The fatal statistics
The sad fact is that almost half of all crew overboard incidences result in a fatality. According to United States Coast Guard statistics, more than 2500 crew overboard incidences occurred during the five-year period from 2001 through 2005. Of those occurrences, nearly a thousand resulted in drowning. This represents too many lost lives.
Among survivors, almost 90% were injured. Let us not take a liaise faire attitude toward falling in the water. The results are likely to be far worse than just getting wet.
For cruising couples, the potential consequences require more than just our attention; they demand our active involvement in preparing, practicing and implementing a comprehensive plan of action to master crew overboard situations for any sea state, any weather condition, any point of sail.
So as you plan that sabbatical, in addition to insuring you have adequate spares, tools, provisions and medicines, you must also include the equipment and time necessary to be ready in case your mate goes in the water. Because if it happens, you are the only hope he or she has.
