Open Water Survival

So right now I'm multi-tasking. Doing work on my computer, surfing, and watching a terrible movie called Open Water 2: Adrift. Not that the first one was any good (actually didn't see it). However, here's the scenario:

Several friends are getting together for a reunion of sorts on the large yacht of one of their friends. They all decide to take a dip in the ocean, but neglect to set up the ladder. Therefore, there are 3 men and 3 women treading water, trying to reach up and grab some sort of hold on the boat to get back onboard. It looks like it's about 4 or 5 feet to the edge of the boat from the water's surface.

Here are their supplies:

All are wearing bathing suits- 2 bikinis, 3 swim trunks, and 1 woman was thrown in with a long sun dress on.

Two swim masks

One life jacket currently being worn by the woman who was tossed in.

A dive knife

A windbreaker that fell in the water

Oh yeah, there is an infant onboard, but she's crib-bound.

Movie is currently underway, but you know there's no way that all will survive- if any!

What would you do?

Part 1 I thought was pretty cool, creepy if it would've been me.
I have no water survival skills other than being a good swimmer and I would carry a dive knife, don't do deep water, no no no, but would like some info on Survival at Sea, ocean, or deep water. Any one with those skills should post them, it would be helpful to me.

The girl with the long dress would be naked, I would swim next to one of the cleats, tread water hard, you should be able to get up to your waist if you are in good shape. wrap the long dress around the cleat and climb aboard. or take the dive knife and stick it into the boat above the waterline and use the momentum from treading water and pulling up with the dive knife to grab one of the cleats. Also most boats have trim tabs located on the stearn (back) of the boat that you could climb up and stand on, if seas are higher than 2-3 feet you will get banged up but you should be able to get on.

You posed an interesting problem and one that says volumes about wearing a life preserver. I have to make some assumptions here based on what you've given us. 1). The craft is not at anchor so the anchor line isn't available. 2). The craft may be adrift but otherwise not under power (sail, for example). 3). I'm out of site of land or far enough away that swimming to land is not an option. That said...

I liked rrsnook's idea but I think I'd use the wind breaker first. Instead of using it to climb on board, I think I would use it to steady myself in the water while one of the girls, who weighs less, could climb up me and on board the craft. I think that would put less stress on the material because the water is helping to support some weight and less pressure would be exerted on the cloth.

If no windbreaker then certainly the dress. If it still wasn't long enough, use the dive knife to cut it length wise and tie the two ends together.

If only the life jacket then strip as much of the webbed strapping as possible in as long a piece as possible to use as a rope.

If nothing but bathing suits then I'd probably cut the elastic waste off one pair of the men's trucks and cut it in half to make it one long piece or remove the tie string (depending on how they are made) from the waist.

Beyond this scenario, long pants, as I'm sure you know, can be used as a flotation device by tying knots in the end of the legs and forcing air into the pants. Use like water wings.

Interestingly, I did finish the movie. I won't spoil it for you, but not everyone made it. In that situation, I would have used the dress or windbreaker and tie it off to one of the handles on the underside, making a loop. I think it would be possible for a few of the guys to hold someone up, allowing that person to get on board. Another possible way would be to make a rope with the clothes, using the goggles tied off at one end to hopefully catch onto the railing. In the movie, they did attempt it, but it failed, and they seemed to give up rather quickly...

Oh well.

Why can't we climb up the anchor rope/chain? Rick assumed the anchor was not down, but the post does not mention the anchor.

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Originally Posted by bulrush

Why can't we climb up the anchor rope/chain?

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That'd be a great idea except the anchor is not in the water. It is at the bow but is not hanging down. But you're right, that would be a good way to do it.

I'd watch a better movie. :D

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Originally Posted by trax

I'd watch a better movie. :D

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LOL. But it did bring up an interesting scenario, though.

Yes Rick you are correct the windbreaker would be stronger, but if you had success with the windbreaker the girl in the long dress would still have her dress on.

The two largest (presumably men) float on their backs with the life vest under them to increase their bouyancy. The smallest (presumably woman) stands ontop of the "two man raft" (others help steady her). Now should be eye level or higher with cleat or stantion. Use windbreaker around cleat or stantion to aid in climbing aboard. I've actually done something similar to this while sailing in the Straits of Juan De Fuca. I think there may have been drinking involved.

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Originally Posted by Aurelius95

So right now I'm multi-tasking. Doing work on my computer, surfing, and watching a terrible movie called Open Water 2: Adrift.

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Now I have this image in my head of you on a surfboard, clutching the laptop in one hand and the portable TV in the other...

Here's another thought on how to get onboard. (havent tried it, but should/could work). Hang jacket around cleat or stantion so that it hangs down (should now be 2-4 feet above water level. Largest (most bouyant) while wearing life jacket cup hands and have lightest (remove any wet clothing - bathing suit shoud be ok) place foot in cupped hands. Kind of like helping somebody over a wall. To start, have two others push up on feet of individual wearing life jacket. When life jacket dude feels the push, he lifts nearly naked small person as fast and hard as he can. Small person starts in a crouch and then straightens up as process starts. Should be able to get 2-4 (maybe more) of lift on small person. Grab whatever works - cleat - stantion - jacket - climb aboard.

I worked with a guy who said he went sailing at night by himself off miami and fell overboard. No flotation devise or life line. The boat sailed-on without him. He was treading water when a yaht came by but the music was so loud no one heard him. That's when something "big" bumped him. He said he was getting tired when a sail boat came by and heard his need.

I did the water survival training in pensacola. I was out there waiting to be picked up by the helo. Splashing water so they would see me. waiting for the cable to hit the water and discharge the static electricity. Splashing away and no cable. The boat came and got me. Guess there was a 10ft hammerhead around me. I think those SOB's were waiting for a show!

There is a book I read, I think it was called "Sole Survivor" about a guy who survived on a makeshift raft for like almost a year out in the ocean after a shipwreck.

http://www.amazon.com/Sole-Survivor-...5453632&sr=8-7

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Originally Posted by wildWoman

Now I have this image in my head of you on a surfboard, clutching the laptop in one hand and the portable TV in the other...

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That's exactly how it happened WW. I am "goofy footed" when I surf, so the sun has to be in the right position so as not to obscure my view of either my laptop or the portable 24" television that I prefer to surf with!

Rebel,

Wow, they picked you up? Guess you were not in the Marines.

They dumped me and two other dumbarse Jarheads about 100yds in a bay in Panama. No sooner were we in the water when we saw fins.

It was a Huey, they could dump us, but not pick us up.



Don't care who you are, open water, at night, even if you have a buddy, freak'n scary. Before the USMC, I would swim across the Delaware, in the bay, in the ocean, I did not care. After the USMC, not much of a swimmer.

I guess they didn't want to scare the squids.

that's what we should be prepared for; open water attack by humboldt squid.