Fall overboard

mortal risk for single-handed sailors and inexperienced short-handed crews

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Every year, single-handed sailors and short-handed crews die in the water after a fall overboard, with or without safety equipment.

Against intuition, it is almost impossible to climb aboard alone even if you wear harness and tether. Furthermore, without adequate equipment and training, it is very difficult for a single person to lift you aboard.

This was demonstrated in a study by the Seattle Sailing Foundation, 1999 (pdf). More recently, a yachting review claimed that it was impossible to climb aboard with classical tether and harness/life jacket when the boat is running. In both cases, the "proof" was made with classical commercial tethers.

Why cannot we climb aboard with a tether? Based on direct experience (and controlled experiments), there are multiple factors.

1) The height of the hull, and the lack of grasping points.

2) The weight of wet clothes, and the pockets of water in clothes and boots (measured: more than 15 kg).

3) The legs are useless while they are dragged in water.

4) Choking: your head is often submersed.

5) Drowning. At 6 knots or more you drown in your own wave.

Not convinced? Look at these videos.

PBO (Practical Boat Owner, summer 2012), dummy overboard trials with tethers.

Separating from the boat is highly risky for single-handed and inexperienced short-handed crews.

Even with AIS beacons, EPIRBs, etc. finding a person in the water is uncertain. See recent examples in offshore single-handed competitions. Some competitors died, other were rescued after a long time, and with a lot of luck.

The best rescue boat in case of fall overboard is your own boat. It is already here.

However, your own boat is useless if the remaining crew is in panic and/or unable to execute the rescue maneuver.

There are also urban legends that kill. For instance, with a short tether and/or a tether with 2 anchoring points you cannot fall overboard.

FALSE. A short tether prevents you to be thrown like a projectile and a double anchoring allows remaining attached all the time.

None of the two eliminates the risk of fall overboard.

To convince yourself, try it. Tie yourself short to a deck lifeline running close to the edge. You will observe that it is almost always possible to tilt overboard.

Other urban legend . Single handed sailors, drag a trailing line with a buoy, a fender or a life jacket.

USELESS. When the boat is running at 5 knots or more, even if you catch the trailing line - which is not certain - you will be unable to pull yourself towards the boat. The drag of the water is too strong, especially with clothes.

To convince yourself, try it with a swimming suit on a warm day.

Other lethal belief a tether with a fast-release system can save you.

FALSE. A fast release tether allows you to get free when you are caught (e.g., capsized and below the boat). If you use it when the boat is running, you will be free, but in the water and far from the boat.

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