Sad Stuff

[wolfenzee]

When you board a sailing craft you're going in harms-way! ..... In my life I have had four major "near death" experiences, all of them related to cars, in addition there are a number of times where just being there was life threatening (urban life) Yes you are going in harm's way on a boat, but quite probably alot less than regular life in modern society. Someone dieing in an accident at sea is alot more dramatic than a car accident.
Every time I have had to "clip in" my harness had two tethers, one long one short for going forward and two short ones at the helm. On my boat I use a repelling harness and chest harness (I have plain webbing and inflatable) combined to make full body harnesses (2) . The repelling harness also doubles as an ideal bosun's chair. There are lots of different tethering systems

[Wand]

Originally Posted by John A

Another writes about having a chair and seatbelt. What's next? Helmets to protect us from the boom? Nobody can come topside unless in a survival suit? When you board a sailing craft you're going in harms-way! Through no fault of your own, sh*t happens, and yes, people are harmed. If you can't accept that, you have no busness being offshore on a boat.

Whoa. Another chest thumper. With respect, your position is nutty. I ask: do motor cycle racers and Grand Prix drivers wear thongs and shorts?; do rock climbers and mountaineers carry twine and plastic hammers to haul themselves up?; do even cricketers go out to bat without pads, gloves and a box?

Lots of people participate in pleasurable activities which can be dangerous, but those with any brains will always take reasonable precautions to ensure they do so safely. They look ahead, anticipate where things can go wrong, and put in place procedures or arrangements in order to minimise any inherent dangers. To do otherwise is, as I said, just nutty.

Your chest beating is consistent with those who vigorously opposed the car seát belt legislation of some decades ago. That single law has saved literally millions of people from injury and death in the ensuing years. My suggestion is aimed at saving sailors from injury or death in extreme conditions.

But don't panic - it won't be law anytime soon. So go ahead, sail out into a building hurricane in a dinghy if you wish. I for one won't bother stopping you.

[Capt Phil]

At some point you need to use common sense borne out of the will to survive. I was at the helm of a CT 41 delivering it north to British Columbia when the hurricane of 83' swept up the coast and overtook us off Point Conception. When you can no longer drive the boat and even with a life line are swept out of the helm seat by the sea, it is time to lay out warps, make sure your storm sail is secure and head below. The boat will look after itself and take more than any human can. Safest place below was under the galley table... less chance of being hit by flying debris below decks. Although we did not pitchpole we were laid ahull with masts in the water several times but we survived. My heart goes out to the skipper and the daughter who survived. Her father made the best decision he could under the circumstances and passed doing what he loved... she appears like a class lady and has many of her fathers traits, I would think... Capt Phil

[Bash]

Originally Posted by At sea

Your chest beating is consistent with those who vigorously opposed the car seát belt legislation of some decades ago.

Fascinating: an anti chest-thumping revolution right here on CF. If this keeps up, we might actually get back to having intelligent conversations.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by Bash

If this keeps up, we might actually get back to having intelligent conversations.

...and what else are you hoping to get in your stocking this Christmas? LOL

Ralph

[John A]

Originally Posted by Bash

Fascinating: an anti chest-thumping revolution right here on CF. If this keeps up, we might actually get back to having intelligent conversations.

Aw come-on Bash, as a CF Advisor, are you trying to spark a debate that'll get the Mods all wigged out?

[Wand]

Woops, hope the reference to a 'thong' in my last post didn't upset any sensibilities - over here we wear them on our feet! Picture that if u can

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by At sea

Woops, hope the reference to a 'thong' in my last post didn't upset any sensibilities - over here we wear them on our feet! Picture that if u can

You must have funny feet.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by At sea

Whoa. Another chest thumper. With respect, your position is nutty. do rock climbers and mountaineers carry twine and plastic hammers to haul themselves up?;

Pardon.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYMYhuwDQf8

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Bash

Fascinating: an anti chest-thumping revolution right here on CF. If this keeps up, we might actually get back to having intelligent conversations.

LOL... yeah.. who knows it could even degenerate to "How big a cork dya need up your $#*@ when you sail..."

[beowulfborealis]

I did a 360 in a rowboat once trying to hit the beach. I'll never forget watching the horizon spin around when that wave got me.

[Liam Wald]

Why do most humans always need to focus on tragities? They flock to car crashes and buy more newspapers when there is a "horrible tragity" on the front page.
They like living in a state of fear and seeing the other guy get messed up.
Not wanting to be a "victum" causes a lot of folks to lead boring, unfulfilled lives. **** happens. Get over it. Don't be a scared little bunny. Get out there and live. You're going to die anyway.
Not to say that you should be careless... but don't be frightened to the point of paralysis.

[beowulfborealis]

I have done survival at sea training a few times with NOAA. One thing they warned me about is getting tangled up in rigging. If a boat is going down, it will take you with it. In this case it looks like the captain's safety harness kept him from being pulling back onboard. I have almost died 2 different times at sea. Both cases I reacted just in time and made the right descision. Looking back, I wonder how many cat lives I still have left. Sailing, and for that matter just being at sea, is not for the risk-adverse.

[capn_billl]

Accidents vary. No safety equipment can prepare for everything. Yes seatbelts have saved lives in crashes, but I know of several that died because they WERE wearing their seatbelt.

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

Accidents vary. No safety equipment can prepare for everything. Yes seatbelts have saved lives in crashes, but I know of several that died because they WERE wearing their seatbelt.

I know a guy who died in a car accident because he was NOT talking on his cell phone. Just kidding.