Injuries and Fatalities on Sailboats in the United States 2000–2011: An Analysis of US Coast Guard Data

Abstract

The calculated fatality rate is similar to that of alpine skiing. Falls overboard and capsizing were the most common fatal accidents. Operator inattention, inexperience, and alcohol use were common preventable factors contributing to fatal and nonfatal injury.

Recreational Sporting Activity Vehicle‐Related Deaths

“…Another interesting finding in the series of cases is the fact that each of the decedents was male, another definite but unalterable “human factor.” It should also be emphasized here that the “human factors” issue includes the choice to use, and the proper use of, various protective equipment, either on the vehicle (for example safety belts) or on the rider (for example helmets). Examples of additional recreational vehicle‐related cases where human factors (including risk factors such as male sex, young age, inexperience, inattention/carelessness, recklessness, lack of education, fatigue, poor conditioning/fitness, intoxication, not using safety equipment, excessive speed, and poor judgment) play a role in injury or death related to recreational/sports vehicle use are plentiful within the literature, including reports related to land sports , water sports , and winter sports .…”

“…It should also be emphasized here that the "human factors" issue includes the choice to use, and the proper use of, various protective equipment, either on the vehicle (for example safety belts) or on the rider (for example helmets). Examples of additional recreational vehicle-related cases where human factors (including risk (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15), water sports (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22), and winter sports (13,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31).…”

“…Certain other environmental factors are known to exist in other situations where deaths occur with recreational vehicle use, but are not included in the presented cases. Numerous reports of such environmental factors playing a role in injuries/deaths in recreational vehicle-related activities exist within the literature and include reports dealing with land sports vehicles (4,9,12,15), water sports vehicles (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)36), and winter sports vehicles (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)30). In addition to those environmental hazards that are specifically addressed in these references, various other environmental factors, such as lightning (37), mudslides (38), flash floods (39), and extremely cold (40) or hot (41) environmental temperatures can also result in the deaths of individuals using recreational vehicles.…”

“…Vehicle factors considered as potentially contributory to the accidental deaths presented are listed in column B of Table . As with human factors, the literature contains numerous examples of vehicle factors (such as specific vehicle features or types, vehicle design, heavy weight, inability to control the vehicle, improper vehicle loading, and propensity to overturn) that may contribute to recreational vehicle‐related injuries and/or death, including in land sports , water sports , and winter sports . An example of another vehicle‐related hazard that has been reported as causing accidental deaths in persons engaged in motorized recreational/sport vehicle use is carbon monoxide intoxication from the boat vehicle exhaust .…”

Correlation Between Strong Wind and Leisure Craft Grounding in Croatian Waters

“…Authors pointed out the lack of passage planning as major root cause of accidents. Hazardous weather or sea conditions were listed as primary contributing factors to deaths on leisure vessels in the United States 2000-2011, according to (Ryan, 2016).…”