They say it is a 3000 foot drop if you fall overboard alone.
Not many survive.
Night,
8 miles from shore
Rough seas.
70 years old.
9 hour swim.
Well, what can you say.
www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-04/man-in-70s-survives-nine-hour-night-swim-after-falling-overboard/101036004
A nice beach to repair the yacht on.
He had a strong will to live and the ability to swim 8 km. I couldn't swim that far.
Looks like the boat drifted faster than the bloke swam. No info about whether he had a PFD.
Hard to believe ,somethings not right .common you fall overboard with no sails up and rudders are up .9 hrs in the water without fatigue or salt water sores/sunburn then end up next to your yacht with all that coastline and some strong tides. Um !!!
Yes sounds a bit strange but then strange things happen. Croc and shark territory too!
Lucky he was in Qld. Down here in Arcticoria, or even worse down in Freezemania he'd have succumbed to the chills in a couple of hours, PFD or not.
It is possible for a cat to do this. If it was motoring, then the sails would be down and if the boat hits the sand going forwards then the rudders are designed to kick up. I hope I could swim 4 miles if I had to, good idea to wear the inflatable all the time when on your own.
I also like the idea of a little bum bag, with a VHF and a PLB/AIS transmitter. I know we are supposed to stay clipped on but if conditions are calm it is less likely, very unlikely. So a bum bag with an inflatable harness is a good compromise. Well done to the owner, biggish tides around there, and sharks and crocs.
