Man Overboard off Puerto Rico -- 7-Hour Swim to Shore

[zeehag]

lessons to be learned--- make tethers only long enough to reach rail, not allow you to go over. going over is FAIL.

[JPA Cate]

"Beaver tails" or straps!

Also, Kudos to the man who survived! ...and apparently, the boat did, too. How very cool, like a gift to brighten one's day.

Ann

[uncle stinkybob]

WOW, thats one tough old boy. The human will to survive is nothing short of amazing.

[uncle stinkybob]

Originally Posted by Hanksy

Bit non related but reminded me of a story. I did a 3 day liveaboards dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef a few years ago and one of the instructors told us about a retired 70 year old Royal Marine that was left behind and threaded water for 3 days before being found. Just did a Google search and could find nothing about it. Anybody know of there is any truth to the story?

Sent from my HUAWEI SCL-L01 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

U.S. Marine. Might be the origins of the story you heard. I knew a few Royal Marine's when I served in the U.S. Army. If you had said he had tread water for a week and survived by catching and eating great whites, I would believe it. Those guys are triple tough.

articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-11-30/news/9511300155_1_arabian-sea-marine-corps-marine-lance-cpl

[uncle stinkybob]

This has really got me to thinking about falling off the boat single handing. Has anyone developed some type of self retrieval device? I did a search and found nothing. I would think it would be a rather in demand piece of equipment if such a thing existed. Hanging on a line like fish food would really suck.
sorry for multi posting.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by uncle stinkybob

Has anyone developed some type of self retrieval device?

Nope. You fall off, you drown.
Afraid it's that simple - rarely are people as lucky as this guy.

[Hearts Content]

It's not the distance but the current. He's a very lucky man.

[svGenesis]

I have heard the man's story, Now i want to hear the boat's rescue story!

[donradcliffe]

No problemo--the boat had an AIS transponder and was intercepted by the Coast Guard.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by mr_f

Would have also prevented him from losing his pants.

He may just have taken them off after losing his LJ if long trousers.. and used them as a floatation aid for rest stops during his swim and discarded them for the last leg of the swim.
One reason I sail in trousers.. don't wear an LJ and do not use tethers

[TraderJoe]

Great effort to keep ones self alive to sail another day!
Isn't there a set up that will allow one to disable the boat and give a person a chance to just climb back on in the chance that you are swept or fall overboard? Like a main sheet connected to asleep rate line!
Just wondering!
Good reporting!
Atlantic 1
Michigan 1

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Hanksy

Bit non related but reminded me of a story. I did a 3 day liveaboards dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef a few years ago and one of the instructors told us about a retired 70 year old Royal Marine that was left behind and threaded water for 3 days before being found. Just did a Google search and could find nothing about it. Anybody know of there is any truth to the story?

I think thats the plot of the movie "Open Water" (2003) based on the "true story"
Open Water (2003) - IMDb

The sequel "Open Water 2" looks better...it has a sailboat in it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470055/...?ref_=tt_ov_pl

[TraderJoe]

Good ending to a potential life ending story!
Isn't there a set up on a sail boat that would allow a single handed sailor a way to disable his boat in the event he is swept or falls overboard?
Thanks for the report on our michigan friend! Wondering if he's still on for the sailing lifestyle?
Atlantic 1
Michigan 1

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by uncle stinkybob

This has really got me to thinking about falling off the boat single handing. Has anyone developed some type of self retrieval device? I did a search and found nothing. I would think it would be a rather in demand piece of equipment if such a thing existed. Hanging on a line like fish food would really suck.
sorry for multi posting.

Single handed far offshore.. take a deep breath and swim straight down as far as you can.. breathe out then in as hard as you can.. its quite pleasant really..

[CaptTom]

Wow.

A story like this really makes you think - or at least it should - about your own preparedness. Which leads to speculation...

The seas were rough enough to rip off the life jacket (I can sort of see that) AND his pants?? Would the tether have used the belt loops? Certainly something I'd never considered. Then again, offshore in warm seas, I suppose you might not be wearing pants in the first place.

With the seas rough enough to do all that, swimming or floating that long would seem nearly impossible. It would be a continual struggle to catch a breath now and then.

Maybe it was just swells, and only "rough" when tethered to the boat.

What an amazing story. It would be great to hear (and learn from) it from first-hand. One thing we can be certain of is that the media will get it all wrong.

Finally, although I hope it's never used like this, I am glad I have AIS.