74 BASIC POWERBOATING. SAFETY & RESCUE FOR SAILING INSTRUCTORS Slow Tow to Shore


If the swamped boat floats too low in the water to pump out, or it cannot be hauled onto the safety boat, you will have to tow it slowly back to shore.


SAILOR ENTRAPMENT RESCUES


There may be rare occasions when a sailor gets trapped under a turtled sailboat and entangled in lines or rigging. If this occurs, it is important to quickly determine the condition of the sailor. Frequently, there will be an air pocket under the boat where the sailor can breathe. If the sailor is conscious, communication may be established either by knocking/tapping on the hull or by voice. If there is no response, the sailor may be unconscious or may not be in an air pocket. In this case, an immediate rescue is critical. Studies have shown that the fastest way to right a turtled boat is the one described in this chapter as “Self-Rescue of a Turtled Boat,” provided the leverage weight of the person(s) righting the boat is sufficient. This weight may depend on the type of boat, water in flotation tanks, location of the trapped sailor, and the leveraging technique of the rescuer(s). More than one rescuer may be needed to achieve the required weight. If sufficient weight is not possible, then other methods must be quickly evaluated to determine the best alternative. It is imperative that the rescue does not cause additional injury or risk to the trapped sailor or the rescuer. While there have been cases where a rescuer has swum under a turtled boat and successfully rescued an entangled sailor, taking this action puts him/her at substantial risk of becoming entangled, injured, or even drowning. While the rescue is underway, make sure the emergency action plan has been activated and the rescuers’ actions are being communicated to the appropriate people.


“The fastest reliable rescue technique which worked for all boats was found to be two heavy sailors aboard the inverted boat, pulling on the centreboard. Nearly all boats could be righted consistently inside thirty-five seconds in a range of conditions.”


- Royal Yachting Association’s Report, Research into Dinghy Entrapments


Table of Contents


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