Helpful resources to aid in your Safety at Sea education
COMANCHE PERSON OVERBOARD RESCUE DEMONSTRATION
US Sailing Safety at Sea members were fortunate to be invited by Jim Cooney, aboard his Comanche, for a demonstration of their technique for rescuing a Person in the Water (PIW). Lightweight maxis have trouble holding a course head to wind. This method was developed to reduce the risk of having the sailboat run over the PIW.
This video is available for instructional purposes and may be shown during crew overboard retrieval segments of Safety at Sea seminars. It shows the following steps:
1. Sails are dropped and the boat returns to a location about a boat length abeam of the PIW.
2. A rescue swimmer attached to a retrieval line swims to the PIW (person in the water) and attaches to them.
3. The crew clips a halyard around the retrieval line, outboard of the lifelines, so that the halyard shackle can slide along the retrieval line, and hoists.
4. The PIW and rescue swimmer are hoisted aboard. The retrieval line on a halyard ensures that the boat will not drift over them, because by the time they are close to the boat they are being lifted vertically. Thus, the boat itself will not become a danger to the PIW.
We intend to test variations of this method for use on smaller, non-professionally-crewed boats that employ the LifeSling recovery.
Safety Reports
Independent reviews done by the Safety at Sea Committee
Safety at Sea: A Guide to Safety Under Sail and Personal Survival book
This 220-page book was written to accompany US Sailing’s Safety at Sea course, which shares best practices with both aspiring and experienced offshore sailors. The book is 25.95 and can be ordered through our online store.
Helmet Use
Information on helmet usage in competitive and recreational sailing
Traveling with your Inflatable Life Jacket
TSA guidelines for traveling with a personal flotation device
Cold Assessment Reference Card
This card is a quick reference guide to help you assess and care for someone suffering from hypothermia. The card is also included with our Safety at Sea: A Guide to Safety Under Sail and Personal Survival book referenced above.
Cruising World November/December Article
This article was written by Tim Murphy, Editor-At-Large, Cruising World Magazine. In 2019, Tim took the Online Offshore Safety at Sea course followed by participation in an International Offshore Safety at Sea Hands-on only course hosted by Cruising Club of America. He gives his insights on the value of these courses for both the racing and cruising sailor.
U.S. VHF Channel Information
The U.S. Coast Guard has updated the channels and their frequencies for VHF radios operated in the United States.
