"Larry" wrote in message
...

Try this and see how you come out.....

Take out your usual crew of people, some partially sailors, some not,

Take her out in the harbor to a big open area with few boats you might
endanger.

Jump overboard from your lofty helm perch and start frantically screaming
and waving your arms in distress. Click the stopwatch on your diver's
Rolex Oyster to time this event.

Watch the reaction from back aboard by your crack crew of wife, kids,
friends, business associates and those still drinking your beer.

How long was it before they got her turned around and came effortlessly
alongside your position to retrieve you, using the finest navigation and
methods of retrieval?


I've actually experienced this scenario almost exactly, though it was my
crazy brother- not me- who dived off the boat unexpectedly, and it was not
in a "big open area with few boats"

We were heading out for a race, had just hoisted the mainsail when the winch
barrel on an old Barlow 16 winch popped of and rolled over the side (they
had a spring loaded retaining mechanism which was hopeless). The crew
consisted of my brother and myself (both with many years of racing and
cruising experience) and a friend who had been out sailing a couple of
times.

As the winch barrel rolled over, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my
brother dive in after it! We were in the middle of the channel leading out
of the boat harbour with maybe 10-12 other boats heading out to the start- a
few had to dodge him. He had actually grabbed it and was holding the winch
barrel aloft like a prize.

After the first few seconds of stunned disbelief, I explained to Graeme, my
inexperienced crewman, how to drop the mainsail, we dropped it, started the
diesel (there was no manoeuvring room in the channel to sail) and motored
back to get my idiot brother. Total time about 3 minutes.

I had been planning to replace that crappy old winch for some time, but,
because it was there, hadn't bothered. It would have been an ideal
opportunity- but it was still there when I sold the boat a couple of years
later.

Surprisingly, I still go sailing with my brother.

Peter HK

"Peter HK" wrote in news:r2iDf.230844$V7.46418
@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

Surprisingly, I still go sailing with my brother.



This newsgroup could sure use a lot more stories like this than it gets....

Thanks, Peter!

Okay, I almost posted this without prompting, but held off.

Gusty day on Lake Travis TX with peak gusts pushing 32 MPH. Not
dangerous, but not benign either. My wife and I host another
couple on our Catalina 27. We have shut off the motor, hoisted
the main, and I've given the tiller to my friend so that I can
go forward and hoist the small jib. The ladies are having drinks
in the back of the cockpit. We are beating out a channel from the
marina to the main channel where I intend to hoist the jib. I've
unfolded the jib and hanked it on, and am on my knees holding the
jib down while I unwind the jib sheets in preparation for leading
them back to the cockpit when I hear a yell!. The jib is requiring
my full attention to keep it from blowing out from between my knees,
so I ignore the first yell figuring that there is nothing that can
be that pressing at the moment. Another yell for me! I look back
and see that the helmsman is in the water, and the two ladies are
sitting in the back of the cockpit where they cannot easily reach
the tiller!

A couple of quick wraps with the sheets secure the jib to the railing,
and I rush back to grab the tiller. The helmsman is now 30-40 yards
behind us and only 15-20 yards from the side of the channel where the
chop is breaking against a cliff. We do the figure-8 MOB drill for REAL
with a gybe instead of a tack on the backside and iron the boat to a
stop within 10 feet of my dripping ex-helmsman.

Turns out a gust blew his hat off, and he jumped in the water after
it...

And yes we still go sailing with them. Sure was glad for all the times
we played MOB with the channel bouys.

Don W.

Larry wrote:

This newsgroup could sure use a lot more stories like this than it gets....

Thanks, Peter!

Don W wrote:
Okay, I almost posted this without prompting, but held off.

Gusty day on Lake Travis TX with peak gusts pushing 32 MPH. Not
dangerous, but not benign either. My wife and I host another
couple on our Catalina 27. We have shut off the motor, hoisted
the main, and I've given the tiller to my friend so that I can
go forward and hoist the small jib. The ladies are having drinks
in the back of the cockpit. We are beating out a channel from the
marina to the main channel where I intend to hoist the jib. I've
unfolded the jib and hanked it on, and am on my knees holding the
jib down while I unwind the jib sheets in preparation for leading
them back to the cockpit when I hear a yell!. The jib is requiring
my full attention to keep it from blowing out from between my knees,
so I ignore the first yell figuring that there is nothing that can
be that pressing at the moment. Another yell for me! I look back
and see that the helmsman is in the water, and the two ladies are
sitting in the back of the cockpit where they cannot easily reach
the tiller!

A couple of quick wraps with the sheets secure the jib to the railing,
and I rush back to grab the tiller. The helmsman is now 30-40 yards
behind us and only 15-20 yards from the side of the channel where the
chop is breaking against a cliff. We do the figure-8 MOB drill for REAL
with a gybe instead of a tack on the backside and iron the boat to a
stop within 10 feet of my dripping ex-helmsman.

