[C320-list] Crew Overboard!

[Dean Vermeire]

  I should also point out that we had a discussion about making a bad 
situation worse.  Losing a dog would be bad.  Losing a wife because she 
jumped in after a dog would be worse.

On 9/14/2010 10:31 AM, Dean Vermeire wrote:
>  Hi All,
>
> Everybody is fine, so no need to panic.  We had a dog, followed by the 
> first mate, go overboard this weekend.  I thought I'd describe what 
> happened and how we executed the rescue, just so some can learn from 
> what I did right and what I did wrong.  I could also learn from your 
> comments.
>
> I've told our two beagles, Holly and Noel, to always go up the 
> windward side, but Noel must not have been paying attention.  As we 
> were sailing on a broad reach in about 12 knots of breeze on beautiful 
> Perry Lake, here in Kansas, Noel decided to go up to the foredeck.  
> When she was just past the genoa car, the jib sheet, which had been 
> slack, went taught.  The jib sheet pushed the dog overboard.  
> Actually, she had her hind legs on the deck just long enough for me to 
> run up there, but not quite long enough for me to grab her.
>
> I immediately ran back to the helm with the intention of diving in 
> after the dog.  However, my lovely bride was already jumping in by 
> that point.  I grabbed the throwable life ring and handed it to my 
> 20-year-old daughter.  She threw the life ring to my wife as I turned 
> the boat to begin a figure eight to retrieve my wife and dog.  I also 
> handed my daughter the throwing bag / heaving line.  She pulled a 
> bunch of line out of the pouch, thinking that she was to hang on to 
> the pouch and throw the line.  I had her pull the line back in from 
> the water, since it was likely to foul the rudder and prop.
>
> By this time, my wife had the life ring and the dog.  I began 
> maneuvering to pick them up.  My daughter grabbed the boat hook, and I 
> released the jib sheet.  Another sailboat, a Venture 22 with an 
> outboard motor, started sailing towards my wife.  I don't know why he 
> thought he, sailing single-handed, would have a better chance of 
> retrieving my wife and dog then we would, with a two aboard and a 
> walk-through transom.  None the less, he was in the way, and I yelled 
> at him to clear out.  This messed up our approach.  So, I fired up the 
> engine and motored upwind to my wife.  Just as we came alongside, I 
> killed the engine, jumped back on the transom, and grabbed my wife's 
> hand.  She then grabbed the ladder, and I grabbed the dog.  I helped 
> my wife onto the boat and then grabbed the wheel.  Successful rescue.
>
> I'm glad we were sailing on a lake in Kansas.  Even though there was a 
> pretty good breeze with occasional white caps, the waves were fairly 
> small.
>
> Although things went pretty well with the rescue, there are some big 
> mistakes made and some changes I will make.
>
> Mistakes:
> 1.  The dogs did not have their life jackets on.
> 2.  The humans did not have life jackets or automatic inflatable 
> jackets on.
> 3.  The dogs were able to go up to the foredeck.
> 4.  We were not paying close attention, since we were leisurely 
> sailing downwind.
> 5.  My daughter had not been instructed on how to use the heaving line.
> 6.  My wife did not take the life ring with her as she jumped in to 
> save her dog.
> 7.  I did not have a secondary throwable close at hand.  I should have 
> thrown life jackets, etc.
> 8.  It took me too long to think about grabbing the boat hook.  It was 
> just inside the cabin, standing vertical by the companionway stairs, 
> within easy reach of the cockpit.
> 9.  Sail handling was not good.  Getting at the jibsheet and mainsheet 
> was cumbersome.  Dropping the main would have been difficult and time 
> consuming.
> 10.  I should probably have started the engine sooner.  If my wife had 
> not been able to get both the lifering and the dog, things could have 
> been worse.
>
> Things that went right:
> 1.  We saved the dog and the wife without any injury.
> 2.  I knew what to do.
> 3.  We had the proper equipment.
>
> Things I will change:
> 1.  I will make the lifering easier to deploy.
> 2.  I will instruct the crew better on the use of the life ring and 
> the heaving line.
> 3.  I will add another throwable with a connecting line, such as a 
> life sling, within reach of the crew.
> 4.  I will keep the boat hook within reach of the helm.
> 5.  I will put netting from a stanchion to the cabin top to prevent 
> dogs from going up to the foredeck!!!
> 6.  I will put a laminated overboard procedures card in the cockpit 
> for guests to read.
>
> I'm sure I have already learned more lessons from this, but feel free 
> to contribute.
>
> Dean Vermeire
> Moonstruck II (#847)
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