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benspikey
Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Posts: 167
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 2:53 pm Post subject: Leaving a fellow sailor in the water.. |
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Greetings all,
Seen quite a bit of gear failure recently that left people stuck in the water..
My question is what is the proper protocol when you find a downed sailor??
-- Seems one should make an assessment of the surroundings..
IF it is safe to help the downed sailor then STOP!! Help them derig or drop the rig depending on conditions. ( make sure the sailor has not lost their board.. if so you should remain with the person as they have no floation )
Once the downed sailor is in a position to safely float / paddle the board back in.. And you are sure the person is stable..
Make a decision to either stay with the person or sail in and find help..
Or tow that person in if possible..
Do Not sail pass someone downed in the water without seeing movement.
Do Not leave a downed sailor in the water without helping them to derig or preforming an assessment.
Being alone on the water can be very scary. Having another person to help provides a safety net.
Please everyone stop and ensure the downed sailor is responsive and make sure you help them before heading to get help.
Looking for others opinions about this as we need to look after each other when we are on the water.
This also means replacing/checking your gear to ensure you are not putting others at risk trying to recover you.. Also mean learning how to derig you gear on the water safely..
Cheers.. [/b] |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Depends how scary the situation IS.
At SPID, the sound side, water is chest deep. If anyone breaks, providing they're not injured, they can walk back.
In the channel between Oahu and Molokai, maybe since nobody is wearing a wetsuit, maybe tow them in, tossing their sail.
Two days ago, broke my headcap, sail dropped 4', and couldn't waterstart for beans. While derigging, everyone zoomed past, while I watched and played with my gear. This was Berkeley, down by the rocks downwind. No biggee, I was wearing a 2 mil long legged suit, water was 58, and sun was still up, and I was gonna paddle in sitting on my 100 liter board using my mast top. |
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outcast
Joined: 04 May 2004 Posts: 2724
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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i have a thin little 12' line in my harness...if you need a tow all you have to do is ask.
I get kind of bored out there...always looking for something to do. Drama makes my day.
Polite thing to do is stop and ask......happy to help.
BUT....don't ask to save stuff......stuff is stuff.....if someone is in trouble get them out.....If you want to save your broken kit you are :
1. Not in trouble.
2. In Trouble, Hypothermic and thereby acting stupid
3. Just plain stupid and about to be in trouble.
I'll probably hang around anyway ....either shouting encouragement or calling you stupid.... _________________ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=zw0MgkO7VXw |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Good post, Outcast.
I"ve been credited with over 15 rescues at CrissyFields, SteveYong almost double that.
I'll sail away if you don't listen to the first thing I say. Maybe come back later, if no one else did.
If you still don't listen, I'll usually sail away again.
Sometimes, I'll hit you hard in the face, to wake you up if you're hypothermic (did that at least 5 times). Usually an open palm, not a fist. It's called, "knocking some sense into you". And it's lawsuit resistant, that open hand.
For those who don't know, Crissy has water temps between 48-55, big blind ships heading across our path, smaller fishing boats and tour boats doing the same, and some fishies cruising around below the surface, including two big 19' 6 gills under the NorthTower. |
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spennie
Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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BTW, it's a felony to leave someone in obvious distress in the water.
Rule #1 is stay with the board!
I also carry a 12' line for towing or whatever. That's 2 downhauls, and can be used to tie a broken boom head back onto the mast (done it), make a temporary harness line (done it), or tow you or them to shore (done it).
Regarding towing: De-rig in the water, trying not to drop stuff. Roll it all up as best you can, put it on the board lengthwise, and lay on it. Tie that 12' piece of line to the mast base/universal and your new best friend's rear footstrap. Slow & tiring as hell, so take turns being the tow-er & tow-ee. On a small board you might have to hold onto your own rear footstrap & drag in.
If you're one of those people who doesn't think you'll ever need to be towed and decide not to carry a piece of line, you can probably paddle in this same position. If not you can tie the gear on with your downhaul and swim alongside the board. _________________ Spennie the Wind Junkie
www.WindJunkie.net |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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When in doubt, ditch the sail and mast base. You can tie the boom to your rear straps using the uphaul or outhaul, dragging the booms.
Masts half can be stowed in front strap. Top half makes a convenient greenland style paddle.
Sails sink, and can take you down. Mast bases can be shoved inside rear straps, allowing you to just loop the inhaul around, using the bungee to hold everything in place.
Flip your harness backwards. |
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johnl
Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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spennie wrote: | BTW, it's a felony to leave someone in obvious distress in the water. |
Oh PLEASE quote this law that you think you know. Because it isn't true.
The FIRST rule of ANY first reponder is not to endanger yourself. So IF you can help the person then do so, but if you can't without endangering yourself then don't, and go try to get help (such as the coast guard/sheriff, etc). Having two people in trouble is not better than one. |
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cgoudie1
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 2599 Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, that's why I carry a Trucheon (instead of extra line).
-Craig
johnl wrote: |
The FIRST rule of ANY first reponder is not to endanger yourself. So IF you can help the person then do so, but if you can't without endangering yourself then don't, and go try to get help (such as the coast guard/sheriff, etc). Having two people in trouble is not better than one. |
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dllee
Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent point above.
In my numerous breakdowns, I've had to pass on quite a few "rescue attempts" when I realized the would be rescue'er would make the ordeal worst than it would be without him/her's assistance.
Life and death? Can't say I've been there on a breakdown, since I'm wearing a wetsuit, and surfed for over 25 years before windsurfing for over THIRTY NOW!
But always, better ONE body to give S & R some work rather than two.
Now that winter's almost due, I plan on winter sailing only in a safe spot. I cannot guarantee I will be safe, but I can only control what I can.
I certainly won't be driving up to Limantour on a stormy rainy day at the beginning of the storm, rising swells, 49 degree waters, and 11 miles from the nearest town..... |
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spennie
Joined: 13 Oct 1995 Posts: 975 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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johnl is right, it's not a law, I looked it up, I was misinformed, sorry. Furthermore his comments about not putting 2 people in danger were right on.
The penalty for leaving a fellow sailor in trouble is burning in Hell. _________________ Spennie the Wind Junkie
www.WindJunkie.net |
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