Unfortunate Tragedy

[horsemel]

A month or so ago a 64 year old sailor was lost off of Port Clinton, Ohio on Lake Erie.  This past Sunday I had the opportunity to talk with one of his friends from the marina who had just taken his widow out on his boat to spread the husband's ashes on the lake.  He was out on the lake in 40 kt winds with his wife and son.  The son had never been sailing.  The jib sheet went over the side an got wrapped around the shaft.  The boat was moving better than 5 kts.  The captain climbed down the stern ladder without a life jacket or lifeline to  try and free the line.  He was swept away and not seen again until his body was recovered a few days later.  One lesson here is that you can always cut the sheet lines, get the sails down and throw out the hook.  Then call the tow service that comes cheap from Boat US.  This was not a life or death situation where they were alone far from shore without any option but to go over the side to free the line. A real tragedy.
Mark Mueller

[Clay Greene]

Almost exactly the same thing happened here in Milwaukee a couple of years ago.  A gentleman put his boat in for the first time and took his wife and son out sailing.  He had to go forward to free a jibsheet, a wave hit at the wrong time, and he went overboard.  Neither the wife nor the son knew how to stop the boat.  He did not have a PFD on and drowned in our cold Lake Michigan water.  I am a very strong swimmer but my PFD goes on before we leave the dock and comes off when we are safely in the slip because your arms and legs won't work after five minutes in 55 degree water. 

[Stephen Butler]

These are indeed tragedies, given that they could have been easily avoided. A PFD and safety harness are readily available and not expensive.  We use both when leaving the cockpit for any reason and in any weather (good or bad).  Given the improved comfort of newer styles of PFDs, we will replace ours next season with inflatables and wear these all the time.   However, speaking with some insurance and marina people, it would seem that most accidents happen getting on and off the boat, or when working on the boat at a dock or on the hook, and often with alchohol involved.  Guess this is just part of boating and needs to be addressed with common sense.  As for having only one person on board that knows how to at least stop the boat...well this instruction would take only a few minutes. 

[Stu Jackson]

Common sense is an oxymoron.

Just like making a license to be a boater will ever help.