There is a picture in Sailing World this month in
ASK DR. CRASH. However, instead of providing
usefull suggestions on what to do in this situation,
they make a joke about a potentially fatal situation!
Shame on you Dr Crash!

The picture is located in the last page of this months
issue titled "Drop the Chute".

***************************************
General Description:
During a race, a bowman on an Etchells named LION'S
PAW of the Annapolis Yahct Club was on the foredeck,
jibing a spinnaker and fell off the boat, with his leg caught
between the two starboard shrouds.

Injured Crew Condition:
He had no life jacket on, his sun glasses were still
on and most of his body above water, facing aft as
he was being dragged along. The boat is heeled far
enough to keep most of the man['s body out of the
water and expose the starboard boot stripe. The
bowmans left arm and left leg are in the water. His
body and head were even with the boot stripe, and
could easily be under water of the boat was not heeled.
His head would definately be below water if the boat
was heeled the other direction. His foot is securely
trapped between the two shrouds; he is consious
but unable to help himself. The force of the water has
pushed him as far aft as his leg will allow.

Wind Conditions
There are whitecaps, and the wind looks like 12-13
knots. The boat is sailing a deep broad reach, on port
tack, but heeled like it was on a starboard tack. The
other boats all appear to be in a stable angle of heel
and headed closer to a run. There is not sign of rolling
on the other boats as you would find in heavier winds.

Boat Condition:
The spinnaker pole is attached only at the clue on
the port side, and is free at the mast. The starboard
twing is in tight, the port twing is eased. The jib is down
on the foredeck. The main is all the way out on the
starboard side. Unlike most other boats, the Etchells
boom vang's typically could not be easily removed.

Other factors:
The middle crew is a woman, probably not strong
enough to pull the bowman back aboard. A strong
man might not be able to haul this soaking wet man
back aboard against the force of the water. The boat
appears to be in the middle of the fleet.

Assumptions:
1. Assume there are one or two other boats
upwind of LION'S PAW, and all are headed
downwind with their kites up.
2. The committee boat is over a mile away.
3. You do not have a radio on board.
4. The bow man cannot be pulled aft without
breaking his leg or dislocating his knee.
5. Assume the boat is on a dead downwind run.
6. You have typical safety gear on board and handy.
*****************************************
Question 1: What should the skipper do? [2 points]

Question 2: What should the middle person do? [2 points]

Question 3: As a skipper what would you change in
future races to mitigate a problem like this? [1 point]

Question 4: In heavier winds with rolling condtions, would
you do anything differently? [1 point]