Very sorry To hear about Eero this morning.
It seems there maybe a few of us that sail by ourselves. I don't do it all the time but have done some.

What are some things to do or try to remember to do to make it as safe as possible?

I tow a 50m rope behind me with a few knots along it to maybe grab if I can get to it.
I limit it my speed to 5 kts and as I don't have an auto pilot, it's always trimmed to come upwind If I have to let go of the tiller.
If I have to go below I de power quite a lot.
I never have a pss over the back.
i have a waterproof hand held VHF clipped to me and a personal epirb in a pocket.
Life jacket of course no matter how flat

others?

Always wear a PDF, Always wear a safety harness that keeps you attached to your boat, Always think twice and act once about what you are doing when on deck, I could keep going but really we all know this stuff, the problem is sometimes we all become complacent and overconfident and get into sloppy thinking after a long voyage and then ignore it to our own detriment

Sorry I don't know the story behind Eero, so forgive my ignorance, if anyone can enlighten me with a link?
Ok, found the story, didn't realise it was the Columbo story going on just down the forum a little bit.

I sail solo quite a bit.

my boat is set up very much for short handed sailing, so all lines lead to the cockpit.

reefing is single or twin line.
I use a boom brake to slow things down a bit when running.
autopilot is essential.
I always wear a lifejacket with harness, light and personal epirb built in.
I always have tethers set in place around the boat, as well as wearing one.
So, by my helm I have tethers that are pre fitted to both port and starboard allowing me to remain clipped on at all times and still be able to move around relatively easily. But they are fairly short to avoid being dragged in the water whilst still attached to the boat.
I have my boat laid out in a way that I can find everything with my eyes closed.
My boat epirb, flares, cable croppers, knife etc are all within easy reach and I can locate them even If I(the boat) get knocked down.
I clip a waterproof vhf radio to me.
My mobile phone is also in a waterproof/submersible case.
I have food planned in advance based on calorific need.
I always inform someone where I am or should be at a certain time.
I have an AIS transponder.
I always keep a paperchart updated with hourly plots.
I never slow down just because I'm on my own, if anything I try to go as fast as I possibly can.
I always have a drink of water or fruit squash clipped to a rail outside. maintaining hydration is essential for cognitive ability.

now, when the boat is in port or on a mooring, and I have to transfer from dinghy to boat, I always wear my lifejacket, plus, at the back of my boat is a small rope accessible from the water that can be pulled to release the boarding ladder. but this is only for moored up situations. it wouldn't be suitable for MOB.

X 2 for the AIS transceiver TheMisfit.

Although it is not going to stop someone falling over the side, having an AIS transceiver onboard means a boat could be found the minute it was reported missing.
If the person is still aboard but has been incapacitated in some way, they could be found very quickly.
If the person has gone overboard, the location of the vessel may help search and rescue crews by narrowing down the search area.

A couple of thou well spent I reckon.

Don't leave the cockpit. Have a harness that attaches to a ring bolt at the hatch way and ensure it's short enough that you can not go over the side.

Then rely on seamanship to see you through.

Sometimes i have to leave the cockpit . So i have jack lines running down the center of the yacht either side of the mast . i feel safer than having them on the outer side of the deck . as if i take a tumble it shortens the strap by 2-3 feet . which may be enough to stop me going over the side and being dragged along .

If and when we know what happened we might get a new insight.
Until then what will it teach us? Not much, those sailors who do this stuff already know what to do.

Another bit of kit I think is really good is a Spot Tracker. Sends an email to multiple addresses for departure and arrival, can set track points for down to 5 min intervals, waterproof, pocket sized, has SOS function.

We had this on our yacht for the delivery from Airlie to Perth. Whilst off the boat for the stage through the Kimberley, I was following the progress via the spot tracker on its website. I noticed the yacht start to veer away from one of the planned anchorage stops (we had a very detailed route plan), I then sent a txt on the sat phone to confirm all ok and get an update on what the amended plan was. Very simple and the crew were glad to have a set of eyes on them through a pretty remote part of the country

we use it all the time for trips up an down the coast.

www.findmespot.com/en-us/products-services/spot-gen3

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MorningBird said..
If and when we know what happened we might get a new insight.
Until then what will it teach us? Not much, those sailors who do this stuff already know what to do.

i think offthegrids post was an invitation to share tips and ideas to help stop single handing skippers going overboard . .....

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SandS said..

MorningBird said..
If and when we know what happened we might get a new insight.
Until then what will it teach us? Not much, those sailors who do this stuff already know what to do.

i think offthegrids post was an invitation to share tips and ideas to help stop single handing skippers going overboard . .....

