The Practical Encyclopedia of Boating: An A-Z Compendium of Navigation, Seamanship, Boat Maintenance, and Nautical Wisdom by John Vigor

Author:John Vigor [Vigor, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Published: 2007-08-20T21:00:00+00:00

Lifesling System

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A recognized method of rescuing a person overboard

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The Lifesling method of recovering a person from the water was developed by the Sailing Foundation in Seattle, Washington. It is particularly useful on sailboats manned by two people because it enables one person to do all the rescuing.

The Lifesling is designed both to “retrieve” a swimmer and to hoist him or her back aboard.

The Lifesling consists of a buoyant padded sling, or yoke, that goes under a victim’s armpits and allows him or her to be hoisted aboard with a tackle. The sling is attached to a long floating line that is made fast to the boat at the stern. Both sling and line are stowed in a semirigid pouch fastened to the stern pulpit.

The Lifesling is quick and easy to use. When someone falls overboard, you simply rip open the Velcro closure on top of the pouch and throw the sling into the water. The line typically feeds itself out of the pouch but may need a little help at first. When all the line has run out, simply sail or motor the boat in tight circles around the victim until he or she can reach the sling. As soon as the victim is safely in the sling, you should halt the boat: stop the motor and drop the sails. Then gently haul the victim in to the side of the boat and cleat the line so that the victim’s head is kept clear of the water.

Prepare a halyard and then winch the victim up and over the side; or, if necessary, use a four-part tackle taken to a winch. The tackle should be slung from a halyard set 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) above deck, depending on the size of your boat. The sling is designed to support the victim safely while he or she is being hoisted out of the water.

A four-part purchase may be stowed in the Lifesling pouch, ready for an emergency, or you may be able to use your boom vang if it’s equipped at either end with quick-release snap shackles.

See also Crew Overboard; Figure-Eight Method; Quick-Stop Method.

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