Swiss sailor lost at sea in Portugal, off French boat...

[Giulietta]

This is sad news, indeed. So far nothing. Can't add much at this point, sorry.

A 63 old Swiss sailor was lost at sea yesterday in the Portuguese waters. He was sailing with 2 others on a French flag boat. (a nice 55 foot aluminum boat). I'll try photos tomorrow, today only with my cell phone.


He fell overboard 100 meters!!!! off the Cabo Carvoeiro, (north of Cascais), the furler/stay broke lose, and apparentely the man removed his harness to go forward. And was never seen again. Distress call received at 4 am..

At this point there is not much of a news I can give.

Conditions as you know from my previous posts were seas in excess of 23 feet and winds gusting to 40 knots true.

I don't know if he was alone on deck or not, and don't have more details other than the boat is next to mine, and the genoa looks really really scary..shreded to 1000 pieces, and wrapped around the mast and shrouds.

here is the boat, as I left today to sail.

Let's hope he is found, but the seas here are what they are...unforgiving...and horrible lee shores. I pray for his finding.

[Perithead]

Geez, that would have been horrible. I really hope they find him.

That boat looks like it went through some rough stuff.

Get the scoop from the captain.....

[smackdaddy]

Giu - I gotta a serious question. The more I read, the more I see that very few sailors wear life vests. Many have tether harnesses - but rarely go beyond that - even in heavy weather. What's up with this? Why don't more sailors wear them? Is it that big of a pain when helming?

[JomsViking]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Giu - I gotta a serious question. The more I read, the more I see that very few sailors wear life vests. Many have tether harnesses - but rarely go beyond that - even in heavy weather. What's up with this? Why don't more sailors wear them? Is it that big of a pain when helming?

Smack, I think it's like the seatbelt. When you get used to it you feel naked without it. We've learned to ALWAYS wear life vests (due to some bad stuff that has happened, which I'm not going to talk about), and it's become second nature (we use vests with harnesses built-in). But I have to admit that I've logged many miles without life vests before. My advice would be to wear a vest ALWAYS, even in calm weather!

[CharlieCobra]

I always have my PFD on, unless it's calm and hot.

[smackdaddy]

It's just been perplexing to me as I've read "Fastnet Force 10" and "Proving Grounds" that many of these guys only had on foulies - in these insane gale conditions! They didn't don the pfd until they were getting into the life raft.

Granted, may of those that were wearing pfds were still lost (as were many who went into the rafts) due to the conditions - but it really made me wonder. I've been guilty of it as well - but I'm starting to think different.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Giu - I gotta a serious question. The more I read, the more I see that very few sailors wear life vests. Many have tether harnesses - but rarely go beyond that - even in heavy weather. What's up with this? Why don't more sailors wear them? Is it that big of a pain when helming?

It is a group think thing. Most sailors do not wear life vests. So nobody wants to be different.

I always wear a life vest under the theory that if I fall off the boat even at the dock in calm water I'm probably having a bad day. Trying to keep my head above water is just one more thing that may make it more difficult.

[AjariBonten]

The last 100 yds from shore, the last five miles before home, the last trip to the bathroom before bed ............ Familiarity - Danger's Camouflage


Incredibly sad

the furler/stay broke lose, and apparentely the man removed his harness to go forward. And was never seen again.

Isn't this exactly the type of situation where you would DON your harness?, not take it off?

[CharlieCobra]

One would think....

[bubb2]

Sad Indeed!!!