When a $2 whistle is the piece of equipment that saves your life.

MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: May 22, 2024

Posts: 7089
Posted: Jul 27, 2017 - 09:40 AM

Chicago to Mackinac Race Man Overboard in the Night

https://www.spinsheet.com…race-man-overboard-night

Here is Hampton sailor Mark Wheeler’s first-hand account of being that man overboard in the night during the 289-nautical-mile Chicago Mackinac Race last week onboard the Farr 400 Meridian X:
gobigkahuna

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Jun 07, 2017

Last visit: Jan 23, 2019

Posts: 73
Posted: Jul 27, 2017 - 06:41 PM

I know of a few other stories where a whistle (or flashlight) attached to a lifejacket helped save a mariner's life. Don't know if they are mandatory on racing boats (as they are on merchant vessels) but if not they should be.
Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: Jul 27, 2017 - 07:04 PM

A whistle is a necessary piece of equipment but was useless to me when I was launched from my boat last year. I now have a strobe permanently attached to my pfd and a waterproof 2 way radio to shore at all times (where such a thing will work). Never skimp on safety measures and your safety plan!! As silly little thing can turn life or death very quickly on the water. Mn3 you have pounded this into our heads for years and the more I sail the more anal I get about triple checking everything and having backups for my backups.

--
Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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klozhald

Rank: Chief

Registered: Apr 19, 2011

Last visit: Nov 20, 2024

Posts: 1460
Posted: Jul 28, 2017 - 05:30 PM

Agree with all. Each vest has a whistle, a flare and a radio.
The whistle is tied to the vest, the flare is in an elastic strap that also holds a knife, and the radio is in a pouch on the other side of the PFD.
A CD to use as a signal device during the day would be a good addition.
Might have to brush up on Morse Code, but SOS is pretty simple.

--
Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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sailee

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 05, 2017

Last visit: Sep 20, 2017

Posts: 7
Posted: Sep 11, 2017 - 01:12 AM

everybody needs it. we also have whistles for our kits we can use during earthquakes