Challenge: What Would You Do? - Two Crew Lost Overboard During Race

[TaoJones]

This item is from today's 'Lectronic Latitude, and it deals with a situation that lends itself to the "Challenge" format that Pelagic has come up with. This incident occurred in last weekend's King Harbor Race (around Anacappa Island and back).

Two (of four) women aboard a J/37 (all very experienced racers) were pitched into the sea when the vessel unexpectedly rounded up while they were flying the boat's largest chute in 30 knot winds. Here's how 'Lectronic Latitude begins the story:

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"Close Calls in King Harbor Race

"August 4, 2008 – Just West of Point Dume

(Click on the photo to enlarge it.)
"Judy and Bill Webster of the J/37 Sidekick bookend Judy-Rae Karlsen, the Rattle & Hum crewmember they and their crew pulled from the Pacific after a half hour swim. Humble Bill and Judy didn't want their photo taken, but we made them pose.
Photo Latitude / Richard
© 2008 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.

"There was some unwanted excitement in last Friday's 36th annual 81-mile Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race, as two woman went overboard from the Antrim 27 Rattle & Hum and three men found themselves standing on the overturned hull of the Corsair Sprint 750 Existential Blowout.

"The women overboard incident in the 107-boat fleet was potentially the most serious, as one of them, Judy-Rae Karlson of Long Beach, ended up swimming in the open ocean for approximately 30 minutes. Fortunately, her prayers were answered just before dark when she was miraculously spotted and picked up by another racing boat."

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For the entire article, go to:

Latitude 38 - The West's Premier Sailing & Marine Magazine

TaoJones

[Pblais]

The gals admitted to not having their PFDs on in windy conditions, noting they were just about to put them on.

They screwed up. They also failed to have a knife ready to cut the halyard and they were actually saved. They themselves realize the mistakes they made. Competitive racing requires standards that exceed most all cruising conditions.

Not wearing a PFD is really the dumb stuff.

[CharlieCobra]

1. You don't race on my boat without a PFD on.
2. You don't leave the cockpit of Oh Joy without a PFD on unless it's dead calm or we are anchored.
3. In an ocean race, you wear a strobe or you don't go.
4. Recover the MOB PERIOD! Nothing else matters until ALL of the crew are aboard.
5. Tethers are your friend, wear them.

[s/v 'Faith']

Yup to all 4.. especially number 4.

Originally Posted by CharlieCobra

1. You don't race on my boat without a PFD on.
2. You don't leave the cockpit of Oh Joy without a PFD on unless it's dead calm or we are anchored.
3. In an ocean race, you wear a strobe or you don't go.
4. Recover the MOB PERIOD! Nothing else matters until ALL of the crew are aboard.
5. Tethers are your friend, wear them.

[S/V Antares]

Even my dog Lucy wears a PFD with water activated strobe underway. The inflatable PFD's are comfortable enough for no excauses.

[Chief Engineer]

PFD Tethers (double)...

We lose a couple of racers a year on the Chesapeake each year because of no PFD's.

It is a "manly man thing"....no it is imprudent.

[Ex-Calif]

It is pretty amazing that a crew with this level of experience could screw up so bad.

I am a total convert to wearing PFDs while racing. We have the foam block ones on the boat that I didn't wear because they are bulky. I have a Gill vest that I didn't wear because it is hot. I just bought an inflatable that I wear because it is not bulky, not hot and very cool.

Buy the right gear and it all falls into place.

[BlueLagoon]

Quote: It is pretty amazing that a crew with this level of experience could screw up so bad.

Some people get cocky and think they have enough experience that something like that couldn't happen to them.

[Eleven]

Don't organisers ever get the idea that safety is also their responsibility.
Even at the start line a check for crews not wearing pfd's is worth some penalty points this year, disqualification next year.
Was there no search and rescue effort, were they even reported 'lost'.

[Intentional Drifter]

Even if the seas are only 3-4 footers, if we're out of the cockpit, then it is PFD's on, jacklines run, tethers in use. No one on our boat goes out of the cockpit without someone else in it, and at the helm. No exceptions.

ID

[BlueLagoon]

Quote: Was there no search and rescue effort, were they even reported 'lost'.

Leaving crew behind in the open ocean to continue a race gives a new meaning to sea sickness in my opinion.
I wonder what prize the winner took home? Is it worth the price of life?

[CharlieCobra]

I've spoken with one of the girls that went over. Yes, there was an attempt to recover, one was recovered by the boat and three other boats doused to assist, one of them being in the perfect place to recover the second COB. Yes, they know they should've been in PFD's and harnessed and will be the next time.

[David M]

Originally Posted by TaoJones

"There was some unwanted excitement in last Friday's 36th annual 81-mile Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race, as two woman went overboard from the Antrim 27 Rattle & Hum and three men found themselves standing on the overturned hull of the Corsair Sprint 750 Existential Blowout.

What?....did the boat turtle or broach?

[CharlieCobra]

The Antrim broached hard and long while the Tri flipped.

[swagman]

I thought this section of the site was to present challenges and seek alternate responses?

If we'd lost anyone over the first step is marking where on a chart.
The next is stopping the boat safely.
The third is going back to get them.

Most experienced race skippers would do exactly the same.
Can only assume these guys lost this plan of action when their skipper became one of those lost!

And no, we're like the majority and do not wear PFD when racing. They do encumber crew activity - and that might mean you'd loose.

But equally like most - if nightime or conditions deteriorate to the point when winning is replaced with survival - then they do go on.

Glad these guys were recovered ok.

JOHN