grob....

The tether we use do not pose to much problems..With a big snap shackle and pull on it it is very easy to get out of. As for falling off a cat at full speed it's not so bad. The boat stops in under 2 seconds.

I had someone fall a laser at night in a marina once and it was very scary trying to find them in 2 knots of wind in the dark in flat water.

We also saw two boats in last years worrell team fully involved, and athletes in action seperate for the boat. Team FI flipped just to weather of us there mast almost hitting our leward hull. Mark was away from the boat for some time with lots of shrimp boats around which poses a different set of problems. Chris had his trap handle break and fell in with the main wraped around his hand. This caused enough injury to force him to retire from the race.

I find more comfort using them when there is no other boats around or when you get far enough offshore that you would not be able to swim in...Swiming in a drysuit with all the worrell gear on is a serious pain. It is easier to survive on a floating boat then along.

JIM