Turns out a gust blew his hat off, and he jumped in the water after
it...

And yes we still go sailing with them. Sure was glad for all the times
we played MOB with the channel bouys.

Don W.

Larry wrote:

This newsgroup could sure use a lot more stories like this than it
gets....

Thanks, Peter!



Once we had our top regional boss and his wife out sailing on the Boat I
crewed on. A gust of wind snatched his cap and dropped it in the drink.
Our helmsman did a quick 180 and I immediately dove for the storage area
under the cockpit seats...scattering the ladies. I was able to get the
boat hook ready just as we passed by the cap and with one swoop I picked
it up. Timing was perfect...more by luck than any skill.

"Don White" wrote in message
...
Don W wrote:
Okay, I almost posted this without prompting, but held off.

Gusty day on Lake Travis TX with peak gusts pushing 32 MPH. Not
dangerous, but not benign either. My wife and I host another
couple on our Catalina 27. We have shut off the motor, hoisted
the main, and I've given the tiller to my friend so that I can
go forward and hoist the small jib. The ladies are having drinks
in the back of the cockpit. We are beating out a channel from the marina
to the main channel where I intend to hoist the jib. I've
unfolded the jib and hanked it on, and am on my knees holding the
jib down while I unwind the jib sheets in preparation for leading
them back to the cockpit when I hear a yell!. The jib is requiring
my full attention to keep it from blowing out from between my knees,
so I ignore the first yell figuring that there is nothing that can
be that pressing at the moment. Another yell for me! I look back
and see that the helmsman is in the water, and the two ladies are
sitting in the back of the cockpit where they cannot easily reach
the tiller!

A couple of quick wraps with the sheets secure the jib to the railing,
and I rush back to grab the tiller. The helmsman is now 30-40 yards
behind us and only 15-20 yards from the side of the channel where the
chop is breaking against a cliff. We do the figure-8 MOB drill for REAL
with a gybe instead of a tack on the backside and iron the boat to a stop
within 10 feet of my dripping ex-helmsman.

Turns out a gust blew his hat off, and he jumped in the water after
it...

And yes we still go sailing with them. Sure was glad for all the times
we played MOB with the channel bouys.

Don W.

Larry wrote:

This newsgroup could sure use a lot more stories like this than it
gets....

Thanks, Peter!



Once we had our top regional boss and his wife out sailing on the Boat I
crewed on. A gust of wind snatched his cap and dropped it in the drink.
Our helmsman did a quick 180 and I immediately dove for the storage area
under the cockpit seats...scattering the ladies. I was able to get the
boat hook ready just as we passed by the cap and with one swoop I picked
it up. Timing was perfect...more by luck than any skill.

Ok, my turn... I was teaching a couple of people various MOB techniques down
BVI way a few years ago. Since I knew their abilities, I had no hesitation
being in the water as the victim. They did fine, so after about 1/2 day, we
decided to go for a sail. We were cruising along with me driving. Two of the
crew were in the cockpit, with the other two hanging their legs in the water
off the stern swim platform (always fun). One of the woman called my name,
so I turned around to answer. She was standing on the swim platform holding
her drink. She smiled, yelled MOB, and jumped off the stern. I guess it was
my turn. :-)

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

On Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:19:52 GMT, Don White
wrote:



Once we had our top regional boss and his wife out sailing on the Boat I
crewed on. A gust of wind snatched his cap and dropped it in the drink.
Our helmsman did a quick 180 and I immediately dove for the storage area
under the cockpit seats...scattering the ladies. I was able to get the
boat hook ready just as we passed by the cap and with one swoop I picked
it up. Timing was perfect...more by luck than any skill.

I keep a fixed boat hook lashed to the backstay for this purpose. I've
never had to wield it in earnest, but I have scooped some interesting
items from the water as I've passed with it.

R.

In article ,
Don White wrote:

I immediately dove for the storage area under the cockpit
seats...scattering the ladies.

Our boat hook has a permanent berth laying alongside our grab rail for
just that eventuality. Lifesaving equipment should all be to hand and
ready to deploy immediately.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Don W" wrote in message
m...
Okay, I almost posted this without prompting, but held off.
Turns out a gust blew his hat off, and he jumped in the water after
it...

Do you duct tape his hat on now. It makes a real secure chin strap.

Leanne

"Leanne" wrote in :

Do you duct tape his hat on now. It makes a real secure chin strap.

Leanne



Only in Beaufort....(c;

No, no duct tape. Just promises to "never do that again".

Don W.

Leanne wrote:
"Don W" wrote in message
m...

Okay, I almost posted this without prompting, but held off.

Turns out a gust blew his hat off, and he jumped in the water after

it...


Do you duct tape his hat on now. It makes a real secure chin strap.

Leanne