A Safety Reminder

[Salty19]

This past Saturday evening, about 2,000 feet from my home out on the lake, a local sailboater and friend were out on the water.
Apparently their motor failed and they drifted up on a sandbar. One of the boaters jumped out to push off the sandbar, but was unable to gain access to the boat again.
He was separated from the craft as the wind blew the boat downwind after hanging onto the boat for a short period. 

A 911 call was made by the in-craft boater, and within minutes the ramp next to my home was swarming with fire and water rescue workers.
My wife and I immediately thought the worst when they called off the search that evening.  It was simply too dark to find him, and after 90 minutes had passed, it was no longer a rescue attempt but rather a recovery attempt.

After extensive searches, his body was found today.  He had a life jacket on the boat, but was not wearing one.

Here is one of the news articles:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/10/26/divers-to-resume-looking-today-for-missing-boater.html

With boater age, water and air temperatures around 55 or so the man would have about 5 minutes, give or take to get rescued before he would no longer be able to manage muscle movement.
That is assuming he's in good health.   

Frankly, I find this is a little suspicious for a few reasons. I am not sure if the police are investigating this or not.

-This was a dark, windy, cold and rainy night.  Cold as in about 55 degrees, wind blowing about 15mph and the rain had occurred for several hours prior to the event. Not heavy, but still a light rain.   I don't know anyone that would purposely go out, for leisure, in these conditions.  If it wasn't raining--OK, maybe.
-This occurred during an Ohio State Buckeyes football game.  Very few people in Columbus would be away from a TV at this time, let alone on a boat. The roads are literally deserted during games.
-The small sailboat was found with a mainsail tied to the jib and the jib hoisted and luffing.   Could they not sail the boat to avoid the sandbar?  Did both boaters not know how to sail the boat? There was plenty of wind to use sails.  Perhaps they are just poser types?  Why not tighten the jib sheet and use the sails to propel the boat?
-Did the deceased man get disoriented?  If they pushed off a sandbar, wouldn't the easiest thing to swim to be that sandbar?  Couldn't of been too far. Where did he try to swim to?
-No mention of the alive boater attempting to rescue, tossing a life jacket, etc.  Just a 911 call that said:  "I think my friend fell overboard..."  Doesn't line up--you hit a shoal and your buddy isn't on the boat and you "THINK" he fell overboard? I don't know about you guys, but I KNOW if a crew member is not onboard, even if it was just to cool off, swim, kayak, etc.  You would think the guy who jumped off would of said..."I'm going to push us off...be right back (or similar)"

I don't think the police are investigating this. Perhaps they feel that without a motor the boat was truly helpless?

However, let's consider this not suspicious and just an unfortunately accident for a moment so we can learn from this boaters mistake:

1.) An outboard on a sailboat should be considered optional.  Know how to operate the boat without one.
2.) Train your crew how to control the boat using sails only should you fall off (man overboard drills are important training tools!), 
3.) DO NOT hop out into cold water thinking "It's just for a moment".  Chances are you have less than 2-3 minutes to get back on board before your just not able to (give or take).
4.) If you do jump into the water "for just a moment"--wear a PFD.
5.) Learn alternative means to unstick yourself from a shoal (such as using a long pole to push off, weight redistribution, calling a friend to tow, waiting it out)
6.) Don't go out when conditions prevent safe navigation.  Rain, dark, windy and cold along with low water means bad visibility and hazards to navigation.
7.) Always consider your options and possible outcomes BEFORE you detach yourself from the boat, especially in challenging conditions.
8.) Use a permanent external swim ladder.  This boat did not have a means to climb back aboard.

Stay safe out there folks!

[Bob23]

Thank you Salty...a very sobering reminder. Even if the water is 70, hyperthermia is a real danger.
Bob23

[HeaveToo]

A good point in deed.

I am as guilty as most when it comes to life jackets.  I have a harness and jacklines aboard and I have never broken them out either, even though there are times I know I should have had them on there.

Life is fragile. 

[Salty19]

Sobering indeed, Bob.

I just got second hand word from a Div of Watercraft official that marijuana was involved in the incident. So lack of sobriety may have played a role in both the decision process to jump in, as well as after submersion, and possibly the landfall in the first place. Who knows.  Just glad they found him so his family can help to move past the uncertainty stage of this tragedy.

It's tough to say if alcohol or marijuana would be more dangerous on the water, either way, combining either with boating, let alone cold, wind, rain and night probably wasn't such a good plan.
Isn't that how a lot of boating accidents happen?  It's usually not one thing--it's a series of events.  I know a lot of us do have a few beers on board so let's remind ourselves to ask if that's going to be an issue given the myriad of conditions any given day might hold.

I'm sure more news will be trickling in.

Seems that we have about 1 person a year drown on the lake.  Last year it was a fisherman standing in his pontoon at his dock. He literally fell of the boat right at his dock and drown.  Alcohol was a contributing factor they say.

Since the water on this lake, Hoover Reservoir, is quite cold year round due to it's depth, I tend to use an inflatable PFD most of the time.  Not necessarily if the wind is light, but usually.  At night--always wear and often will tether in as well.

I put a beefy eye on the cockpit forward footwell and use a tether between the eye and the D ring on the inflatable if there are strong winds that increase the risk of going over.  I do wish the tether had a snap shackle rather than the carabiner so I could unhook it in an emergency.  I might just modify it this winter...

[Bob23]

Well, you know me: I like to have a drink or tow or three or four or....But, I do not drink while sailing the boat. In the past, I did not have that rule, some "events" came up and I saw that lack of judgement I displayed. So now, it's after the hook is down.
Thanks for sharing that....you may be saving someones life!!!
Bob23

[Jim23]

I agree with Bob23 about the dangers of low water temps.

I had a sobering reminder this summer about how cold water can greatly reduce your ability to stay afloat. I'm almost embarrassed to talk about it due to my momentary lack of good judgement. I decided to swim about 200' over to a neighboring boat in water that was somewhere in the 60's. I've been swimming in this lake for several years and have been a strong swimmer all of my life. I swam about 1/2 way at a fast pace and began to have trouble catching my breath for the tortuous 2nd half as my chest felt constricted. A friend threw out a foam noodle for the last 20' much to my relief. For a moment I wondered if I would need to call for help...pretty damn scary. Never had that feeling before and definitely renewed my respect for cold water.

Jim23

[brackish]

This is a good reminder, and of course a tragedy.  When I got my 23 being retired and able to sail the weather rather than the weekend, it became apparent that would I single hand a lot during the week because most of my friends are still working.   Most of my sailing is done in cooler weather when water temp is a factor.  Despite being long experienced or maybe because of it, I have two sets of safety gear and the agreement I have with the Admiral is that I never leave the dock not wearing the appropriate gear.  I have an auto inflate PFD with a harness, D-ring and tether for heavier weather conditions, and a lighter auto inflate PFD without a D-ring harness for those lazy light wind fall days.  Also, when the water temp is lower, I tend to make my rhumb line relatively close to a lee shore so if I did go over, I would not a have a long swim to shore.  Easy to do on a long skinny lake.  Fortunately, have never had to test my safety equipment in a real emergency and hope that continues.