MOB Procedures

[Warren Milberg]

At this time of year, when I first get back on the water, one of the first things I do (when I have crew) is to go over and practice Man Overboard (MOB) procedures. While we tend to practice both the conventional (reach and tack/jibe onto a reciprocal course) and the so-called "quick stop" method, my guess is that I'd use the latter method if I ever had to. The reason is I believe that would stop the boat a lot closer to the person in the water. This time of year, the water temps here are in the low 50's so getting that person out fast would be a high priority.

What are your procedures for a MOB situation?

http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/1986overboardstudy.htm

 

[sailingdog]

The procedures will vary for the different boats, based on how they handle, how they are equipped, etc. For instance, if you have a LifeSling, you may respond differently than if you only have a horseshoe or ring buoy. A multihull like mine may respond differently due to the different sailing characteristics than a monohull like yours.

What you really have to do is find what works for you under the various conditions—sailing upwind, sailing downwind, motoring—and practice each of them.

 

[Les]

Good question, Warren. And timely. Some years ago I was in the Southern Strait race out of Vancouver in which winds reached 55 knts. and I saw waves that were higher then my spreaders--and it was dark at night. I knew then if anyone fell overboard we wouldn't find them. Every year since when I raced my crew and I would practice MOB drills.

To be frank, there is only one way in my mind to rescue someone who has fallen in the water. Immediately throw out the Life Sling buoy and start turning the boat and press the MOB button on your GPS. Steer the boat around the person in the water until the line reaches them. Stop boat and pull them back to the boat.

After that Strait race, I bought a wet suit and jumped in while the crew tried different methods to get back to me. First, when in the water, seeing the boat leaving you is scary. Very scary. They had a hard time keeping me in sight. Once they spotted me they turn the boat around and headed under power back to me. Also very scary. That boat looks so big and you think they are going to run over you--even tho' you know they have someone watching. Getting me on board was also a problem and we had block and tackle ready to go. Finally some of my crew just reached over and pulled me on board.

Here are some observations. The figure eight system under sail was probably designed for full keel boats that take time to turn and stop. Stopping near a MOB is just as important as getting back to them. The quick turn works well with newer style boats with fin keels. Also we have practice doing the quick turn with all sails flying. Now the crew knows just to let all the sheets go--let the sails flog but get back to the MOB.

I don't race anymore but those practice trials stick in my mind still. My wife and I have talked a little bit of what we would do if EITHER of us went overboard. For some reason, everyone always assumes it would be the skipper. Ever since boats came with sugar scoop sterns, we have had one--much easier to get a MOB back on board. And when we had a larger boat (H380) we had an outboard engine hoist which was also rigged to bring a person on board. When you're in the water in this part of the world, you tire quickly. I don't think I could walk up a swim ladder without help.

Now that we have a much smaller boat (H27) I'v been thinking of how to use the new WinchRite to haul someone out and drag them into the stern.

You are right, Warren. Thinking now, even practicing will save lives. BTW, in a heavy storm, MOB poles are useless. There isn't a pole made that will stand up to thirty knot winds and in steep waves, you'll never see it. I think the new MOB GPS locators are something to look at.

My best to you...and don't fall overboard.

 

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that the freeboard on many larger boats makes recovering the MOB a real problem. You might be able to get back to them, but getting the MOB back aboard becomes a serious issue.

Even a sugar scoop transom isn't going to help much in many conditions, since if the boat is rocking, the transom itself becomes a serious hazard to anyone in the water. That often means that recovery must be done amidships—where freeboard is often the biggest problem.

On my boat, the freeboard at the amidship point on the amas is less than 18" or so...and even then, pulling someone aboard can be a bear.

 

[sailaway78]

Good Practice

A good way to practice a life like drill, after you have the crew fairly well familiar with the basics, is to throw an object over the side, and yell, man overboard. A gallon milk jug or something similar works good. This can be done to give some realism to the event, and catch everyone unprepared as opposed to a standard practice drill. Getting someone back on board is the problem, and each and every boat and condition will be different.

 

[Roger Long]

I'd point out that the freeboard on many larger boats makes recovering the MOB a real problem.

I have a split backstay with an adjuster. I put a snap shackle on each end of the adjuster tackle and carry a length of rope with a spliced loop and snap shackle to extend it. Once the PIW is brought to the stern ladder with the Lifesling (Absolutely essential equipment in my mind), the backstay adjuster can be quickly rigged to assist them up the ladder. By the time you get back to them in water as cold as it is in Maine, they may be too weak to climb the ladder.

Boom vang tackles are sometimes used but that means getting the main down first, a possibly fatal delay.

