Harness Haze

I think you have got to try and right the boat first - how else do you know where the person who is trapped actually is. It has got to be worth a try. Also if you dive underwater to try and find them then you also run the risk of getting trapped yourself.

I assume the knife to be carried by the person who is trapped who should also at the same time be trying to release themselves. Remember the hook is only one small part that could get trapped. Entrapment also includes anything round your foot, wrist, neck etc. There are plenty of places to get caught.

Yes I agree some boats may take longer to right - especially cats. Also masts do get stuck in the bottom. Shallow water can prevent the boat from fully inverting.

The RYA also point out that the statistical liklihood of an entrapment is minimal.

You're right lozza, conspiracy time.

And trying to right certain boats to rectify the problem won't work because most of the big masted boats like 49ers, 5000s, etc definately need 2 people to right them from full inversion and even in that time, the person trapped would have most likely drowned. The problem is you sail with 2 people onboard, one gets trapped and your down to one to right the boat until a rescue boat comes along, which isn't going to happen instantly. Then theres time to right the boat if the rescue boat comes. Everytime I'd go under with the knife to get the crew out and if I was trapped, I'd be cutting myself free or my crew would be down to get me. Its a rule within the 18s that they have to have knife mounted at the back of the boat so that if this scenario occurs, the crew of the boat can rescue the trapped member. The fact they are also not wearing bouancy aids also means its easier to move under the water and being three up, there is always two other members to help the distressed party. I don't think the no bouancy aid idea should be applied to double-handers because there is just one person to deal with an incident if a crew member is in distress.

Did you spot the hidden message?.

Don't panic: it never helps.  I remember when I was doing some kayak training, one of the exercises was to capsize and swim up into your canoe to get used to being there.

Who wants to point out the pros and cons of doing the same to novice sailors so that in the event they find themselves under a boat 'by accident' they have a vague idea what's going on?

I know by itself it wont untangle unfortunates, but it will make life easier for everyone and increase their chances if they are not 'stressing'

The only time i've been around when someone was trapped was a very windy 5o5 winter series at Grafham years ago.  We were out having a ball in my Hurricane when we noticed the OOD boat from the 5o5 drop (and I mean drop chain, rope and all) the anchor and belt off to assist a 5o5 that had someone caught underneath.  All I know is that BOLT cutters were used (carried on all GWSC rescue boats IIRC) to remove the rig of the upturned 5o5 to get someone out.

I think the it went something like this :

1, 5o5 over, rescue cover notice that crew has not appeared and so stand by to assist

2, Helm signals that there is a problem (i.e. crew not underneath sorting out stuff)

3, rescue boat come in to assist and decide they need extra help

4, 2nd boat (OOD launch) arrived to assist and bloke is recovered sans 5o5 rig.

This was a long time ago so I cannot be certain of the facts, just that something along the lines of above happened - A quick release harness would not have helped i believe in this case.

I totally believe that this whole "quick release" harness was a knee jerk reaction to the Toornado Crew who died when he got caught under the tramp - first person I have knowledge of this happening to - IIRC the reason he died was that they (helm / rescue crew) could not cut the tramp (no knife I assume).  I believe the solution is to carry bolt cutters or a knife attached to the boat for this.  I am planning to in the future.

Yeah I know Senoir instructors that have been caught by the harness and had to be air lifts to hospital.

Though I do know more people that have been caught in non trapeezing boats. (me included)