In reading Team Velocity's writeup about the seperation of Brett and the boat, Alan said that he had trouble spoting Brett. Then you look at what most of the Tybee racers are wearing and it is easy to understand how that would be. It is hard to see white and black against a sea of whitecaps(Just think if it was after dark). If you look at most offshore racers you notice that things like hoods and the shoulders of jackets are Yellow(easy to spot). Should this be something to be considered? Very simple to implement.

It wouldn't have mattered. The waves are way too big out there. The only thing that might have helped was a smoke flare.

IRC I believe brett is wearing a yellow PFD anyways overtop his spray top.

Again, the waves were too big and Alan had sailed the boat at least 50 yards solo before he even realized brett was off the boat.

It is hard to spot someone in the water when you are only a couple of feet off the water on a beach cat. A whistle, waterproof VHF and GPS are your friends when you are in the water - you can call the boat and say if they are going towards or away from you (the mast and sails are easy to spot). The whistle helps get people looking in the right direction.

Chris.

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how did alan not see bret go in if Alan were driving? I guess he could have been behind Alan...

Brett said he was blowing his whistle and pulling out every bit of safety gear he had. I don't really think it's a matter of attire in those conditions. He did everything perfect and it saved his life yesterday.

PTP, Brett was driving when it happened. The dogbone on his trap blew out.

After discussing this event with Alan over the past couple days over drinks at Maho Bay St. John, we've decided that we'll be carrying these things on our life jackets from now on. It would have definitely helped Alan spot Brett if he had one.

http://www.divers-supply.com/Sea-Me-Float-Surface-Tube-6Ft-P143.aspx

Get the yellow. I carry one everytime I go drift diving. They come in several diameters and lengths

or go the cheep way

http://www.printglobe.com/Products/ProdDetail~productid~17824~_plist~7_8250_8301.asp

plus they light up

a handheld waterproof smoke flare isn't a bad idea either.

http://www.westmarine.com/1/1/19006-handheld-orange-smoke-flare-single-pack.html

Dave and I have always relied on smoke flares for daytime use, and a regular flare for night. Fortunately we've never needed to use them...

That and VHF radios on each of us, so that the person in the water could guide the boat back to them. Every conversation I've had with the man in the water, said they could see the sailboat, but the sailboat could not see them.

All these things mentioned should without a doubt be carried on one's person in races like this, but they also all require an important assumption--that the other person is on the boat sailing around looking for you. We're lucky the boat didn't immediately flip right over considering we were double trapped in 20knts (thank god for weather helm). I also saw the boat come within inches of going over when a big gust hit as Alan was trying to jibe through the swells. Had the boat flipped, or had Alan as well been separated, then the situation is screwed.

In conditions such as that day I think the best solution is a tether hooked to the chicken line with carabiners on both ends and the excess line coiled up in one of your pockets. Its not like your changing tacks often so its really not a bother, and the carabiner provides easy release. Or if you really want to be cool you could just not fall off the boat.

West Marine used to have a jet-ski pack ($29) that had a smoke flare, a handheld flare, a dye marker, a reflector and a spot for an inflatable marker that was roughly the size of a couple of blackberries stacked up.

Don't know if they still sell them, but I bought two for long distance stuff (never had to use them)

I have used the "sausage" when diving offshore a lot. Good idea for sailing. You do have to inflate them manually, though, which may not work for an unconscious swimmer, but it's better than nothing..

Maybe with a quick release snap shackle ... but I really don't want to be dragged behind the boat at 15 knots. With the line loaded up, you will not be able to release a carabiner and you probably won't be able to get a knife out to cut the line if you needed to while you're dragging through the water.

I've never been a big fan of the thought of being clipped into the boat with a leash long enough to keel haul me and/or on a boat that is not self righting.

I'd rather be tethered to a floating boat that is not self righting that to be tethered to a self righting boat that is sinking