Safety At Sea - Appendix D
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US Edition 2004-2005
SPECIAL
REGULATIONS -
APPENDIX
D
It is normal for Race Organizers to change and modify the regulations to suit the local race conditions. Race Organizers may copy and print these regulations for distribution in their race documents, only if they provide any changes or modifications to these regulations to the Chair of the Safety at Sea Committee for feedback to develop future changes to the regulations.
For information only
Quickstop and Lifesling
MAN OVERBOARD – QUICK STOP AND THE
LIFE SLING (OR
When a crew member goes over the side recovery time is of the essence. In
an effort to come up with a recovery system that is simple and lightning
quick, the US Yacht Racing Union Safety at Sea Committee, the
The hallmark of this method is the immediate reduction of boat speed by
turning to windward and then maneuvering slowly, remaining near the
victim. In most cases, this is better than reaching off, then gybing or
tacking and returning on a reciprocal course.
QUICK-STOP 1. Shout “man overboard”
and detail a crew member to spot and point to
the victim’s
position
in the water. The spotter
should not take his eyes off the victim (see Figure 1). 2. Provide immediate flotation.
Throw buoyant objects such as cockpit cushions, life
rings and so on. These objects may not only come to the aid of the
victim, but will “litter the water” where he went overboard and help
your spotter to keep him in view. Deployment of the pole and flag (dan
buoy) requires too much time. The pole is saved to “put on top” of
the victim in case the initial maneuver is unsuccessful. 3. Bring boat head-to-wind
and beyond (see Figure 1). 4. Allow headsail to back
and further slow the boat. 5. Keep turning with headsail backed
until wind is abaft the beam. 6. Head on beam-to-broad reach course
for two or three lengths then go
nearly dead downwind.
7. Drop the headsail
while keeping the mainsail centered (or nearly so). The
jib sheets are not slacked, even during the dousing maneuver, to keep
them inside the lifelines. 8. Hold the downward course
until victim is abaft the beam.
9. Gybe. 10. Approach the victim
on a course of approximately
45 degrees to 60 degrees off the wind. 11. Establish contact
with the victim with heaving line or other device. The
75 feet of light floating line and a bag that can be thrown into the wind
because the line is kept inside the bag and trails out as it sails to
the victim. 12. Effect recovery
over the windward side. Quickstop Under Spinnaker
The same procedure is used to accommodate a spinnaker.
Follow the preceding instructions. As the boat comes head-to-wind and the
pole is eased to the head stay, the spinnaker halyard is lowered and the
sail is gathered on the fore deck. The
turn is continued through the tack
and the approach phase
commences.
Quickstop in Yawls & Ketches
Experiment with your mizzensail. During sea trials, it was found best to
drop the mizzen as soon as possible during the early phases of
Quick-Stop.
Quickstop Using Engine
Use of the engine is not essential, although it’s advisable to have it
running in neutral, during Quick-Stop in case it is needed in the final
approach. Check first for trailing lines!
SHORTHANDED CREWS
When there are only two people sailing together and a
man-overboard
accident occurs, the remaining crew member may have difficulty in
handling the recovery alone. If the victim has sustained injuries,
getting him back aboard may be almost impossible. The Quick-Stop method
is simple to effect by a singlehander, with only one alteration to the
procedure: the addition of the “Lifesling”, a floating horsecollar
device that doubles as a hoisting sling. The Lifesling is attached to
the boat by a length of floating line three or four times the boat’s
length.
When a crew member falls overboard the scenario should proceed as follows:
1. A cushion or other flotation is thrown while the boat is brought
IMMEDIATELY head-to-wind, slowed and stopped (Figure 2 below).
2. The Lifesling is deployed by opening the bag on the stern pulpit and
dropping the sling into the water. It will trail astern and draw out the
line.
3. Once deployed, the boat is sailed in a wide circle around the victim
with the line and sling trailing. The jib is allowed to back from
head-to-wind, increasing the rate of turn.
4. Contact is established with the victim by the line and sling being
drawn inward by the boat’s circling motion. The victim places the
sling over his head and under his arms.
5. Upon contact, the boat is put head-to-wind again, the headsail is
dropped to the deck and the main is doused.
6. As the boat drifts slowly backward, the crew begins pulling the sling
and the victim to the boat. If necessary, a cockpit winch can be used to
assist in this phase, which should continue until the victim is
alongside and pulled up tightly until he is suspended in the sling (so
that he will not drop out). But see following page for advice on a
horizontal lift, which is preferable when there’s a choice. Reproduced by kind permission of US
Sailing.
THE HOISTING RIG Note:
Since the hoisting rig was developed, more evidence has
emphasized the value in keeping a victim horizontal particularly after
long or hypothermic immersion. A parbuckle or horizontal lift is highly
desirable (see below).
1. With the floating tether line, haul the victim alongside, preferably on
the windward side, from amidships to the quarter, wherever there are
available cleats and winches.
2. Pull up on the tether line (with winch assistance, if necessary) to get
the victim’s head and shoulders out of the water and cleat it. The
victim is now safe.
3. Attach a three-or four-part tackle to the main halyard, haul it up to a
predetermined point, about 10 feet above the deck or high enough so that
the victim can be hoisted up and over the lifelines. Cleat off the
halyard.
4. Attach the lower end of the tackle to the (previously
sized) loop in the
tether line that passes through the
D-rings of the sling.
5. Reeve the running end of the tackle through a sheet block or snatch
block on deck and put it on a cockpit winch. Hoist the victim aboard by
winching it on the running end of the tackle.
PARBUCKLE DEVICE
This is an alternative to the hoisting rig. A patent version is known as
the Tri-buckle. Another version is rectangular, like a climbing net. The
net, or triangle of strong porous material, is clipped to the toe rail,
the triangle top or net extremity clipped to a halyard extension. The
casualty is maneuvered or dragged alongside into the triangle or net then
rolled onto the deck by hoisting the halyard.
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