Here are my ideas.

First off, I like Ozzie's idea of handing the man the jib sheet. I'd
also talk to him about what I planned to do so he can hold his
breath.

Someone should hand him the boats throwable floatation right away.
If he manages to free himself from the boat he'll need that.

Firing a flare right away might be a good idea. Usually
in a race problems on other boats downwind are spotted quickly,
but others might react more quickly if there was a sense of
urgency provoked by a flare. A handheld VHF call for help
would be wise also, in case the problem takes a long time to
resolve. I would not waste time talking, I'd possibly give one
quick report and focus on the task at hand, and not count on
any help.

I'd worriy about the spinnaker pole flailing around the foredeck.
This would not be a good time to lose a second crew overboard
with a head injury and have to chose which one to save first, and
possibly which one to die. I've been hit in the head by a spinnaker
pole and people have died from injuries like that.

In the described conditions, I'd start by dumping the pole lift, and
sheet in the foreguy to drop the spinnaker pole. I'd ease the
spinnaker halyard 6 feet. and let the spinnaker sheet run. That
would leave the spinnaker streaming out downwind, and out of the
water, and in a good position to recover it later. It might turn
out that the spinnaker pole could be used helm keep the mans' head
out of the water also.

I do not like the idea of having the spinnaker in the water attached to
the boat. It might complicate matters in unexpected ways.

The helmsman's should yell "gybing", and sheet in the main halfway. If the
boat was by the lee, as Doug stated, it would be in the first stages of
a death roll, and it would be a slam gybe as the boom crossed the boat
and began to round up. Sheeting the main in halfway plus the boats
momentum would help keep the boat heeled and turning upwind. If
the boat was not by the lee, gybing still makes sense.

That would put the spinnaker behind the main. And bring the
boat's head up, as it rounds up, and tend to keep the man out
of the water as the boat slows down. The helmsman should steer
up to keep the main luffing and boat stopped and possibly hove-to
with the spinnaker drag offsetting the helm.
..
The boat would be unlikely to unintentionally tack with the spinnaker
streaming off the bow and the main not fully sheeted in. An
unintentional tack is not a good idea as it might make it more difficult
for the man to keep his head out of the water.

At this point the middle woman could reach down from the cockpit
and help the bowman keep his head up out of the water if he was
having trouble getting air. Perhaps he could put his other foot
against the hull and kick himself free at this point. If not the helmsman
could take over the job of helping him stay above water, steering with
the hiking stick or his foot and keeping the boat stopped.

The middle woman could try to free his foot, untie his shoe or whatever.
If the boat were stopped it will be easier to get the foot out.

If the foot is still stuck, depending on the urgency, the woman could free
the jib halyard, tie a big loop with a bowline to support his weight, or tie
it around his foot to brute force the foot free. If I were in the water
having
trouble keeping my head out of the water, I'd gladly accept some cuts,
bruises, or even a broken leg over drowning.

If his foot is really jammed in there the only way to get him out mayl
be to pull him forward.

In heavier wind conditions I'd let spinnaker halyard, sheet and
guy all go. I think the spinnaker would float long enough to
recover later.


Nav wrote

Bart Senior wrote:

DSK wrote


Where is the spinnaker halyard cleat? Can the skipper reach it? Dropping
the chute would slow the boat down... indeed, could well bring it to a
complete stop


How would you do that? Dropping it in the water will
stop the boat quickly and perhaps put the mans head
underwater.

He's got hand hasn't he?