Yes, but if you need to find out what will save your life on this forum you should get out there on a boat with a crew to get experience. You can learn a lot about offshore sailing by reading about it but the truth is you need real experience.
An example of my point is the idea that more gadgets is the answer to saving your life. The answer to saving your life is good seamanship, raised very aptly by Ramona above. The right boat, good decision making, risk management.
Eero may have had an unavoidable incident and I am not casting any view on his seamanship. But the points I raise will reduce the probability of having an unavoidable incident to the minimum. Gadgets won't, they might even make you more complacent.

"Gadgets" ?

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MorningBird said..

SandS said..

MorningBird said..
If and when we know what happened we might get a new insight.
Until then what will it teach us? Not much, those sailors who do this stuff already know what to do.

i think offthegrids post was an invitation to share tips and ideas to help stop single handing skippers going overboard . .....

Yes, but if you need to find out what will save your life on this forum you should get out there on a boat with a crew to get experience. You can learn a lot about offshore sailing by reading about it but the truth is you need real experience.
An example of my point is the idea that more gadgets is the answer to saving your life. The answer to saving your life is good seamanship, raised very aptly by Ramona above. The right boat, good decision making, risk management.
Eero may have had an unavoidable incident and I am not casting any view on his seamanship. But the points I raise will reduce the probability of having an unavoidable incident to the minimum. Gadgets won't, they might even make you more complacent.

MB , i think we may be on different trams here .......... are you saying that jacklines are a "gadget " ? if so i disagree, they are a necessity !!

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SandS said..

MorningBird said..

SandS said..

MorningBird said..
If and when we know what happened we might get a new insight.
Until then what will it teach us? Not much, those sailors who do this stuff already know what to do.

i think offthegrids post was an invitation to share tips and ideas to help stop single handing skippers going overboard . .....

Yes, but if you need to find out what will save your life on this forum you should get out there on a boat with a crew to get experience. You can learn a lot about offshore sailing by reading about it but the truth is you need real experience.
An example of my point is the idea that more gadgets is the answer to saving your life. The answer to saving your life is good seamanship, raised very aptly by Ramona above. The right boat, good decision making, risk management.
Eero may have had an unavoidable incident and I am not casting any view on his seamanship. But the points I raise will reduce the probability of having an unavoidable incident to the minimum. Gadgets won't, they might even make you more complacent.

MB , i think we may be on different trams here .......... are you saying that jacklines are a "gadget " ? if so i disagree, they are a necessity !!

Sorry, I don't mean to be flippant and I definitely am not suggesting Eero wasn't a most competent sailor.
But I have sailed with too many skippers/watch leaders who have all the gadgets (trackers, AIS, top of the line epirbs/PLBs etc) but couldn't make a decision if their, or my, life depended on it. Nothing beats the right boat and good seamanship, the knowledge, experience and competence to make good decisions for the conditions.
Jackstays, harness, PFD and PLB (actually worn when needed) are all examples of good seamanship. A Spot Tracker is a gadget, in my humble view.

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Bruski068 said..
Always wear a PDF, Always wear a safety harness that keeps you attached to your boat, Always think twice and act once about what you are doing when on deck, I could keep going but really we all know this stuff, the problem is sometimes we all become complacent and overconfident and get into sloppy thinking after a long voyage and then ignore it to our own detriment

When would a PFD help a solo sailor? You're highly unlikely to survive long enough for an alarm to be raised and rescuers to find you even with a PFD (unless you have some other equipment) aren't you? If hypothermia doesn't get you, the splash factor will when you get tired.

I often wonder about the safety aspects of wearing a wetsuit and wetty hood instead of (or as well as) normal wet weather gear. They give you flotation, aid your swimming, and protect against hypothermia. Sure they have issues, but why are they never considered as safety kit?

PS while the latest event, and earlier ones, is a tragedy our chances of being lost overboard are pretty small compared to other risks in life that we often accept. It's well known that we under-estimate chronic risks and over-estimate rare and unusual ones. We are probably at more risk driving. While it's important to use seamanship, is it really worth spending all our time wearing full metal jackets and a spacesuit?


EDIT - how quickly does a PLB raise an alert? I'm not doing offshore stuff at the moment so I have no idea.

You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck.

Other than that that, I don't disagree too much with MB, Seamanship is king. BUT, there is no point in going out all gun-ho, thinking you have all the answers with seamanship, then find yourself floundering around alone in the middle of the ocean wishing you had this or the other (but agreed you can go overboard. No pun intended).

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Chris 249 said..


When would a PFD help a solo sailor? You're highly unlikely to survive long enough for an alarm to be raised and rescuers to find you even with a PFD, aren't you? If hypothermia doesn't get you, the splash factor will when you get tired.

You have a better chance with one then without.....

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Chris 249 said..

