Ah Hail!

A crew of three sailing a Hunter Legend 37 from the home port of of Irvington Virginia, on a non-stop 300 mile Spring shake-out sail, suddenly sees dark clouds approach astern. Sailing in relatively calm winds of 8-10 knots the captain decided to reef now should the storm astern bring heavy winds. Suddenly, as they were heading up to reef, the boat was hit with a tremendous increase in wind strength which heeled the boat over to at least 40 degrees. On deck were the captain and one deck hand while another deck hand was in the galley preparing dinner. No one had a PFD or was in a harness.

The wind increased and at one point the mast was virtually horizontal. Hail stones pelted both the boat and the sailors.

What would you have done in this sailing scenario?

1. Move the crew as quickly as possible to safety in the cabin.
2. Free the jib and main sheets to relieve sail power.
3. Order the crew member in the galley to the deck to assist.
4. Secure yourself as quickly as possible to avoid going overboard
5. Keep a crew member at the helm to maintain any boat control possible.
6. Jump overboard to avoid going down with the ship.

In this situation, you should secure yourself to avoid going overboard. Once you are secured free the jib and main sheets to relieve sail power. Keep a crew member at the helm to maintain any boat control possible. Order the crew member in the galley to stay put just in case one or more of you on deck should go overboard. This way there will be one crew member with the boat to conduct a man overboard procedure.

Lessons learned from this scenario?

1. This area is prone to fast changes in weather. Those on deck should have been wearing PFD.
2. At least one crew member on deck should have been in a harness and secured. This is reasonable insurance should something like this happen at least one member will stay on the boat and be in a position to rescue others who have gone overboard.
3. They should have been monitoring the VHF weather channel. Had they been doing this they would have been aware of the storm approaching and been more prepared.

Perhaps you have other ideas of what could have been done given the scenario as well as other lessons learned. Share your thoughts.