In our new series on Best Practices in Blue Water Cruising, member Tony Gooch, with more than 160,000 miles at sea, has tackled the topic of Heavy Weather Sailing, especially short-handed.

We have more than 2000 members with blue water experience and we would like to hear what you have learned across all those sea miles. One thing we all recognize is that every boat, every crew and every situation is different so please take a look at Tony 's excellent paper and please contribute your thoughts via this Forum. We 'll compile the comments into an OCC white paper for all to benefit. Many thanks.


Please Note: The original attachment has been removed because the paper has been updated and is posted in a later section of this thread.

Vice Commodore, OCC 

JACK LINES

I used to run my Jack Lines along the side deck as is standard practice. However, after reading of the fatality of a yachtsman who was knocked off the boat and drowned, while still attached to his Jack Lines I moved mine inboard. I now have a short JL running from the transom, around the coaming and up to the front of the sprayhood, attached to the deck mounted mainsheet traveller.

There is then a second Jack Line running forward along the length of our coachroof to the foredeck. This means that once I have exited the cockpit and re-clipped to the deck line there are fewer positions where I could be washed overboard while connected, yet I can transit to all necessary points. The only downside of this system is the need to re-clip at the traveller but using a 3 point line means I 'm always connected.

In the pic you can see the Jack Line running across the top of our coachroof. You can also see a second jackline running along the deck. I have since removed this to force me to use the deck mounted line.


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