Bruski068 said..
Always wear a PDF, Always wear a safety harness that keeps you attached to your boat, Always think twice and act once about what you are doing when on deck, I could keep going but really we all know this stuff, the problem is sometimes we all become complacent and overconfident and get into sloppy thinking after a long voyage and then ignore it to our own detriment

When would a PFD help a solo sailor? You're highly unlikely to survive long enough for an alarm to be raised and rescuers to find you even with a PFD, aren't you? If hypothermia doesn't get you, the splash factor will when you get tired.

Hi Chris

What is the splash factor

Regards Don

How much better? In what circumstances?

Studies some time back showed that you have "a better chance" if you wear a bike helmet while driving to work in your car. I'd have "a better chance" riding my bike if I wore fully downhill MTB body armour on the way to work. We'd all have "a better chance" if we stopped drinking a beer after a sail, and got off Seabreeze to go and do some swimming training. Where do we stop?

I may add that I was wearing a personal strobe in the '70s, when they were extremely unusual and also hard to find. I've had family and friends who died sailing. I had a scarily close call in a rather freakish incident in Bass Strait. But the human brain does tend to over-rate the statistical chance of dying in unlikely ways and to under-rate other problems such as skin cancer. To what extent are we, as humans, falling into that trap when sailing?

On Walker H28's its a good idea to fit plastic screw on steps onto the rudder blade so you can get back on board in an emergency. fitted with some thought they will save your life
And that also means when the boats at anchor


The stern railing on moonshine below is on my list but not sure if it will ever get done

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Donk107 said..

Chris 249 said..

Bruski068 said..
Always wear a PDF, Always wear a safety harness that keeps you attached to your boat, Always think twice and act once about what you are doing when on deck, I could keep going but really we all know this stuff, the problem is sometimes we all become complacent and overconfident and get into sloppy thinking after a long voyage and then ignore it to our own detriment

When would a PFD help a solo sailor? You're highly unlikely to survive long enough for an alarm to be raised and rescuers to find you even with a PFD, aren't you? If hypothermia doesn't get you, the splash factor will when you get tired.

Hi Chris

What is the splash factor

Regards Don

An exhausted or unconscious body turns to face into the wind; I think it's because the legs tend to trail forward at the waist. Even small waves then splash over the face and you start taking water into the lungs. Years ago when I was researching this I came across one case where 14 oil-rig workers ended up in the water. Six of them drowned with their PFDs fully inflated. Another study noted that 28% of professional fishermen who drowned were wearing PFDs at the time.

Secumar used to make a transparent splash guard that fitted over the face; I don't know if it's still available.

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FreeRadical said..
Another bit of kit I think is really good is a Spot Tracker. Sends an email to multiple addresses for departure and arrival, can set track points for down to 5 min intervals, waterproof, pocket sized, has SOS function.

We had this on our yacht for the delivery from Airlie to Perth. Whilst off the boat for the stage through the Kimberley, I was following the progress via the spot tracker on its website. I noticed the yacht start to veer away from one of the planned anchorage stops (we had a very detailed route plan), I then sent a txt on the sat phone to confirm all ok and get an update on what the amended plan was. Very simple and the crew were glad to have a set of eyes on them through a pretty remote part of the country

we use it all the time for trips up an down the coast.

www.findmespot.com/en-us/products-services/spot-gen3

the sat phone deal @ $1 per minute is OK

"Splash factor"

Also known as secondary drowning, Floating on your back coping spray in your face can drown you. A full hood on your wet weather gear will stop it from happening along with rolling over on your belly to protect your face if you don't have a hood gadget . How long could you keep that up?

At least with a PFD you have a chance of being rescued before drowning, how long can you tread water without a floatation device fully clothed, I know I couldn't do it for the fifteen minutes it takes to get your bronze medallion anymore, it would also help if you had an EPIRB attached to your PFD

Solo sailing, what can we learn???

1. It compounds the risk of death by drowning megafold.

2. It is anti social behaviour.

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cisco said...
Solo sailing, what can we learn???

1. It compounds the risk of death by drowning megafold.

2. It is anti social behaviour.

Some things should just be shared

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cisco said..
Solo sailing, what can we learn???

1. It compounds the risk of death by drowning megafold.

2. It is anti social behaviour.

True, but sometimes you don't have a choice. I did my first solo sail as I was tired of waiting for the right person at the right time to come with me. I downloaded 46 case histories of MOB's and take close heed to what can be learned from them. I wear my lifejacket all the time, even when sea is flat, have lifelines and clip on every time I leave the cockpit. Pay close attention to weather before going out. Keep the ladder down, and notify someone of my movements. I am not scared of going out solo, but aware there are the added risks. At the end of the day, if I die out there, it won't be from being careless, and at least I will have been doing what I love.

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Jolene said..
"Splash factor"

Also known as secondary drowning, Floating on your back coping spray in your face can drown you. A full hood on your wet weather gear will stop it from happening along with rolling over on your belly to protect your face if you don't have a hood gadget . How long could you keep that up?

