Lifesling PFD's Should Be On All Sailboats

When living aboard and sailing in the Caribbean, we always carried a Lifesling man overboard retrieval device  on our boat Rising Star.

Luckily we have never had to use it, but it gave us peace of mind knowing that we could use it to retrieve anyone who fell overboard in a much safer manner than with a boarding ladder, ropes, etc.

I'm a firm believer in the Lifesling throwable PFD and man overboard retrieval system. I  once saw it in operation when we lost a crew member overboard during a sailboat race in Galveston Bay. Ever since that day, I have insisted we carry one aboard our own sailboat, no matter where we sail.

When I saw the Lifesling used that day in Galveston bay, the seas were not extreme, perhaps only two to four feet, but I could see how valuable the device could be in rougher waters.

We immediately came around, started the auxilary engine, deployed the Lifesling device, trailing at the end of its line, and made a circle around the man overboard.

As he retrieved it and had it firmly in hand we pulled him in.

He was able bodied and instead of using the sling attached to the main halyard to pull him up he was able to grab the hand of a crewmember and pull himself up.

If he had not been able bodied or tired I can see exactly how it could have worked.

In addition to having the Lifesling man overboard device onboard or boat, we always wear our offshore harnesses when sailing, and have a man overboard alarm that attaches to the vest.

When sailing on long passages, we often stand solo watches for much of the night while the other sleeps. Wearing an offshore harness is perhaps the most important thing that we can do for ourselves and our loved ones.

I cannot imagine what it would be like to wake up and find your mate not onboard and not know where exactly they went overboard. It has happened to other cruising sailors before.

There are many new devices that would be helpful both for the person in the water and the searchers in a man overboard situation. There are MOB alarms, waterproof VHF radios with man overboard alert functions, signaling devices, etc. I recommend having a pouch with a waterproof flare, whistle, mirror and other signaling devices on your PFD. I have also think that if you can afford one, a red laser rescue flare would be a good thing to have on your person if you fell overboard. In addition, laser flares, (the real kind, not laser pointers), could be used to scan the horizon for the reflective material in a PFD. See Laser Flares For Boating

The best man overboard device is keeping yourself attached to your boat with an offshore harness. Keep your harness  and its tether in good condition and always notify a crew member when you will be doing difficult tasks on your watch, such as trimming sails.