What a horrible story. My sincere condolences to freinds and family.

I had a pitchpole last year some time on the hobie 16. My crew slid forward and got caught up by the trap hook on the downhaul ropes at the base of the mast. I just had enough time to swim up and lift her off of the ropes before she was dragged under when the boat went turtle.

The scary thing was that it happened so quick. Also she was wearing a very cool quick release harness bar from a french company. Neither of us remembered the quick release until we got back to the beach. So i agree with previous posts that you dont have much time and in an emergency situation you may not even remember your quick release/knife.

The bethwaite system sounds like it might be the go to prevent things like this happening again.