Frank wrote:
Sorry, guys, I gotta disagree.

First and foremost, I sympathize with his family. A terrible loss for
them. I also don't fault the crew for their MOB procedures. I'm sure
they did everything possible.

However, I don't see that the interview truly explains why he wasn't
harnessed. Like Oz1 sez, downhill in high seas and 25+ knots flying the
chute in cold water.

Actually they weren't. The weather was relatively calm when
the incident started. The wind kicked up and while the crew
was dealing with it, they rotated thru putting on their
harnesses and Hans was the last one.


... Everyone should have been harnessed before
starting their watch, not thinking "Ah, it's ok. We can go below and
get harnessed and come back on deck if/when it deteriorates." These are
experienced, professional racers. They were too casual and it cost his
family everything.


I agree but the flip side of the coin is to be harnessed in
24/7/365 which also doesn't work.

No matter what safety procedures are followed, no matter how
rigorously, there will always be accidents. What about the
young sailor whose harness broke in the Sydney-Hobart?


"The sea will claim its own" is not applicable here. This was his
fault, not the ocean's. "He died doing what he loved." Would have been
more fun for him and his family if he'd continued to live, doing what
he loved and taking care of those he loved.


I agree again, but I don't have your faith in a perfectable
world... certainly not at sea. Could they have been more
careful? Yes, certainly. Racing sailboats around the world
is not an inherently safe endeavor, though. What happened
was a given risk... minimizable but not totally avoidable.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King