I have a crewsaver ergofit PFD that has a built in hood that you can pull over your head. It also has hammer activation.

why? Because I just like gadgets.

Most of the stuff you write is spot on whoever...

The pet hate of mine is to see the biiig campaign about water safety done half arsed way.
If you are manufacturing a life jacket you must know the science behind it. The science proved many times over that A LIFE JACKET IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A CROTCH STRAP!
The fact is, most of the sailors who wear life jackets do not adjust them to the garment they wear. Be honest to yourselves, when you take your jumper or sailing jacket off, your life jacket seldom gets adjusted to the new size. As so, most of the life jackets are fitted loose on the person. If he falls in the water the possibility is high to slip out of it or if not, it is going to rise and rise - actually the body is slipping out of it - and make life very uncomfortable for the wearer. Well, THE CROTCH STRAP STOPS THIS !

Why the authorities do not make it illegal to sell a life jacket without a crotch strap???

(Similar situation with mobile phones. Why are mobile phones being sold without a hands free kit?)

To know your gear is another overlooked point. Could you adjust your life jacket without fumbling or taking it off?
Do you have your saling knife on your person at all times. I use my knife more often l ever thought l will.
Could you tie a single handed bowline around your waist with both hands quickly?
Did you discard your old batteries and replaced them with fresh ones before the trip in your PFD strobe light, marine radio, PLB?

And the list goes on and on and on.......

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sirgallivant said..
Most of the stuff you write is spot on whoever...

The pet hate of mine is to see the biiig campaign about water safety done half arsed way.
If you are manufacturing a life jacket you must know the science behind it. The science proved many times over that A LIFE JACKET IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A CROTCH STRAP!
The fact is, most of the sailors who wear life jackets do not adjust them to the garment they wear. Be honest to yourselves, when you take your jumper or sailing jacket off, your life jacket seldom gets adjusted to the new size. As so, most of the life jackets are fitted loose on the person. If he falls in the water the possibility is high to slip out of it or if not, it is going to rise and rise - actually the body is slipping out of it - and make life very uncomfortable for the wearer. Well, THE CROTCH STRAP STOPS THIS !

Why the authorities do not make it illegal to sell a life jacket without a crotch strap???

(Similar situation with mobile phones. Why are mobile phones being sold without a hands free kit?)

To know your gear is another overlooked point. Could you adjust your life jacket without fumbling or taking it off?
Do you have your saling knife on your person at all times. I use my knife more often l ever thought l will.
Could you tie a single handed bowline around your waist with both hands quickly?
Did you discard your old batteries and replaced them with fresh ones before the trip in your PFD strobe light, marine radio, PLB?

And the list goes on and on and on.......

If those are questions to me, then

Yes, its why I paid a big premium for a very well designed PFD, designed with crotch straps (2), not add-ons.
Yes, 3. crewsaver cutter, folding sailing knife, attached on string, and a leatherman on belt
Yes, learnt that in Boy Scouts / Venturers, twist around the wrist to form loop, one turn of bitter end around standing part with fingers, pull back through
No, Portable VHF recharged after every outing, PLB has 10yr battery life, I carry cyalume sticks in pocket as well.

Its just a matter of time before some moron in government raises this topic and regulates sailing in australia. Thats what happens here anytime something happens. I fear that more than falling over aboard. The last true freedom regulated..eeeeek

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cisco said..
Solo sailing, what can we learn???

1. It compounds the risk of death by drowning megafold.

With respect, so we know that???? What are the stats?? If you have to move a boat from one port to another is it safer for one person to expose themselves to the risks, or for four people to be at risk of getting run down, hitting a container at night, losing a keel etc. More people would be alive today if Rising Farrster, Patanela and other boats had been sailed singlehanded, so can we just assume that singlehanding is much riskier?

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Bruski068 said..
At least with a PFD you have a chance of being rescued before drowning, how long can you tread water without a floatation device fully clothed, I know I couldn't do it for the fifteen minutes it takes to get your bronze medallion anymore, it would also help if you had an EPIRB attached to your PFD

But does it actually significantly increase your chances? I just don't know because I don't know how well PLBs work.

I have known some people who have been in the water for hours at night without PFDs in full sailing gear. Most of them survived. John Quinn threw away his PFD when he went overboard because in the rough conditions he was in, he needed to be able to dive under breaking crests. He did have some other buoyancy, perhaps in his jacket.

Personally I'm moving towards using a dinghy-style PFD, which I find is less hassle to use than an inflatable. You get less buoyancy but more thermal insultation, IIRC, which is more important to me. You can also move better in the water and probably get yourself back on board much more easily - I don't know how I'd do it with a full inflatable PFD on.