we had about 5 knots of wind. i just tell them if we flip get in the water
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Nacra 6.0 NA
Ogden Dunes, IN
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Hobie 16 Owner Drowns at Lake Hefner, OK
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- Rank: Mate
- Registered: Aug 10, 2010
- Last visit: Jan 07, 2022
- Posts: 356
Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 12:03 AM
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- Rank: Chief
- Registered: Jun 24, 2009
- Last visit: Jun 15, 2023
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 01:17 AM
In my career I've been a passenger in many small helicopters (mostly Jet Rangers). EVERY time before you get into a helicopter the pilot tells you how to enter, how to exit, where not to be, where the emergency equipment is, what to do in an emergency, etc etc. This really helps with any nerves before flight and at least gives you a chance of knowing what to do in an emergency.
When I have new people on my boat (almost every time I go out) I always go through a similar routine.
"Here is a PFD, lets make sure it is strapped on properly, if we capsize stay with the boat, if it happens it will likely be when we are flying the hull, it will go up to almost vertical and when the mast hits the water it will likely go over in slow motion, don't stay on the top hull, when I tell you - make your way to the bottom under the boom, if I fall off the boat turn it into the wind and let out the sheets, etc etc."
This way at least they will be somewhat prepared for what happens if we go over or someone falls off and are less likely to panic. I'm on a small lake so the worst thing that could happen is the boat takes off without me and sails into the shore. Likely some damage but as long as everyone is wearing a PFD (and a wet suit this time of year) no one is going to die.
Also new PFDs every 5-10 years are a must. The newer ones last longer but foam breaks down over time. Those 30 year old seat cushions in your fishing boat probably won't keep you afloat for very long if at all. Also I can't tell you how many hand-me-down kids PFDs I have seen (and owned) that were 15-20 years old and looked almost new.
Regards,
Dave
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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Posted: Sep 16, 2010 - 08:24 PM
I think most of this discussion has appropriately moved to the PFD thread, but I'd like to repost the following, written by a friend of mine about Craig, the deceased. As he was new to our community, I had not yet met him, but several others had.
I first saw Craig as he stood on the beach, chuckling as I swum my dismasted H16 back to shore. He mentioned looking for a boat, and, as we all do when sizing up a new sailor, began to quote his credentials of cat sailing in Michigan. He was an aircraft mechanic at Wiley Post, always excited about taxiing some sweet jet or another. He went straight for the beer the following Wed night, meeting me up at the boat club, obviously buzzing, as we all would be, at the idea of picking up a new cat. He was amped to sail on Labor Day weekend, and picked up the boat after a quick, but thorough inspection. His enthusiasm for cat sailing was palpable, I think he would have made a colorful, never boring addition to our beach. Thank you all for your heartfelt comments, his sacrifice will serve to help all of us be safer sailors.
RIP
The sailor who wrote the paragraph above was recently double trapped with me on my 5.2 when a pitchpole separated us from it by almost a mile in a matter of minutes...I completely understand the concern or even panic that the two sailors felt as the children drifted away, possibly very quickly.
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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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Posted: Feb 01, 2011 - 04:08 AM
Missed this thread, but have been in this situation, several times.
Crew was in a PFD, but not a swimmer, when we turtled, he panicked. After the situation was fixed, he reported "I couldn't get out from under the boat. I pushed away from it, but floated back under it." Duh, the PFD pushes you up. If you want to get out from under a boat, you have to push/swim to the side. This needs to be a drill for sailors, if you don't understand the physics of flotation. My bad, crew was inexperienced, as was captain (me).
Crew was in a PFD's, multiple small children, when the boat turtled. Crew reacted as instructed, stayed with the boat, followed my instructions, no panic. No righting, either, turned out the hull was breached (too many beach landings, hull repairs were not done). But the lack of panic, due to following the Capt's instructions, prevented a worse situation.
Practice, think, & be prepared. You may not get another chance (but fortunatley, I did, more than once).
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Chuck Miles
1978 Hobie 16
1991 Hunter 23.5
TsaLaGi Yacht Club, Jackson Bay Marina
Fort Gibson Lake, OK
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