He’s the man who pioneered the Quick Stop method of retrieving a crew member from the water.
As a member of the Safety at Sea committee, John Bonds conducted some 600 tests with midshipmen and using different equipment before concluding that the Quick Stop was the most effective manoeuvre.
It took some years for the Quick Stop to be adopted as the preferred man overboard response but it is now taught in sailing courses around the world, displacing the traditional, broad reach method.
What other significant innovation was he responsible for?
The answer is in this week’s newsletter, where we acknowledged John’s impact on sea safety.
