Because dragging a line by the person in the water is a higher-probability proposition. They can grab it and you can pull them to the boat. Initially I had my crew open the life line gates and stand by to pull the people aboard. But I couldn't get the boat close enough to the people, and it's still going by fast enough that it's easy to miss grabbing their hands, and then you'd have to pull them over a couple feet of freeboard to get them on deck, with the boat pitching and rolling. And two of these guys were 250+ -pound men, exhausted and one incapacitated. Same deal with the swim ladder. Couldn't get the boat close enough, quickly enough, and moving slowly enough, for them to be able to swim over and grab the ladder (with the boat pitching etc.). It was a much more sure-fire proposition to throw a line to them, and pull them to the boat's transom. Even after we pulled them in and they climbed the swim ladder, it was still quite an ordeal to get them over the stern pulpit into the cockpit, because they were so tired and weak.
Cheers, Randy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lorne Serpa via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> To: "cnc-list" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: "Lorne Serpa" <lorne.se...@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 3:59:54 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Friday Night Rescue I ask because I don't know and am new to sailing... Why didn't you just stop and pick them up vice circling with a ring in tow? On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 2:10 PM, RANDY via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com > wrote: Hi Michael, We've met - I remember your boat High Cotton. I used to crew for Rick Fox on his Merit 25. Since he's a mutual Facebook friend, I sometimes see your posts. Didn't know you were on this list - do you own a C&C now? Chatfield may be a weird place to sail, but it's my main place to sail :) Cheers, Randy From: "Michael Cotton via CnC-List" < cnc-list@cnc-list.com > To: "cnc-list" < cnc-list@cnc-list.com > Cc: "Michael Cotton" < mpc51...@yahoo.com > Sent: Monday, June 13, 2016 2:58:09 PM Subject: Re: Stus-List Friday Night Rescue I sailed Chatfield for a few years. They seem to have their own rules for navigation. VHF 16 has no value, orange flags all over the place( we just finished a year of cruising from Md to New England then to the Bahamas and Key West, never saw an orange flag). Orange flags are for extreme emergencies. Sailboats have to give way to a trolling power boat. It's a weird place to sail. On Monday, June 13, 2016 4:35 PM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com > wrote: Way to go, Randy! Everyone who sails in cold water should know the 1-10-1 rule: When you first enter the water, you have one minute to catch your breath, before you might pass out. The shock of entering cold water can take your breath away, and leave you gasping for air. You have about ten minutes before your muscles can no longer help you get back onto your boat. You have about an hour before you might die from hypothermia. Also, keep in mind that when you use a Life Sling, when you pass by the person in the water, you have to be close to him/her for the sling to be within reach. Alan Bergen 35 Mk III Thirsty Rose City YC Portland, OR On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 1:17 PM, RANDY via CnC-List < cnc-list@cnc-list.com > wrote: <blockquote> Just a little story to share with you all. Went out for a leisure sail Friday evening with my daughter her friend, in Beaufort 4 or 5 conditions. We sailed under main only, and there was a 15" whitecap chop on the water. Hardly any boats on the lake, but one windsurfer really hauling ass. Out in the middle of the lake, we heard some yelling, and looked around to see three PFD-less people standing on a small low fiberglass fishing boat that was going down by the stern. I barely had time to say "shit, they're sinking." Next time I looked, the boat was gone, and the people were in the water amongst various debris. There were no other boats in the vicinity and I realized we were going to have to rescue them as quickly as we could. Started my Atomic-4 without running the blower first, luffed my main, drove to them, and threw out my life sling. Had to circle them three or four times dragging the life sling line by them, before we could get them all pulled in and aboard via the swim ladder. I missed on the first try or two just due to the wind and water conditions and my main flogging. One of them was about 30 yards from the other two, who told me to get the lone guy first. By the time we got the other two aboard, they'd been in the 68-degree water probably ten minutes. Dropped the main, drove to the marina, docked at the launch ramp, and called 911 for the first guy at the request of the second one. I think he was very intoxicated or high on something. He was incoherent and unable to move his body well, and it wasn't from exhaustion. Plus his friends told me to get him first, so they must have known something. Anyway, couple lessons learned. First, my life sling line was not already tied off with the life sling in the bag. It should have been. Had to tell my daughter's friend to tie it off before throwing it out. Second, in all the chaos we forgot to give them blankets when we got them aboard. One went below and my daughter gave them all towels, but they were all at least very cold if not in the beginning stages of hypothermia. Third, don't expect the Chatfield State Park rangers to respond to a mayday hail on VHF 16 - I hailed as soon as I grasped what was happening, to no avail. It was lucky that I was in the right place at the right time. There were no other boats around. These three were too far in the middle of the lake to swim to shore and I don't know if they could have given the conditions (including theirs). And I'm glad we were able to get a line to them before having to witness any of them drowning. Couldn't have done without my daughter and her friend (both 22-ish) - that would have been too much for me to manage alone. After we unloaded them, filed our statements, put the boat away, and drove home, we toasted the good things in life with many dark & stormies and whitecaps. I'd never seen anything like that before, and I hope I don't have to again. Best Regards, Randy Stafford S/V Grenadine C&C 30-1 #7 Ken Caryl, CO _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! </blockquote> _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
_______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
