Don't rock the boat

For some reason I just find this fascinating.
I got this survival table from the National Ocean Service Coast Pilot, volume 2 (free download). I guess the underlying message is, if you're going to sail in cold water, wear survival gear! I wonder what the stats are below 32 degrees (ocean water freezes at 28.5 degrees). I've heard unprotected survival time in arctic water is 5 minutes, so maybe that's the answer.

This also from the Coast Pilot, Volume 2, Chapter 3 (224)

The cooling rate can be slowed by the person’s behavior and insulated gear. In a study which closely monitored more than 500 immersions in the water around Victoria, B.C., temperatures ranged from 39° to 60°F. Using this information it was reasoned that if the critical heat loss areas could be protected, survival time would increase. The Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP) was developed for those in the water alone and the Huddle for small groups. Both require a life preserver. HELP involves holding the upper arms firmly against the sides of the chest, keeping the thighs together, and raising the knees to protect the groin area. In the Huddle, people face each other and keep their bodies as close together as possible. These positions improve survival time in 48°F water to 4 hours, approximately two times that of a swimmer and one and one-half times that of a person in the passive position.

I bet people were just busting down the door to be part of that study "well, first we're going to drop you in incredibly cold ocean water..." Right. The CP goes on to describe immersion hypothermia, stats, etiology of death, and emergency lifesaving measures in great detail (the CP describes everything in great detail - the manual is huge). Here's chapter 225:

Near-drowning victims in cold water (less than 70°F) show much longer periods of revivability than usual. Keys to a successful revival are immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and administration of pure oxygen. Don’t bother with total rewarming at first. The whole revival process may take hours and require medical help. Don’t give up! The U.S. Coast Guard has an easy to remember rule of thumb for survival time: 50 percent of people submersed in 50°F water, will die within 50 minutes.

The next few chapters deal with frostbite, "optical phenomena" and somewhat incongruously, dew formation and protection of cargo from moisture. Like I said, for some reason this is fascinating reading to me.