Having witnessed Scott's (Kai Nui) induction into the mud duck club ... aka
MOB (does from a
dock count?), I can tell you all about chinese fire drills that pass for recovery. But that isn't what this post is about.
On my leg down from Moss Landing to Morro Bay, Scott and I took my
boat along the Sur Coast. We had, about half way there, about 15 foot seas and 25
knot winds (from the stern). The following seas were occasionally breaking, but with my CC set up and high freeboard, this wasn't a problem for us. We were sailing with just the main and
jib (130%) up.
What was a problem, was that I was towing my
dinghy. It was/is(?) a beautiful 1970's Boston Whaler sailing
dinghy. This is one of those that will float even if cut into three pieces (BW's advertisement). One of the following waves broke on my dinghy and the cleat that my tow line was secured to, came out of the dinghy. Why I noticed this I have no idea, but maybe it was the
funny motion of the
boat that caused me to look back.
Scott and I treated this as a
MOB and attempted to recover the dinghy. If the dinghy had been a person, we would have had a death. I pulled up the trailing line while Scott turned the boat .
I just now followed his link and find he told the story already. (and well I might add). But, I have a few additions to add to his excellent observations.
Had I had the dinghy close to, I would probably not have
lost it. I have since found an another simillar dinghy (may whoever found that dinghy - in
Mexico? enjoy it) and have found a way to get it on
deck (it weighs about 140 pounds ... dry) and to secure it forward of the
mast.
What most concerned me, other than having
lost the 'patient' was: if it had been a person, how would I have brought that person aboard - and a more poignant situation, if I were to go over (I use
jacklines and harness with shock lanyards as I sail most often
single handed), how the heck would I get back up on
deck?
The MOB situation was
solved fairly easily - my mizzen boom extends over the transom and I just attached a large block and have a line handy to run through and attach to my primary
winch. This would
work in conjunction with my MOB system that is permenently mounted on my stern rail.
In the case of my going over (presumably still attached to the harness, lanyard and jackline), I have put a short six foot loop of line off each mid-ship cleat - this would allow me to 'claw' my way back aboard and use the loop as a foot boost.
Is this perfect? Hell no ... but all things are compromises and this is what I came up with. Ideas?
Thomas