Newport to Bermuda Man Overboard - US Sail report

[Hoodsail]

Attached is the link to the just released report regarding the fatality on the NB race this past June, 2022. Skipper of the boat was swept out of the cockpit during daylite hours by a significant wave, boat heeled about 50+ degrees. He was neither tethered nor wearing a pfd. Other crew in the cockpit were pfd'ed & tethered...noone else was swept from the cockpit. Crew did an excellent job of retrieving him altho his size, est 250-300 lbs, 5 ft 9 in, made it very difficult to get his body on board after it was believed that he drowned. Just unfortunate and preventable.
We were off shore, same general area (Montauk to Bermuda), same dates and experienced 15-25k, gusting to 40k...seas est 8-10 ft...given conditions we were all pfd'ed & tethered while in cockpit. When going forward we were tethered to jack lines.

https://ussailing2018.wpenginepowere...2022-FINAL.pdf

[Orion Jim]

A nightmare scenario for any crew. Offshore I always wear my harness and I clip in before stepping out of the companionway. I never wear a PFD because I’m a singlehander and there’s no one to come back for me.

[donradcliffe]

Good seamanship on the part of the crew, bad decision on the part of the owner.

FNewport Bermuda Race 2022 Sailing Instructions Incorp. Am. No. 1

Page 6 of 16

SEAMANSHIP
9.1 RRS 1.1, Helping Those in Danger, shall be of paramount importance.
9.2 [NP] Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a Lifejacket and Safety
Harness conforming with the Safety Requirements:

a. between the hours of sunset and sunrise;
b. when alone on deck;
c. when reefed;
d. when the true wind speed is 25 knots or more;
e. when visibility is less than one (1) nautical mile;
f. with due consideration of the water temperature; or
g. whenever the Captain requires.

[Chotu]

Why I don’t have a cockpit anymore.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

A nightmare scenario for any crew. Offshore I always wear my harness and I clip in before stepping out of the companionway. I never wear a PFD because I’m a singlehander and there’s no one to come back for me.

If you care to sail another day you could wear a PFD, carry a PLB and AIS Transponder, and handheld VHF, all clipped to your PFD belt like Batman’s utility belt.
But of course you’re clipped in, so all that is redundant.