Abstract: An umbilical retraction apparatus for selectively retracting and extending an umbilical. A retractor feeds a cable upon which two umbilical grips are mounted. A first umbilical grip is slidably mounted upon the cable and grips the umbilical remote from the umbilical's end. A second umbilical grip is mounted to the cable intermediate the first umbilical grip and the umbilical's end, as by a cable grip that holds the end of the cable. The umbilical is held substantially parallel to the cable by the first umbilical grip and is held substantially perpendicular to the cable by the second umbilical grip. A loop is formed in the umbilical when the cable is retracted by the retractor.