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)