Safety & Seamanship

On November 18, 2017, Simon Speirs was washed off the bow of Clipper 70 CV30 during a southern ocean leg of the Clipper Around the World Race. He was attached to the boat with a 2-meter tether, which initially held him but failed within a few minutes. He was recovered 32 minutes later, but he could not be resuscitated.

The United Kingdoms Marine Accident Investigation Branchs report on the death of Simon Speirs highlighted several factors that contributed to Speirs death, as well as the many elements required of successful MOB rescue. The full report, documenting in great detail the events leading up to Speirs going overboard, and the eventual recovery of his body should be required reading for any offshore sailor. You can find it online at: https://bit.ly/36lzh8H

The following is an excerpt from the statement that Clipper Ventures released in response to UKs Marine Accident Investigation Branchs report on the death of sailor Simon Speirs. The full response can be found online at: https://bit.ly/36cpUb3

We recently talked about the tremendous forces at work when a person goes overboard (see PS December 2018, Leg Straps Put the Load on Fanny). Monterey Bay sailor Jack Davies, 63, who is lucky to be alive, felt those forces firsthand. Davies set out in his Ericson 35 Ean na Mara for a winter sail from Monterey Harbor to Point Pinos about three miles away and back. On the return leg, with sunset closing in, he…

Primarily known for mountaineering and industrial climbing gear, sailors know Kong for the robust Tango tether clip used on most safety tethers (See Safety Tethers Under Scrutiny, PS March, 2018). In addition to climbing gear, Kong also makes anchor swivels, mooring hooks, and snap shackles. Here, in an update to our July 2019 report, we look at their new helmet.

In case of fire, obviously there are times when quick retreat is the only plan. If gasoline, propane, or even a can of WD-40 is likely to become involved, you need to go. Fiberglass ignites fast, so only incipient fires are worth fighting. Of course, if you are sailing and aware, this is the only sort of fire you should face. Thus, assuming the engine is diesel and the propane is shut off at the tank, which is also some distance away, you have a few minutes.

Like Tom Taylor and Joseph DiMatteo (see Mailport PS August 2019), Ive stopped using inflatable PFDs and instead wear inherently buoyant foam versions. I found that ones designed for dinghy sailing are often very comfortable and have convenient pockets for knives, whistles, flashlights, and even handheld VHFs (I keep one with GPS and DSC on myself, especially when single-handing).

Some simple steps can reduce the risk of a crew overboard incident.

Ocean sailing in a modern race boat or multihull with a high horsepower rig makes double-digit boat speed attainable and complicates a MOB rescue. Our research suggests that no single MOB tactic works for all occasions.

Man overboard recovery failures have become a frequent headline, and details about these tragedies hold lessons worth learning.