Practical Sailor Article... E35-2 destroyed on rocks near Monterrey

garryh · Dec 16, 2019

This is the subject of the latest Practical Sailor e-edition… possibly old news to the left coasters.
The article is about safety tethers, turns out the boat in question is an E35-2… smashed to pieces on the rocks and completely disappeared… on the coastline!
Sailor miraculously survives. The power of these waves is definitely daunting.... quite chilling actually.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/is...or:e41672:688717a:&st=email&s=p_Grabbag121519

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Frank Langer · Dec 16, 2019

Yes, the water is powerful, but the Practical Sailor article stated that the single handed sailor made at least five serious mistakes that led to this sad situation. I would have expected better seamanship from an Ericson owner if that article is correct!
I'm glad that the sailor was rescued and is ok, but it's a reminder to all of us to be prepared, avoid unnecessary risks and be smart as we head out to enjoy our boats.
Frank

garryh · Dec 16, 2019

while it would be nice to think that Ericson owners are better sailors, not sure how that postulate would stand up to empirical testing.
They do have better boats though : )
Yes the guy made several mistakes and was beyond lucky to live to tell the tale.

nquigley · Dec 16, 2019

garryh said:
while it would be nice to think that Ericson owners are better sailors, not sure how that postulate would stand up to empirical testing.
They do have better boats though : )
Yes the guy made several mistakes and was beyond lucky to live to tell the tale.

Two things we can all 'take-home' from this report are:
(i) to bone-up on best practices regarding the use of tethers and jacklines. Christian posted a piece about this - emphasizing that you don't want these combined safety elements to let you go overboard and dangle in the water - they need to hold you up above the water. Also, I'm a firm believer in having a short/long pair of tethers attached to my harness.
(ii) to make sure the CO2 cartridge in your inflatable life vest is actually armed before putting it on - there's a red color indicator (new vests come with the cartridge unarmed - green indicator)

Christian Williams · Dec 16, 2019

Mental case if this video tells you anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o2DX5Q1Ndo&feature=youtu.be

garryh · Dec 16, 2019

also crossed my mind : )
seemed to be a good excuse to make a video

Tin Kicker · Dec 16, 2019

Setting aside what happened AFTER he got in trouble, here's where us less experienced sailors can learn seamanship from you long timers. What I see and would appreciate hearing more from you about:

1. Not much need to discuss it is pretty obvious that he left unprepared.
Close to dark with no lights.
Doesn't mention ability to use the radio from the helm.
Engine not reliable.
His experience level?

(Actually the tail of the red arrow ought to be slightly more west.)

2. At 2:30 the wind is from his port side and he has rocks visible ahead to starboard but no buoy, so it looks like he's headed due south on the west side of the buoy. At 2:44 onward the wind is from starboard, so it looks like he gybed from SW to E to come around the buoy (video 2:14), which would bring him closer to the rocks on departing the buoy and spend more time parallel to the rocks. (picture red gybe arrow vs green tack) Maybe this is because (as he said) he'd gone around the buoy before and this was habit, rather than tailoring to conditions?

Being the guy here with probably the least time under sail (lots on work boats), I would've picked the tack to stay farther from shore for longer but would you? Am I missing something?

3. Wind and current. Doesn't mention seeing a wind forecast before leaving, which really is a prep item. What I wonder about is local awareness of current strength? It's been a long time since I've surfed and kayaked your coast but it didn't take long to intimately appreciate how strong the current was. Would the normal less experienced local realize how strong? Would a more experienced person think it OK to round the buoy in his direction, as long as it was a really close turn? Maybe he thought he thought the wind would always be at his back with a gybe?

4. Some work boats I've been on, we've kept a stern anchor on a short rode ready when near rocks, just in case we lose the motor. Is that done on these sailboats? Do you think that may've helped him as late as at 2:51 when he's already inside the outer-most rocks?

5. What else?

Thanks in advance.

Bob / TK

Christian Williams · Dec 16, 2019

The lesson in these incidents of cascading error is often failure to think things through. It isn't really an experience issue, rather an awareness issue.

"What if?" We need to be able to answer that in advance. What if the engine won't start, what if the wind dies, what if I have to anchor, what if it gets dark and so on.

He didn't think anything through. Punishment severe.

To a lesser extent this happens to all of us, including me, who is supposed to be fully experienced. I had a periodically sticking mainsail track the first months of ownership. No big deal, right? Until the mainsail wouldn;t come down in a crowded harbor with a difficult slip entry--a cascade of multiplying complications. I had simply failed to think it through. (note: a mainsail that won't always come down instantly is a Priority One issue).

Some people just shove off, what the heck. What happens, happens. The cruel sea, etc. The risk of the hero, and so on. Brave men ne'er hesitate, blah blah. Translation: I don't know what I'm doing but I'm doing it anyhow.

Better to ask "what if?" and find your own answer.

The Redondo Beach Pier incident is quite telling. The crew of the Martin 24 were at least somewhat experienced, yet caught in a cascade of error that cost them the boat.

I'm sure they'd agree that a simple review of "what ifs" prior to going out in 25 knots plus would have saved the day. What if the jib fouls? What if we need to anchor? What if we need to start the outboard? What if there's a lee shore?

I think we shouldn't leave the dock if there's one "what if" unanswered.

Redondo Beach Pier incident discussed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVJYDWkJg_w

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Practical Sailor Article... E35-2 destroyed on rocks near Monterrey

garryh

Member III

Frank Langer

1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC

garryh

Member III

nquigley

Sustaining Member

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles

garryh

Member III

Tin Kicker

Sustaining Member

Christian Williams

E381 - Los Angeles