[Public-List] going solo

[John Riley]

There's a document online (sorry, don't have the link handy...published
by Lifesling I THINK) that gives case histories of quite a few MOB
incidents.   Being drug through the water at sailing speed, and
subsequent drowning due to exhaustion (which happens in mere MINUTES)
was alarmingly represented, even in cases where the sailor was NOT
single handing and the other crew could not pull them aboard.

It was quite an eye-opening bit of documentation.  Having a good way to
get back on board or at the very least stop the boat (preferably both)
is a critical part of the equation of the use of tethers that seems
often overlooked.

That said, the lower freeboard of an A-30 compared to many modern hulls
is (yet another) advantage of the classic lines.

JR

Kris Coward wrote:
>
> As for the relative perils of being tethered to a moving boat vs. being
> boatless, I think the only way to settle this is for each of us to
> tether ourselves to our boats (in warm water, with someone capable and
> trustworthy at the helm), hop off into the water, and see how fast the
> boat has to go before it becomes difficult to hold a survival position
> or keep one's mouth out of the water (or for an extra challenge, to do
> both).
>
>   


-- 
John S. Riley
S/V Gaelic Sea
1972 Alberg 30 #521


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