Why I'm lucky to be alive. I was stupid.

[s/v Beth]

Originally Posted by AirBoyzT

Who's going to tow me when I'm 500 miles out and get disabled with 2 people on the boat...?

I don't think the problem is solo sailing, the problem was me being stupid and trying to address the situation right then.

I agree having another sailor is awesome, however it isn't always feasible.

What I am saying is all people, when starting to cruise, make stupid mistakes. The trick is recovering from them. When I was crushed by the mainsheet with a broken arm and another dislocated and several fractured ribs, another sailor pulled the mainsheet off me. If I had been soloing I would not be here talking about it.
A boat is too complex a machine, in the way that it interacts with a constantly changing sea to see every danger in advance. You need a backup.
Make it feasible. I have paid sailors to go on passage with me. I consider my life more important than 200 a day for a captain to come. And if you had drowned, would your family have considered the money you had not spent worth it?

And if you are disabled with two people on a boat 500 miles offshore, one of you will be able to sail back, plug the hole and if necessary activate the ERIB.

[ausaviator]

Be careful out there!

You should perhaps watch the movie "Open Water Adrift II."

They never got back on their boat !

[s/v Beth]

I did read the book! But I think he has collateral damage the rest of his life, even though he did survive. I was recovering for few months, but I survived (as well as the boat) without any residual. What made it so stupid was that I had been sailing for 25 years. You cannot underestimate a cold, violent ocean in the dark when you have been on the helm for 48 hours.

[sabray]

Sometimes when things go wrong I have raced into the solution. It's a good lesson to slow down take stalk of the situation and make safe deliberate thoughtful moves.
Thanks for the tale.




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[JPA Cate]

Some thoughts....

1) If it's bumpy, and you want to investigate from the dinghy, secure the dinghy fore and aft (may require adding a cleat or pad eye and stern line to your dinghy), then inspect. If the dinghy is tippy, only step from the midline up, or down to the midline.

2) Add a man rope to *something* like the hand rail on the cabin top that you can reach as a swimmer, to help you up onto the boat from the dinghy.

3) Consider ownership of a more stable dinghy.

4) When the water temperature is warm, practice getting into the dinghy with all your clothes on. They add a lot of drag, and you might want to consider a plan to jettison your shoes or sea boots if you find yourself in the water.

5) Exercise caution when leaving the mother boat, with your planning--especially when singlehanding.

[sabray]

I flipped a dink in full winter clothing and boots. About 15 feet from Jamestown RI dinghy/fuel dock. Early April or late march. I got the dinghy and myself to the dock and somehow got out. That was close stupid and along time ago. No one saw it happen. I could easily have slipped below.
Scary. Always good to think about how to get out and what if.


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[HappyMdRSailor]

While this wasn't fun at all... It was a great thing to have happen...

Now there is a whole list of things you will not do... That "individually" could get you/somebody killed... Let alone a few strung together like this...

Congrats on the positive attitude!

[Cheechako]

Wow... you are lucky to be alive if you were really in the water that long.... I have taken a swim/wash in Puget Sound in the summer off the boat. Probably 55 degree water. After washing hair and rinsing... maybe 5 minutes... I could barely pull myself up the ladder my arms were so weak from the cold.

[AirBoyzT]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Wow... you are lucky to be alive if you were really in the water that long.... I have taken a swim/wash in Puget Sound in the summer off the boat. Probably 55 degree water. After washing hair and rinsing... maybe 5 minutes... I could barely pull myself up the ladder my arms were so weak from the cold.

I couldn't feel my feet at all. Not sure how I mustered the strength to get up, but it was difficult on the ladder with numb feet. It took about 20-30
Minutes to get the shivering under control. Quite a long time before I could feel my feet, luckily the tow boat guys brought a propane heater.