"This has always been a number ONE rule for distance racing, or any other sailing: NEVER LET GO OF THE BOAT! In fact tethering oneself to the boat should almost be a requirement." (Per Rick White in his coverage of the 2008 T500)

This has been a discussion before. I know how I feel about it.... what about everyone else?

I'm not really clear on the question.

The question is in regards to what Rick White said in his coverage today of the T500.

Do you think that the sailors in a W1k/T500 race should be required to be tethered to the boat?

(I would go edit the question, however it won't allow me to)

Rick who? And what did he say?

post edited to refect more complete information.

You should also have optional as a choice in my opinion. While I don't think its a bad idea, people shouldn't be forced to do it.

I'm still not clear. Are we voting on whether or not we think it should definitely be a requirement or "almost" should be a requirement?

And is it whether tether lines should just be required to be on the boats or that the sailors should be required to actually USE them?

I can see requiring the boats in a distance race to HAVE them, but there is no way to enforce making people use them.

I said tethers should be used. WE did a whole story on this in the past. No reason not to. Someone will die, if they don't
Rick

Ok, well I started this hoping to spur an educated discussion regarding this topic but nobody (outside of rick/mary) seems willing to put forth an opinion. I know this has been discussed before but it was several years ago.

The question is: Do you think the organizers should REQUIRE sailors to be tethered to the boat in races like the W1k and the T500? This is NOT chicken lines like most of us use, this is a straight up tether like the offshore boats use.

I for one, having been there would NOT want to be tethered to the boat. I was almost separated while rounding Cape Hatteras b/c my "skippers" route of egress involved jumping on my back like a monkey. This forced me underwater and under the "down" hull. Had I been tethered I would not have almost gotten separated but I know I would have untethered myself as I would have been being dragged along by the boat.

Additionally, I can see the tether getting in the way, tangled and causing me to not be able to take my preferred, most efficient or NECESSARY route around the boat during maneuvers. This could cause problems that might cause you to flip. Given the fact that we are going to be required to use traps with detachable hooks it's obvious that US Sailing and other governing bodies see entrapment as a real danger and anything that might cause that should be avoided.

Scenario: Spinnaker up, single trapped, big waves (6'+). Crew is trapped aft of the skipper. Surf down a wave, skipper fails to negotiate properly and stuff the bows hard. Your tether point is a central location in the middle of the tramp for use on both sides. You've just been launched forward and the boat flips. Where do you end up? Say you flip on your side, now your tether starts in the center of the boat but you've gone around the shroud and since the tether is a fixed length you're hanging by your tether from the shroud.

Or go more violent: I envision flying forward during a FAST pitch pole. tether pulls tight, boat goes over but instead of being free, your swung back into the boat by your momentum. Or you end up hanging between the hulls with the boat on it's side.

Or a situation like what happened to Chris Sawyer. clocking 23-25 mph with the kite up, trap loop breaks, you fall in and you get drug. What if the boat does not flip? I've drug behind mono's sailing before for fun. It does NOT take much speed for dragging to go from fun to dangerous. People will say, "but we'll use quick disconnects..." Try reaching your hands underwater while being drug at 5kts, let alone more. PDF or not, you're screwed if you can't get free.

I've been in both these scenarios and:
#1 I'll never sail with a skipper that I don't trust in a distance race again.
#2 I will and do use chicken lines that will release
#3 I won't tether. I think I'd rather float than fight to keep breathing. Several teams used rhino's for safety purposes and I'd rather that than this alternative.

As I sit here I can think of so many scenarios where you could get trapped by a tether....

Nevermind; I don't want to get involed in a discussion that asks whether or not you agree with the comments of the person who has provided the forum upon which you are asking for criticism on his comments.

I thought the "chicken lines" did keep you tethered to the boat. Am I mistaken? I've been thinking of clipping onto my mainsheet when solo sailing. Is this a bad idea?

There is no disrespect meant here.... this is a serious question with serious implications. Something that those of us who have and will do this race and others like it again at some time might have to face. I envision being in some of the situations I've been in w/o a tether and wonder how it could change the outcome for better or worse if there was one involved.

Agree or disagree, there is a basis for that feeling, what is the logic from whence it developed? There in lies my question.

I got the impression that you did NOT want discussion on the subject, since you said there had already been a lot of discussion about this topic. I think discussion and debate about this is great.

For my part, I just did not understand the question on the survey. That's all. Purely a semantics thing. Surveys are very difficult to phrase properly, just like political polls.

If the question had asked, "Do you think sailors should be required to USE tethers on long distance races?", I would have had to answer no, because I don't think it is possible to REQUIRE anyone to use a tether or enforce that. But my answer would have made it sound like I am opposed to tethers, which I am definitely not.

If the question had asked, "Do you think sailors in long distance races should be required to have tethers aboard and connected to the boat?", I would have said "Yes." I think all sailors should be encouraged to use them offshore, and I think a tether should be part of the safety equipment.

It's kind of like life jackets. You can require all the sailors to HAVE them, but there is no way to enforce that they are going to actually WEAR them when they are out of sight.

That's silly, Gary. Our opinions don't carry any more weight on this forum than anybody else's. We LOVE to see debate on topics like this. Who cares what I think or what Rick thinks.

And with all the offshore sailing that you do, you are one of the best people to comment on this subject. You probably have in the past, but it never hurts to do it again.

Here's my $.02

We were mid-atlantic, sailing a 29' cat westbound. Checking for chafe on the foredeck on a beautiful moon-lit night, boat speed moderate, waves moderate, motion almost nil. As I started working my way aft, a small wave gave the boat a lurch and my leg pushed against the lifeline, producing maybe a 1 or 2 lb push. I was shaken then, and have been shaken ever since. What would have happened without that 1 lb push?

Regards
Chet

Some of the A-Cat sailors around here tether to the boat when they are out practicing. They use a Carabineer secured to their harness so they can clip the mainsheet in for the tether.

Dan DeLave

Half of the folks that might chime in on this topic are racing in the Tybee500 at the moment.

It is interesting about the a-cat guys, I've been wondering about how I can safely go out and practice on my own.

you may be talking more about simply righting a boat (even though them A-cats weigh less than my lunch) but The new SPOT GPS system is very cool and not so pricey ($150+ $99-$150 year service)

SPOT GPS USA TODAY ARTILCE

Not worried about righting it - worried about falling off it and getting separated. For the good of the boat and of me.

Area D South - even superhero types are suseptible. Robbie falls of new A-cat in moderate conditions on the way to the first start, A-cat sails away until crashing into a seawall. End of event for Robbie. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />