A MOB story

[ImaginaryNumber]

A Speck in the Sea | NEW YORK TIMES

[ShaktisBoy]

That was a great story. Very lucky outcome. Losing someone overboard at night is one of my greatest fears!

[Mainebristol]

What courage. If we all would just exhibit such determination in our everyday life, think what we could accomplish.

[Cap Erict3]

The worth of the whistle was proven to me decades ago.

Abandoning an offshore platform for a storm at night, all personnel had been lowered to a crew boat via the crane and personnel basket. The last 2 men doing the loading had to go down to the boat landing and get on the boat by swinging on a rope.

While waiting for the boat to get in place, one of the men was washed from the landing by a wave. Disappearing in the dark, everyone knew he was a gone pecan.

The crew boat captain circled to to the lee side of the platform and let the boat drift while everyone scanned the dark water for the tiny water activated light sewn on the shoulder of his life vest.

He was one hour in the water and was found because he was blowing the life jacket whistle like a wild man when the boat drifted next to him.

[rebel heart]

I've saved the story to read later, but regarding the whistle they're amazing little gadgets. Especially those new 'storm' whistles that can really shriek your ear off.

I keep one in the dinghy zip tied under a seat because the one time you run out of juice in an anchorage but have no way of reliably communicating "hey, i'm screwed" to everyone that doesn't require electricity is an experience you won't forget.

[Cormorant]

Awesome story . . . but I couldn't help thinking that anyone who works on the water like that is nuts not to buy a $250 PLB. Would've saved a lot of heartache.

[Cap Erict3]

Over 30 years ago. The little doorknob light and the whistle were high tech for us. The "Tarzan" ropes aren't used much anymore.

[boatman61]

I'm surprised there was no mention of the folk on board immediately reversing course before conducting the search on board and alerting the CG... he could have been found much sooner possibly..