tragic accident-safety lesson?

[Ken Heyman]

Some of you may have heard  about this sailing tragedy of last week. As the article may point out---they were experienced crew sailing downwind in a J35 for winter lay-up. Sometimes things just don't go as planned but by analyzing the components of this one, perhaps a lesson emerges for all of us.
Ken
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/621845,CST-NWS-boat25.article

[lazybone]

Truly tragic, our prayers go out to the families.

[Ron Hill]

Ken : Sounds like they forgot their jack line or were not hooked on. 
That equipment is VERY important for cruisers that are on a 2 person - "Mom & Pop" crew. 
A Jack line, tether line and harness/inflatable PFD should seriously be considered by all.   

[Ken Heyman]

Your right Ron,

The article was not exaggerating the height of the waves and the breakwater was a lee shore. It must have been an incredible washing machine effect. Assuming the article was accurate, they had started their engine and  were lowering sails when the crew member fell overboard. A safety harness would have been mandatory. I wonder if the rough conditions fouled their fuel filter with a resultant engine failure.Additionally if they had waited until they were iinside the break wall they would have had significant protection from the "nor easter".
------So sad but I guess they suffered from "go-itis" and wanted to get to the yard.

Ken

[lazybone]

There was one blessed survivor and until/if he tells the whole story all our what-ifs and should-haves are pretty much worthless.

[Stephen Butler]

A tragic accident that unfortunately is all to common.  Going foreward without a harness and good pfd, even in light conditions when off-shore is just not good.  Having said this, I know that "racing" crews find this confining, and us cruisers think it unnecessary unless seas are running heavy.  In our own case, we were guilty of this oversight and then the admiral refused to do any more sailing with me until I had purchased a harness and tether, a good pfd, and swore to always use both....which I now do when out of the cockpit and off-shore, regardless of the sea state.  It is clumbersome, but much safer for all aboard.

[Ken Heyman]

Your comments hit the mark. I never go forward when singlehanding without a harness and pfd but I am guilty of not being attached at times with crew on board and benign conditions. We should always be attached when up on deck. As a footnote to the accident -they all evidently did have PFDs on.

Ken

[Ken Heyman]

Here is a link to a more comprehensive account of the accident. You'll need to scroll down a bit. It was based in part on interviews with the sole survivor. Its perhaps helpful to ask ourselves what we would and would not have done in a similar situation.----food for thought.
You may need to copy and then paste the link into your browser.

http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=21&sku=2007309111716.17&id=501893&ptl=#2007310111825.88

Ken