PART 7 Figure-8 Rescue


For small inshore keelboats whose stability characteristics may result in loss of control during a jibe in heavy weather, the Quick-Turn (or Figure-8) rescue allows for a return to the PIW without jibing. Take the following steps in a Quick- Turn rescue: 1 As soon as a crew member falls overboard, throw buoyant objects, such as cushions, life jackets or life rings, to the PIW and shout “Crew overboard!”


2 Designate someone to spot and point at the person in the water. The spotter should NEVER take his or her eyes off the PIW.


4 1 2 3 6 7 8 5


Getting the PIWAboard Attaching the PIW to the boat. A weak link in overboard res- cues is what happens aſter contact has been made. A PIW hold- ing onto a line has been known to let it slip out of their grasp as they succumb to fatigue and hypothermia. Take immediate action to attach the PIW to the boat by clipping a line to the PIW harness or using a sling. Once attached to the boat, the PIW can be brought on board without fear of losing him or her. If rescue has been made with a Lifesling, properly clipped around the chest, this eliminates the problem.


Under Power Rescue


There may be occasions when a quick rescue under sail is not possible. For instance, if you’re motoring along under power or there is not enough wind, or in the worst case scenario, the mast has failed and gone overboard, take the following steps:


1 As soon as a crew member falls overboard, throw buoyant objects, such as cushions, life jackets or life rings, to the PIW and shout “Crew overboard!”


2 Designate someone to spot and point at the PIW. The spot- ter should NEVER take his or her eyes off the PIW.


3 Return to the PIW. Make sure all sheets and lines are on board the boat and secured before turning on the engine and putting it into gear. While making the rescue, maintain constant vigilance that no lines go overboard.


4 Approach the PIW with the boat headed into the wind and under very slow speed. Stop the boat alongside the PIW.


5 Establish contact with the PIW with a heaving line or other device, and stop the engine.


6 Bring the PIW on board. Make sure the PIW does not get near the propeller at any time during the recovery proce- dure.


Getting back aboard. Except in calm conditions, liſting a PIW aboard can be far from easy. It must be borne in mind that there will certainly be some degree of shock, an injury may have been sustained and hypothermia may be setting in.


Boarding by ladder. If the swim ladder is mounted over the stern, be careful lest the boat’s pitching causes the ladder or hull to injure the PIW. Consider other means if this possibil- ity seems real. In the case of a simple trip over the rails on a calm aſternoon, however, the stern ladder is your first and obvious way.


Liſting by sling. Te over-riding advantage of the Lifesling is that the PIW can be liſted on to the boat. Tis involves hoist- ing the person using a halyard. A block and tackle can be used as well. Practice using the sling, as an emergency is not the first time to try this.


Aſtercare. Take the greatest care of the PIW who oſten suc- cumb to hypothermia (see page 99, “Hypothermia”).


3 Sail the boat on a beam reach for a maximum of four boat lengths.


4 Tack into the wind and fall off onto a very broad reach, crossing the boat’s original course.


5 When downwind of the PIW, turn into the wind as if you were going to pick up a mooring.


6 Stop alongside the PIW by easing or backing sails. 7 Establish contact with the PIW with a heaving line or other device.


8 Recover the PIW on board.


96


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129