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Thread: Self Rescue Tether

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
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    Long Beach CA
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    Default Self Rescue Tether

    Very interesting invention I recently came across - a tether that allows for self-rescue.

    In French, but watch the video and you will get how it works. Thinking about ordering one of these:

    http://www.design4sea.com/videos

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Seattle
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    Default

    Very interesting concept

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Discovery Bay, CA
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    Default

    Yea, interesting. It is the first video I have seen with the sailor being dragged in a fairly realistic scenario. It certainly reflects the challenge of re-boarding. In that seaway with that freeboard you would be very hard pressed without some kind of climbing aid. You would probably be praying for some seaway to lift you up. Food for thought.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Basque Country
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    Default

    Hi,

    I am Eric, designer of the self-rescue tether and single-handed sailor myself. Thank you for the comments.
    Pages in English can be found at www.design4sea.com/safety

    Among other information, there is data on the effort required to haul oneself aboard.

    Fair wind to anybody

  5. #5
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  6. #6
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    Jan 2017
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mike cunningham View Post
    This is exactly why I don't use inflatable PFD harnesses when singlehanding offshore. I remember when this study came out and demonstrated quite clearly that inflatables will hold your head underwater at speed and drown you quickly. If I have to cut the tether the inflatable isn't going to help me survive anyway - with a non-inflating harness I at least have a chance of getting back onboard.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by JakeJ View Post
    This is exactly why I don't use inflatable PFD harnesses when singlehanding offshore. I remember when this study came out and demonstrated quite clearly that inflatables will hold your head underwater at speed and drown you quickly. If I have to cut the tether the inflatable isn't going to help me survive anyway - with a non-inflating harness I at least have a chance of getting back onboard.
    Yea, I was thinking of the difficulty in general. Even in a harness only, struggling to overcome the flow of water at anything over a knot or two would be a daunting task.You would have to know exactly what to do, do it quickly and do it right the first time. Not a lot of margin for error.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2017
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    Basque Country
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    Default

    The speed of the boat has an unforeseen, positive effect: surfing. The tether pulls your upper body out of the water and the drag is reduced. I did a test at 7.5 knots, and when I started to haul myself the boat (under engine, main and gennaker) accelerated up to 9 knots. The main problem was not the drag, but the water passing over my head.
    About inflatables, a few tests (unpublished data) confirmed the problem you mention: only high buoyancy devices can prevent your head from getting underwater.
    I hope this helps
    Eric.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
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    Default

    "under engine"? yikes

  10. #10
    pogen's Avatar
    pogen is offline Sailing canoe "Kūʻaupaʻa"
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    Default

    Damn I hope you had 2 or 3 safety crew for that test.

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