[C320-list] Crew Overboard!

[Chris Descher]

As for saving the dogs, I regularly singlehand with two weimaraners and a
german shorthair pointer.  On lighter wind days, I'll make them all get in
the water and swim to follow the boat, plus I've made sure that they all
know how to climb the swim ladder.

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Dean
Vermeire
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 10:31 AM
To: Catalina 320 List
Subject: [C320-list] Crew Overboard!


  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)