PART 8: SINGLEHANDED MAN OVERBOARD SELF RESCUE -- USE A BRIDLE AT THE WATERLINE

This is Part 8 of the Singlehanded Man Overboard Self Rescue Series. This is a dockside demonstration of an idea that came through to me via a viewers comment. The idea is to put a rope bridle outside the boat at the water line. When the singlehander goes overboard, he clips into the bridle, then either cuts or disconnects the tether he is on and makes his way via the bridle to the back of the boat to a nylone ladder pre-installed there.The idea has a lot of merrit as an additional tactic for the singlehander to climb back into the boat after going over the side.

[@gabrielfusaru1211]

Good tutorial! It will work great if the man/woman is not under stress. Other way he/she will forget the steps or confuse the order so the panic will build up and everything will be worse!

[@respecttherisk2022]

That's true. It will be important for participants to practice the drill to get it stress-proof. That could be even on land at first, then at the dock, then underway in a controlled environment. Perhaps even blindfolded or in the dark in almost zero light conditions? Drill, drill, drill, until it becomes second nature and you don't have to think under stress and panic.

[@jonscott8586]

Looks like a good idea if the stern is a good place to board. A midship ladder would be impossible to get to if going 5kts so a stern mount could increase your chances of actually reboarding. However, stern tends to see the swell more which can make it more difficult or dangerous than midship and if motoring.
Not about to try it but could rope burn be an unexpected consequence, even with wet hands? It is better than drowning but the concern is if it makes self recovery less likely.

[@respecttherisk2022]

Thanks for the comment. I have a nylon ladder hanging from the stern to help me get back aboard. The sailors that have done sea trials with this method have done the same thing -- or have a permanent boarding ladder at the back of the boat. A midship ladder IS difficult to use at 5 knots, and can require quite a bit of endurance, power and sangfroid. I do a reboard demo using a midship ladder here: czcams.com/users/shortskJUpkKEV9w4 This difficulty of this trial, in part, is what inspired closer scrutiny of the tactics employed.
Rope burn could happen. One singlehander shared that he tried it in a drill, just let go and zipped to the back of his boat very fast. It is not clear to me if one could go slowly back along the line with the boat doing 5 knots. A good thing to test in a future sea trial.

[@janecme]

? but you're going to cut your tether so you won't be caught by the second one clipped to your waist. Or am I missing something!

[@respecttherisk2022]

The second one clipped to my waist was a miss on my part. I should not have had it clipped to me. (part of the reason to do these trials is to figure out what not to do as well.) It seems a singlehander could use the "quick release" style that I used here, or cut the tether she or he is hanging off with a knife. One viewer had done a sea trial using a knife. I used the quick release on my tether here. I look forward to doing this in a proper sea trial to see what else we can learn.