We are polar bears

As we await the accident report and resist spreading rumors (and there are many), some thoughts on other dangers. Lake Mendota is warm enough for swimming through late September, but now it's starting to get cold again. Mark Gillespie posted a link to a very good article about what happens to the body when you jump into cold water.

In the tragedy two years ago, a Saudi student drowned off the O'Day on June 6 after jumping into cold water. The water temp that day was between 60 and 65º--colder than it is today. And that was at the surface; two meters down it can be much colder. This page shows the water column temperature over the past week. The graph (also above) is hard to read, evidently created by engineers, but the data are there.

Here is a handier list of current temps in the water column. Always keep in mind that the water is warmer in fall than in spring. I'd rather fall into the water in December than in April. It's warmer right now than it was on June 6, 2015. There is thermal stratification, but currents and upwellings can bring icy water to the surface, especially in spring when it's had all winter to cool off. That is apparently what happened to Mohammed Bagabir--he went into shock when he hit sub-50º water. It was windy that day, and wind creates currents.

Also, precious seconds may have been lost because the horseshoe was clipped to the boat--a big no-no. People sometimes clip on the horseshoe thinking that otherwise it might bounce off and you could lose it or have to do a MOB pickup. Arrgh. But all skippers (except dinghy) should welcome every chance to do a man overboard drill. Students: we recommend throwing a flotable overboard at random times during your keelboat lessons. If the skipper complains or retaliates in any way, it means he sucks at MOB pickups. Or, jump off the boat yourself (with your lifejacket of course)! Actually, don't do this with the spinnaker up without permission--that's an annoyance--but upwind, go for it!

When I'm skippering a lesson or cruise and someone jumps overboard to swim, I reflexively throw (or have someone throw) the horseshoe or a lifejacket, and I know other skippers who do the same. Michaela Rabas didn't do this because, um,.... Some hesitate because then you have at least two objects in the water, which is a pain if you suck at MOBs, but it's common sense. If you aren't itching to throw multiple floating objects into the water at all times, you probably need work on your MOBs. This is a good time of year to practice them.