Using Rope Ladders on Boats Can Be One Dangerous Step

Boarding ladders on boats are potentially dangerous. I made one of the most dangerous from rope and teak steps for my sloop, Herald Bird, 14 years ago. I’ve climbed up and down that ladder, which is belayed to my cabin’s hand rail and then slung over the side, at least a hundred times.

This ladder, which is like a Jacob’s ladder, is not rigid like most commercial ladders. You haul yourself up or descend carefully, lest it swing laterally and unceremoniously dump you. I’ve never had any trouble with it until recently.

I was going down its three steps for a swim when my feet slipped off the second step. My chest came crashing down across the gunwale, nearly knocking the breath out of me with pain. I had cracked a couple of ribs. And I’ve lost quite a bit of sleep trying to find a position where I don’t hurt.

Nevertheless, I still won’t part with that ladder. It has its advantages. I’ve known a couple of sailors who have fallen the way I did from rigid ladders. All kinds of ladders must be approached with circumspection and care.

I like my rope ladder because it stows compactly and easily. I like it because I can leave it belayed to the handrail and hauled aboard when I’m under way. A small line attached to the bottom rung hangs over my boat’s side. I figure that if anybody tumbles overboard at night when at anchor they can grab the small line, pull the ladder over the side and climb aboard. The same applies if anyone goes overboard when under way. Cracked ribs or not, it can be a great safety factor. I never leave my home port’s slip without having that ladder in place.

Sailing Notes

- With the fleet of America’s Cup hopefuls now assembled at Fremantle, Australia, “The players of the world’s largest floating crap game are hedging on predictions until the 13 actual challenge contenders start racing on Oct. 5 and the four Australian defense contenders start their first trials two weeks later,” reports Australian newsman Bob MacDonald from Perth to “America’s Cup 1987 Report” of Newport, R.I.

By the time the third series of trials end just before Christmas, the field will be down to eight boats.

Right now, says MacDonald, there are 31 12-meters including trial horses crowded around the three man-made harbors that make up Fremantle’s waterfront Cup complex. This is 18 more than filled the Newport waterfront in the 1983 campaign when everyone wondered if that many Twelves would ever again be seen in one place.

At times there are 20 or more Twelves jostling each other around the Indian Ocean. Many of the boats in the daily scramble are virtually brand new and untested.

Latest odds figured by “America’s Cup 1987 Report” are:

America II, 5-2. Looks more and more like a shake-out with Sail America. . . . Sail America, 33-1. Somehow seemed more a threat in lonely Hawaii than crowded Fremantle. . . . Eagle, 16-1. Doing too little to make any firm believers. . . . Heart of America, 20-1. Butt tucks (remodeled stern) never inspire confidence. . . . Golden Gate, 25-1. There’s nothing less radical--or more promising--in Perth than San Francisco Bay. . . . Courageous. Off line.

Johan Valentijn, designer of Eagle of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, has been quoted that, “It’s so hard to say if people right now are playing fair or playing games. But from what I have seen, there’s no one out there who burns everybody off with a lot of speed. The boats look pretty even and I think it’s going to be a very interesting game in October.”

- Upcoming events: National Speedboat and Waterski Assn. Championships, Lake Havasu, Havasu Springs Resort, Sept. 26-28. Wetbike Open Nationals, Lake Havasu in front of Nautical Inn, Sept. 27-28. Re-enactment of Cabrillo Landing, San Diego Bay, from Ballast Point to Shelter Island, Sept. 27. Octoberfest, Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Newport Beach, race in San Pedro Channel about 10 miles off Balboa Pier, Oct. 12.