In 2014, a sailor fell overboard from
Derry/Londonderry and was rescued in the
Clipper Race.
There 's an excellent video of the recovery here:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/video-dramatic-rescue-of-londonderry-boat-race-sailor-who-fell-overboard-1-5970514
The RNLI says
1 in 8 sailors report having fallen overboard, which I find extraordinary. Source: RNLI audience profiling research (2015). The RNLI commissioned independent research into the attitudes to safety and risk of UK yacht sailors. A total of 4,996 sailors responded to a survey run by the study team. When asked about their experience of safety incidents, 12% said that they had gone overboard while sailing a yacht.
From BoatUS, statistics about MOB help provide clues as to conditions under which going overboard results in fatality.
"Sobering MOB Facts
The BoatUS Foundation has created a snapshot of boating fatalities that occurred between 2003 and 2007, a five-year span that gives good insight on MOB accidents and how they happen, so that we can work to help lower those numbers. In that time-frame, 749 of the 3,133 total U.S. boating fatalities were MOB:
24% were characterized as "falls overboard."
24% died at night, and 76% died during the day.
82% were on a boat under 22 feet in length.
63% didn 't know how to swim.
Only 8% of the non-swimmers were wearing a life jacket.
90% of accidents occurred when water conditions were calm or had less than 1-foot chop.
Just 4% of the boats had two engines.
85% of fatalities were men.
Average age was 47.
During the day, alcohol played a part in 27% of the deaths.
At night, alcohol played a part in 50% of the deaths.
Falling overboard while fishing accounted for 41% of the deaths."
Vice Commodore, OCC