, and I don’t have my sigs stored on this)

RE: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (Alfred)

Downing, Thomas2008-01-11 12:09 UTC

I believe the usual recommendation is to keep all clothing, including boots, on. You aren't going to be able to catch a boat under way by swimming, so it's best to conserve body heat. Good point about not trying to keep your head up. Bottom line - take appropriate precautions - pfd, strobe, whistle, etc. td From: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com [mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Gerald Sobel Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 1:45 AM To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (Alfred) Alfred, I would suggest that if anyone go overboard with heavy boots on, that they immediately eject them. To get any propulsion out of your legs you need to be able to point and flex your feet at the ankles. Anyway, I think thats the case. Maybe I need to take my rubber boots down the pool and try this out. Perhaps those boots would keep your feet warm it you had an adequate PFD and didn't need to go far, or the water was extra cold and a rescue wasn't at hand. I think the big problem is many people panic when the land in the water, and try to hold their head high out of the water, perhaps both their head and arm(s), and this pushes them under, the head being the heaviest part of the body. Keeping your lungs inflated with air gives you positive buoyancy; exhale and inhale quickly to keep your lungs inflated and when possible keep your head immersed. Then,the biggest danger of course, is hypothermia. Heck, maybe it's a good idea to practice immersing in a pool fully outfitted, with help at hand, so if the worst happens, you'd know what to do and what not to do. It's something we did in the Navy, practice getting out of a mock cockpit upsidedown, and getting out of a parachute harness while being towed at 3+ knots behind and LST. Any kind of practice would dampen the panic factor. Jerry --- On Thu, 1/10/08, Donald Dutton <dn… [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Donald Dutton <dn… [at] sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008, 8:15 AM Back when we were in the warm, swimmable waters of the Gulf Coast, we always deployed our horseshoe float on a 50 foot floating line off the stern while swimming. No one was allowed to go past the bright yellow float and if they drifted that far, they could grab the line and pull themselves back toward the boat. This had the added advantage that the line for the horseshoe was always freshly stowed and guaranteed to deploy well should it ever be needed in a man overboard. In 21 years of owning our boat, we have never had a man overboard, but we still practice a drill for it once a year. We were sailing in a race in Houston on J24's in 25+ knots when another boat lost a crewman overboard. He had those heavy deck boots on and foul weather gear, but no life jacket. On the third pass at trying to pick him up, he disappeared below the surface for the last time. They recovered his body before the end of the race. I have never raced without a life jacket since! I now have one of the inflatables that you can hardly tell you are wearing. I did have a child fall off our Flying Scot in Florida once. She had a life jacket with a handle behind the neck. I saw her fall in, pinched the boat up, grabbed the handle with my right hand, swung her in the boat, bore off and continued sailing as if nothing had happened. She just giggled and thought it was fun! Don Dutton, 1986 Cal33, "Quantum Evolution" From: Alfred Poor <apoor@bellatlantic. net> To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:59:28 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Swimming (was Re: Pacific currents) On our boat, I generally stand watch for swimmers when we’re not anchored. I’m often viewed as a party pooper, but I think it’s just prudent, whether or not the sails are still up. We also use a long floating (polysomething) line with a sizable monkey’s paw at the end that we trail out behind the boat, if the boat is not at anchor, or if it is and there is any current running. The rule is that you do not let yourself drift past the end of that rope. It reduces the chances that we will have to go retrieve a swimmer. Alfred (remote on my laptop, and I don’t have my sigs stored on this) DISCLAIMER: Important Notice ************************************************* This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. 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