Health, Safety and Emergencies Lifesling-Type Rescue


If there are few people on board, the Lifesling-type rescue method should be employed. The Lifesling is a floating harness that is deployed from the boat’s stern with a long floating line attached. The end of the line is attached to the boat. Once the PIW reaches the harness, he or she places the sling around his or her body, and is attached to the boat from that point on until being lifted out of the water. The success of this method depends on the PIW grabbing the line and putting on the sling. It takes longer than the Quick-Stop and the other methods, but provides a means for a single crew member to effect a rescue of a PIW. 1 As soon as a crew member falls overboard, throw a cushion or other buoyant objects to the PIW and shout “Crew Overboard!” while the boat is brought IMMEDIATELY head-to-wind, slowed and stopped. The main is trimmed to centerline.


2 The Lifesling is deployed by opening the bag that is hung on the stern pulpit and dropping the sling into the water. It will trail out astern and draw out the remaining line.


3 Once the Lifesling is deployed, the boat is sailed in a wide circle around the PIW with the line and sling trailing astern. The jib is not tended but allowed to back from the head-to-wind position, which increases the rate of turn.


4 Contact is established with the PIW by the line and sling being drawn inward by the boat’s circling motion. The PIW then places the sling over his or her head and under his or her arms.


5 Upon contact, the boat is put head-to-wind again, the headsail is dropped to the deck or furled and the mainsail is doused.


6 As the boat drifts, the crew begins pulling the sling and the PIW to the boat. If necessary a cockpit winch can be used to assist in this phase, which should continue until the PIW is alongside and pulled up tightly until he or she is suspended in the sling (so that the PIW will not drop out and the torso is out of the water).


This system is effective if the line length is preadjusted to avoid running over the line, and if the method is practiced to achieve competence.


Te Lifesling is a floating device attached to the boat by a length of floating line that doubles as a hoisting sling to retrieve a PIW in the water. If the side of the boat is too high to reach the PIW, or the PIW is injured, the sling can be used to hoist the person up and over the lifelines.


5 6 1


2


3 WIND


4


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