Before I had a self steering gear, I would occasionally let go of everything as I passed a lobster pot and watch how the boat rounded up, backed, and started off on another course. I figured that, if I fell over alone, it would help to know which direction to start swimming to have the best chance of intercepting the boat. I also trail a light line connected to the boarding ladder that is held up only by a Velcro strap.

Now that I have a self steering gear, of course, the only single handed MOB drill I need to practice is waving good by to the boat.

 

[sailaway78]

A very good suggestion Roger

Not having the boarding ladder tied up is a very good idea. I went backwards off a dock last spring, much to my embarassment, and because it was high, and the piliings slick, I couldn't get back up on the dock. Was going to go up the boarding ladder, but had it tied upfirmly. Never again.

 

[kenn]

They say that the majority of male sailors who went MOB and drowned are found with their flies open. Either use the head like a gentleman, or harness in. Idiots

The sailing world needs something that can serve as both a storm sail and a rescue sling. Maybe a solid stormsail with some sewn-in webbing and a line for extending the tack when using as a sling.

 

[Scott B]

They say that the majority of male sailors who went MOB and drowned are found with their flies open. Either use the head like a gentleman, or harness in. Idiots

Urban legend.

 

[kenn]

They say that the majority of male sailors who went MOB and drowned are found with their flies open.

Urban legend.

Spoilsport.

Seriously, I have heard that this happens ALOT. Also heard that this was the leading cause of male drowning in the canals in Amsterdam, when we had a tour there.

 

[BobM]

I guess you could say...

Spoilsport.

Seriously, I have heard that this happens ALOT. Also heard that this was the leading cause of male drowning in the canals in Amsterdam, when we had a tour there.

...they were fly fishing

Sorry...never could resist...

 

[Warren Milberg]

I'd like to second the motion mentioned by Nice N Easy re being able to get your swim ladder down if you are in the water. Give it a try sometime. As a mostly solo sailor, I tie a looped line around the swim ladder that could be reached from the water to pull the unlocked ladder down. How would you get back on your boat if alone and went over?

 

[chuckwayne]

On the newer Hunters the swim ladder is hidden under the fold-down helm seat. It's impossible to get it out if you're in the water. After we had to do an MOB recovery-crew in water, me in dinghy- I added a plastimo rescue ladder off the stern. It works great-the rope/plastic step ladder lives in a bag with a loop handle hanging down near the water, one tug and the ladder deploys, easy to do from the water

 

[stephen Penny]

chuckwayne,

Great idea. Is this the Plastimo synthetic ladder with black plastic steps for $22 (3 steps) - 29 (4 steps)? Three or steps?

 

[PaulK]

We have a MOB drill scheduled again for early in our race season. Each boat is issued a watermelon before the race. The Race Committee advises the fleet, sometime during the race, to jettison their melon. They have to retrieve it before continuing. Tethers and lifejackets on the melon are not allowed. Anyone not retrieving their "crew" gets two hours added to their time. We use watermelons because they are about the size of a person's head, and drift more slowly (like a body) than a cushion. Like an unconscious victim, they're also difficult to pick up out of the water. We are planning to get a triangular "retrieval tarp" that we can use to lift the victim out of the water onto the deck. We've found the "quick-stop" method very effective in practice. Even with the spinnaker up in 15 knots of wind we've been able to return to a "victim" in less than 45 seconds. Getting victims back aboard is harder, which is why we're getting the tarp.

 

[zeehag]

tether on , jackline secured....doNOT fall in in heavy weather....you will not get back aboard...fact.

 

[chuckwayne]

no. but you could rig one of those up with your own holder... Plastimo also makes a special ladder in a pouch(orange steps) with a pull loop that hangs down to open the package-around $70, I think

 

[higgs]

I have had to deal with this twice. I did not use a prescribed method either time. I just made a quick decision on what was the fastest way to turn the boat around and got the MOB. Dog makes a good point about freeboard as it is really tough to pull someone out of the water. A good case for Life Sling, though I have never used it. I guess I trust my judgment as to what the fastest way to turn around is in given conditions. It's worked so far and hopefully will to be put to the test again.

 

[PaulK]

Lifeslings are great for snagging victims and keeping them with the boat, but they are NOT great for hoisting people aboard. We are working on getting something like this:http://www.aladdinscave.co.uk/PomFeb07.htm . A line from the outboard end can go to a tackle or a winch so even the weakest crew can get a hefty guy back aboard. The victim is easily held in the "pouch" as it is lifted, and the cloth could also be used as a crash mat to cover a hole in the hull if necessary.