Rig loading during MOB

[Auspicious]

The Quick Stop, one of the responses to crew overboard, turns through the wind and circles back to the overboard person without adjusting sail. I don't intend to start a thread on appropriate responses to a man overboard.

My question is if the response begins when going downwind, are the loads on the rig excessive (to the point of potentially causing the rig to fail, making an already bad situation that much worse) for each of the following three conditions:

1. Asymmetric cruising spinnaker flying off bowsprit with main prevented
2. Symmetric spinnaker flying off pole with main prevented
3. Twin headsails, windward jib poled out, no main

Specifically, in each of the three scenarios, if the helmsman does not touch any sail controls but just attempts to steer back to the MOB, are the loads on the rig likely to cause it to fail?

[Brian Duff]

NO !

A properly designed and tuned rig will be stong enough for the boat to take a full knockdown at speed without failure.


You'll probably never get upwind though, even with an inverted spinakker.

[Auspicious]

That's what I thought, but somehow a lot of people in the cruising community are convinced it would bring down the rig.

[Matthew Sebring]

Unfortunately, there are a lot of boats in the cruising community (not a slam against cruisers, I am one myself) in which it probably would.

[Brian Duff]

g On the Floor Laughing !

I guess I am fortunate to be involved in a community of sailors who expect their boats to be ready at any time for any conditions that might be met. I get guys once in a while that say something like " if its gonna blow more than 15kts, sails are coming down" and all you can do is shake your head, give written reports of your findings for liability protection, then wish them luck.

I think the problem is that so many glassfiber glossboxes are super dangerous to sail on in any decent weather, so a lot of folks get scared, then don't think they need to spend money on their boats cause the don't really get used anyway. Look at the conditions most of these contraptions are being advertising in for a real good laugh.

The problem with that mentality (of neglect) is that eventually something will fail, perhaps a large motorboat wake ( they are all going really fast because its so calm) will pitch the boat and snap that 'slightly corroded' turnbuckle clean off.

Sailing in a decent sea state is the best cause there are no wakes to cause problems, or their energy is at least dull compared to the prevailing motion. Oh, and the boat is going great guns and there is salt everywhere too ! Umm.

[Auspicious]

Any other input?

[TomP]

Your best bet, when flying the spins...and I am assuming that the pilot is now the only soul on board and has to deal with the quick stop and turn on his/her own...is to let loose the halyards on the spins. Sure, they will shrimp, which will also aid in slowing the boat.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by TomP

Your best bet, when flying the spins...and I am assuming that the pilot is now the only soul on board and has to deal with the quick stop and turn on his/her own...is to let loose the halyards on the spins. Sure, they will shrimp, which will also aid in slowing the boat.

My question was with respect to rig loads under the assumption that no sail changes are made -- a Quick Stop response while downwind sails are flying.

There is more opinion than data about responding to crew overboard. Quite properly there is a lot of judgment required of those left in command aboard. Repeated practice educates that judgment. I have read as many case studies of crew overboard situations as I can find. For what it is worth, I have concluded that spending time and attention on sail changes (even trimming) and putting the transmission in gear are the two most likely actions to cause a crew overboard situation to go from bad to worse. The simplest and most telling collection of case studies is found here.

So all that said, my next set of crew overboard drills (when it gets warmer and starting in lighter winds) will include Quick Stops under spinnaker.

[Ian McColgin]

I know the thread was not intended to discuss the quick stop in detail, but if you practice, try casting off the guy as you round up. The halyard is likely more out of reach and a chute flapping from guy and sheet is not much of a problem.

Every boat is a bit different so practice a lot.

G'luck

[Brian Duff]

bye bye spin pole