Suddenly Overboard: True Stories of Sailors in Fatal Trouble Paperback – April 30, 2013

A few days ago, a new book arrive, Suddenly Overboard: True Stories of Sailors in Fatal Trouble by Tom Lochhaas, a compilation of recent sailboat rescues from all over the world. The author has edited two anthologies of true sailing stories, Treacherous Waters: Stories of Sailors in the Clutch of the Sea and Intrepid Voyagers: Stories of the World's Most Adventurous Sailors, but in this book he uses his own writing skills and sailor's experience to make each incident rise from the print of rescue reports and newspaper accounts into three dimensional adventure stories. What could possibly go wrong on a sail? The chapters are divided into categories of accidents answering that question including those occurring in the home harbor, or caused by storms, running aground, equipment failure, lack of communication and lack of preparation. Most of the accidents resulted in hypothermia and its sidekicks, confusion and loss of muscle function, so I enjoyed reading the book in bed under a down comforter as, through the graces of Lochhaas' vivid prose, each tale came alive in my imagination. It's a page-turner. By the end of the book, it becomes obvious to any reader that one of the major causes of injury and death to sailors is the failure to wear a PFD, (Personal Flotation Device, previously known as life vest), at all times, whether wafting down a lake on a calm day or struggling through storms during a long-distance ocean race. Accidents by definition are unexpected - a gust of wind causes a line to tighten around a misplaced foot, a wave comes when someone is leaning over the rail - leaving no time to grab the life vest. By the end of the book, examples had so mounted in kind and number that last night, half asleep, I found myself questioning whether I should have my Personal Flotation Device strapped on as I made my way through the dark from bedside to bathroom. The scenes and situations in Suddenly Overboard did not make me feel more reluctant to sail. Although Mr. Lochhaas has gathered together a series of (for the most part) unfortunate events, he is no Lemony Snicket. In fact, his consistently clear and detailed descriptions of boats, sails, weather and people often brought to mind the pleasures and the quiet peace we sailors experience when the engine stops, the wind fills the sails and we can hear the waves lap against the hull. More unusually, my attitude toward common sense safety preparations got a charge of enthusiasm by way of entertainment rather than instruction. Suddenly Overboard nudged me out of a winter cocoon of sluggishness by reminding me with each anecdote that the joys of sailing are well worth the time and effort required to make sure the worst has been imagined and prepared for. This year, I'm going to make sure we have comfortable and well fitting PFDs so we will be more likely to wear them at all times on the water. A submersible handheld VHF radio would be accessible in the event of going overboard and far more dependable than a cell phone. This coming summer, we will definitely go through 'crew overboard' drills with passengers who are unfamiliar with the boat, something we haven't rehearsed in a long time. But right now, I think I'll go read Suddenly Overboard again.

Just finished reading "Suddenly Overboard" by Tom Lochhaas. This is really an important read for both novice and experienced sailors alike. I would strongly recommend that anyone teaching a boating safety or introductory sailing make reading this book a mandatory part of the course. I especially like the chapter entitled "Can Your Crew Save You?". It really illustrated the perils of not teaching the basics to sailing companions as you never know if you may need them to save your life if you end up being tossed overboard. The stories retold in this chapter make me want to drill my novice sailing companions on man overboard drills at the beginning of every season as the first order of business. There are cases, where the wife or grandson did not even know how to let out the sheets to stall the boat when the skipper was knocked overboard. Throughout the chapters Tom really does emphasis how some very simple measures (like wearing a PFD) can mitigate some very serious situations.In all my years of sailing with my children on the Merrimac river, I feel somewhat vindicated by all the times I insisted that they wear their life preservers BUT it still gives me pause to recall many other times when I realize that the adults should have been wearing PFD's as well.My first purchase of this year's sailing season is going to be submergible handheld VHF. When you read Tom's book you will find many examples where the combination of PFD plus submergible VHF's literally saved people's lives. I have already sent a copy of Tom's book to one of my friends who I will be bareboat chartering a boat with this summer.

The author did an excellent job of showing just how fast you can get in trouble on the water. The only thing I would add would be scenario where alcohol played a role.

I read this book cover to cover and will certainly read it again before outfitting my boat this spring. It teaches everything you should know about preventing or saving yourself and others from boating accidents. It does this by presenting true facts in a highly readable and entertaining format. All the safety lectures and warnings do not accomplish what reading this book will. I bought this book to be entertained and learn a little about safety and disaster prevention, I got far more, Tom Lochhaas's book should be read by every one who is planning, for whatever reason, to step on a boat or a wharf. Tom Lochhaas has written a classic.

I was quite eager to buy this book in order to learn from sailing accidents and avoid them ..Instead, this book is just a series of mostly fatal incidents grouped according to causes. The overwhelming majority of cases is taken from british and US reports; no Med, Baltic or Austrailian waters. There is no analysis of the accidents (except maybe that you should wear you PFD at all times), no conclusion or discussions on how to avoid similar events.The most morbid part is when the author in detail describes what the later victim is thinking just before the incident...Thus despite the fact that the victim later is found dead and no witnesses were present.Sorry, but I was quite disappointed and initially rated the book with only 1star.

It really opened my eyes to why you shouldn't have a life jacket on most of the time whether you're at the dock or out sailing.

This book made me aware of situations that I had never thought of. Complacency kills, and this book will open your eyes. The author uses actual accidents to show how to better protect yourself. It was a good read.

A depressing read and not as informative as "Boat Smart Chronicles". This book is written in a drier "just the facts ma'm" style but it has lessons to teach though grimly!

Well written, with some useful tips and definitely worth the £1.83 from the Betterworldbooks, despite it being an ex Lancashire County Library book.