Approaching a man in the water from the leeward side is proper procedure for Coast Guard (I am Auxiliary as well). This prevents the boat from drifting overtop and causing injury.
It is almost impossible to get a good grip on a person in the water. Using a piece of rope that goes around the MOBs back under the arms and crosses on the chest offers good purchase. Granted this is much easier to do on a RHIB than a J/30 with 2 feet of free board in pitching seas.
I would not agree that inspections prior to the race reduces liability for the race committee. As it is now, the safety standards are there and it is the skippers responsibility to ensure they are met prior to the race. If it is done the other way, and a boat is passed on a random inspection and then has troubles, then the Race Committees due diligence would be called into question for passing the boat. Tough call either way.
Good on you Tony for that rescue. When I heard you had rig troubles over the VHF it just made me feel better about retiring by Point Atkinson. I didn't think we could safely make the turn at Halibut Bank to a beam reach in those seas. Those beers tasted good as the wind gusted 50 in the WVYC Marina. We did cringe though, not knowing what the problem was and knowing you had just replaced the rig not too long ago.
