"Roger Long" wrote in
:

The light on the pole is just to help the PIW get to it in the dark.
It's plenty bright enough for that. If they don't get to it, it isn't
going to be much use.



You can even spot the strobe in sunlight. It just makes it easier to see
after your unfledge "crew", that hasn't a notion of how to come about to
get you, finally figures out how to get it turned around in their panic
and you're 2 miles astern of it.

-----------------------------

Roger, while out crusing with your family and friends, totally
unannounced while they're not standing there talking to you, SLIDE
OVERBOARD QUIETLY. Just slip over the side and let them all sail away
without you. See how long you have to float before they even notice
you're gone and have conducted the "cabin search" for your carcass. It's
really hilarious to watch the Chinese Fire Drill.

Don't do it on a nearly calm day, either. Do it in a nice, stiff breeze
where you're fighting the sheets and coming about is a problem. Uh, uh,
no fair waiting until 3 other captains from down the dock are sailing
with you, either! Regular crew ONLY. This is a realtime, unplanned
drill.....or at least it will be until you see them sail over the
horizon...(c;

The MOB pole will never be deployed because noone noticed you falling
overboard in the first place, so there'll have to be a real search to
find you. Just to be fair, please do hide your Sospenders in your pants
so you won't tire and drown before they get their act together. The
drill is well worth that nearly-out-of-date CO2 cartridge you were going
to replace anyways. The MOB pole ASSUMES someone saw someone falling
overboard.

Noone goes on deck untethered after dark......ESPECIALLY the captain!

Larry
--
Next overnight cruise, throw a floating cushion overboard and shout "MAN
OVERBOARD" at 3AM and ring the bell until all hands are ready to retrieve
"him". If that doesn't get the message across to be firmly tied to the
boat in your harness EVERY TIME, nothing will...(c;
After you get the pole fixed, throw it overboard at 3AM instead of the
cushion and see if they can find it with your little bicycle light on it.
Test that on a MOONLIT night when the moon's reflection is flashing in
your faces off the water. The moon flashes drive me crazy searching at
night.