Crew Overboard

by Dave and Jaja

Several years ago in South Africa, we met a woman who had set sail across the Mozambique Channel toward Madagascar with her husband. Their boat was around fifty feet long, with very high topsides. In the middle of their passage a storm kicked up and the husband went on deck to reduce sail. He lost his footing and fell overboard, but he was wearing a safety harness and he remained attached to the boat. For several hours his wife tried to get him back on board. The seas were steep and breaking, making it difficult to maneuver. She didn't have the strength or agility to pull him up, and he couldn't get himself aboard, either. He was dragged through the water. The wife radioed for assistance, but by the time help arrived, the husband, who had become exhausted and hypothermic, died. His limp body slipped out of the safety harness and he was lost at sea.

When I think about this story (which is true--it happened in the early 90's) I wonder: "What would I have done? How would I (or Jaja) have pulled this man back on deck? What would I have done differently?".

Getting Someone Back on Board

The most obvious answer for getting someone back on deck is to attach a halyard to the person's safety harness tether and haul away. Problem: Where to attach the halyard? Suppose you can't reach the person who is trailing in the water. That means you will not be able to fasten the halyard directly to their harness. Also, assume they are incapacitated and unable to help. The only place, therefore, to clip on a halyard snap shackle is at the bitter end of the tether--the end attached to the boat. If the tether shackle has a large diameter ring, you can clip the halyard shackle into it. But if an adult is dragging at the end of the tether, the chances are high that you will not be able to release the tether shackle. There will be too much load. The only option, then, is to cut the tether. But you can't do this if the halyard is attached to the tether shackle.

With some planning, these problems can be easily avoided. One solution is to have a small loop tied in the tether line, about a foot away from the tether's bitter end. This will provide an easy attachment point for a halyard, and it will let you cut the tether if it is under load. Another solution is to have a dedicated "halyard ring" spliced into the end of the tether. A third idea is to use a snatch block. Attach the snatch block to the taught tether line, then attach the halyard to the snatch block. You can raise the halyard without having to cut the tether line, and the snatch block will double your lifting purchase.

Let's say you have the halyard clipped onto the tether line, and you have purposely released the tether from the boat. If you are alone on deck, you might have big problems winching a 200-pound person up (for example) who is wearing sodden clothes and water-filled rain gear. Now what? If the wind is blowing hard I would try setting some sails so that the boat heals over. (Crank the sails in tight so that the boat "stalls"--thus checking forward motion.) You want to get that high gunwale submerged. As the mast head leans toward the surface of the sea pull in some slack on the halyard. Drop the sails, or let them flog. The boat will right itself, and the victim will swing toward the deck. If they do not quite clear the lifeline wires, cut the wires.

Another method for getting someone aboard is to make a hammock under them with a sail. Attach the tack and clew to the gunwale, then hoist the head of the sail up with a halyard. Anything is worth attempting when the alternative is watching someone die.

No Safety Harness

Years ago on DIRECTION Jaja and were sailing mid-ocean, rolling along downwind in a moderate sea. I inflated a balloon and dropped it overboard. A balloon is about the size of someone's head. We spotted that balloon sporadically for about a minute. The problem was, with no visible land as a reference, and with the boat squirming along downwind, as soon as the balloon disappeared behind a wave all orientation was lost. We'd be looking in one direction, while the balloon made a brief appearance in our periphery. With the two us of watching diligently we could keep track of the balloon. But I thought: "If that balloon was Jaja, she'd be dead. I would never be able to simultaneously keep watch and maneuver the boat."

A man overboard pole with a Day-Glo-orange flag at the top is a good solution for marking a man-overboard position. If someone goes over the side, deploy that tall marker at once. It must be the first action taken. Next, look at the compass. What is your course? Figure out the reciprocal. Every second is crucial. The next action, after deploying the overboard pole, and checking the course, is to throw the tiller (or wheel) hard over and turn the boat around. Right?

Wrong. Take a look at your sail plan first. What will be the consequences of a spur-of-the-moment jibe, or tack? If the jib is on a whisker pole, for example, or your cruising spinnaker is set, turning the boat might back these sails against the mast. Once they are backed, the boat will go into irons. All your steerage will be lost. If a cruising spinnaker is plastered against the mast and shrouds, it will be next to impossible to take down. If you are alone, you will be so busy fighting snapping dacron there will be little time to make a rescue. Using the engine to power ahead with the sails up might work for a little while, but as soon as you reach the victim it might be difficult to maneuver safely. You might even inadvertently lose control of the boat and run the person down.

Don't panic. Think. Get the sails down. Before putting the engine into gear, walk around the deck and make sure there are no lines trailing in the water. They will certainly get fouled in the propeller.

Getting a line to someone who is in the water may not be an easy task...especially in a seaway. Steering up to the victim bow-first is a very bad idea. You will lose sight of them and run the risk clobbering them with the pitching bow. Likewise, backing up to them transom-first is dangerous (even though you will not lose sight of them) for fear of trapping the victim under the transom's pitching counter.

Maneuver broadside, upwind from the victim, at least one boat length away. This will give ample time to throw a line to them before the boat drifts down. If you maneuver down wind from them, and the wind is blowing in your face, you will not be able to toss a line. By going broadside upwind, the boat will also create a lee.

If it is possible, have boarding ladder ready. If the water is cold, however, and the victim has been wet for several minutes, they may not have any strength left. You must get a line around them then hoist with a halyard, or use a hammock, as described above.

Conclusion

Falling overboard is a bad idea. But it happens. To help prepare for this nightmare, think out problems and create solutions in the comfort of a calm anchorage. Be inventive, and practice (on a calm day) the things you have thought out. By trying out new ideas you will have a good notion of what DOESN'T work, which will save much time in an emergency. Understand your limitations--and your strengths--then create some onboard procedures that match individual abilities.

Most important: Don't panic!!!