Man dies dragged by sailboat,

[CarlF]

There was a hearbreaking case a few years ago for two brothers competing in the ARC.

As I remember, one brother fell overboard and was pinned against the hull by his tether. His brother was able to talk with him as he was slowly drowning. The brother still aboard couldn't pull him up and finally cut the harness tether. By the the time he got the boat turned around and back to his brother, he was dead.

[SaltyMonkey]

When you try the tether jump in the water test, try doing it with weather gear">foul weather gear (or any clothing on) and let me know.

[bailsout]

For him there are worse ways to go. Sounds like he missed his own death, which I have done twice from head injuries(once no heartbeat, no breathing)For her to witness it, not so good.

[Bulawayo]

Hi Rohan, its just about impossible to pull yourself against the drag. Try jumping overboard from a dinghy and holding onto a line in calm weather when motoring at a coupleof knots and you'll see how difficult it is. Similarly, try out your life jacket under controlled conditions and see how difficult it is to just breath - the waves are funnelled directly into your face by the two sides coming together. We recently changed all our life jackets for this very reason. Also try getting back aboard when there is any sort of sea running and the stern is rising and falling.

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

Radio net this morning stated that he'd been working in the rigging, fell, and hit his head on the way down, knocking him unconscious. Very sad

indeed .. RIP .. tough to stop the boat and setup block and tackle when he was already unconscious.

[Roniszoro]

Bad day for all. A man dies and another boat is left adrift for the rest of us to crash into at night.

[hamburking]

Like said many times before, the tether is to keep you ON the boat, not just attached to it. Unfortunately, people die of embarrassment...because they used their equipment incorrectly.

The article raises more questions than it answers. But the fact remains that a man is dead, and wife grieving. My condolences.

[Captain Blue]

Rest in peace mate.

[farmall.dude]

Originally Posted by Roniszoro

Bad day for all. A man dies and another boat is left adrift for the rest of us to crash into at night.

In all the forums I've seen this, this is by far the most harsh statement I've read so far. Shame on you! How would you like to be her, having to watch her husband die, unable to save him? You crashing into her boat is the LAST thing on her mind.
Instead of making snarky comments, speculating and criticizing, how about some of you in the area put together a search party rescue her boat.

[roland stockham]

The only time I went over the rail my crew didn't know it and they were in the cockpit!! Fortunately I had a good jacket and low free-board so rolled back in on a wave. It is really hard to see someone in the water alongside and impossible for them to shout loud enough to be heard will being dragged.

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by farmall.dude

In all the forums I've seen this, this is by far the most harsh statement I've read so far. Shame on you! How would you like to be her, having to watch her husband die, unable to save him? You crashing into her boat is the LAST thing on her mind.
Instead of making snarky comments, speculating and criticizing, how about some of you in the area put together a search party rescue her boat.

It may be the last thing on her mind, but it should have been pretty high priority for the rescuers. It sounds like they may not have even boarded to undertake the scuttling though.

There is no point in expressing sympathy for someone who isn't here to be comforted by it, unless you make yourself feel better by expressing such sympathy. I too, would have berated someone for making such a comment to the grieving widow, but it is a reality that we need to take into consideration in the real world.

[thebootlegger]

So sad! Good reminder for us all!

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Rohan

I am really confused why the man couldn't pull himself back in the boat. Isn't that what tethers are for? If you are sailing solo, you won't have another person to help you. But it's unclear if he had physical ailments, was injured, or intoxicated when this happened.

It's also possible the man had a heart attack, fell in, and he was too heavy for his wife to pull him back aboard.

Try pulling yourself out with the boat underway. At 18 I might could but most aren't young and strong anymore. There was just a long thread on the topic of tethers. Condolences to the family.

[anacapaisland42]

I fell into the water tied up at a dock, couldn't get back on the boat.
All should try it one day.
Bill

[taildragerdrive]

Good discussion. Although sad each time.

It reminds me that I need to do some work on my jackline procedure as well. I'm fairly sure a crew member could actually fall overboard with the tether on.

I do use the rule never go forward unless there is other crew in the cockpit.

Thanks