Flying a Bosun's Chair
Flying a Bosun's Chair
Flying a Bosun’s Chair
One of the more uncomfortable jobs in sailing is having to go up the mast in a bosun’s chair. It’s not the height as much as getting around spreaders and hoping that your friends manning the winches are paying attention.
But surprisingly, there is a fun side to the bosun’s chair. While out sailing on a nice breezy day, attach your spinnaker halyard to the bosun’s chair so that someone sitting in it will pass just over the lifelines. Add another line from one of your midship deck cleats to the bosun’s chair with about ten feet to spare. Then seat a willing crew member in the chair, preferably in a swim suit and a life jacket, and swing them off the leeward side while sailing upwind. If done correctly, they will skip just above the water and hopefully have fun. Have someone standing by the spinnaker halyard in case it needs to be adjusted.
Be careful not to steer the boat up into the wind or they could come slamming back into the lifelines. When they have had enough, or you can’t stay on the same course, simply pull them back in with the line cleated to the deck.
Before trying this, you might want to rehearse your man over board drill. Let me know if you gave this a go and how it went, but attempt it at your own risk.
Captain Dan
