[C320-list] Crew Overboard!

[sail-ability at sympatico.ca]

Too bad it takes something like this to remind us all that things can go to hell in a hand basket in an instant. Some good lessons learned which I will put into practise immediatly so that no one will have to go after the dog.........stay on the boat.

Cheers

JohnM

#574
 
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:46:50 -0500
> From: dean at vermeire.us
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Crew Overboard!
> 
> 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)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
>