Have you practiced a 'skipper overboard' drill? What would happen on your boat if your skipper were to take the plunge? Would your usual crew know what to do and spring into calm, efficient, action? Or would the resulting fire drill make the Keystone Cops look like a well-oiled machine? Do you believe your crew could get back to you and pull you out of the drink? Share your preparations here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
- Status
live drills
A few months ago we "donated" Buoyant to our yacht club's women's sailing clinic for a day so they could practice live, in-the-water MOB drills from a large cruising boat. So many women signed up for the event that we had to break them into morning and afternoon shifts. Wonderblond and I donned wet suits and alternately took the plunge, each of us being rescued a dozen times over the course of the day. It was a valuable exercise; there were ACTIVE members of the club's cruising fleet, women who co-own large sailboats and double-hand them with their husbands on a monthly basis, who didn't even know how to properly load a self-tailing winch, let alone rig a block and tackle for hoisting. I'm happy to report that two couples, as a result of that day, immediately purchased jack lines and tethers. There was also a run on Lifeslings, complete with hoisting rigs, at the local chandlery.
A few months ago we "donated" Buoyant to our yacht club's women's sailing clinic for a day so they could practice live, in-the-water MOB drills from a large cruising boat. So many women signed up for the event that we had to break them into morning and afternoon shifts. Wonderblond and I donned wet suits and alternately took the plunge, each of us being rescued a dozen times over the course of the day. It was a valuable exercise; there were ACTIVE members of the club's cruising fleet, women who co-own large sailboats and double-hand them with their husbands on a monthly basis, who didn't even know how to properly load a self-tailing winch, let alone rig a block and tackle for hoisting. I'm happy to report that two couples, as a result of that day, immediately purchased jack lines and tethers. There was also a run on Lifeslings, complete with hoisting rigs, at the local chandlery.
Skipper dead/boat in Africa (maybe Hawaii)
Actually it depends who's on the boat. I don't have "regular" crew since I don't race. Just friends who want to go sailing. I go over the basics but to do a mob drill every time would a waste cuz they'd never remember any of it if I went over. Instead, I tell them where the radio is, show them how to use it and tell them to yell, scream or cry to get the attention of the CG. They'd be much more likely to make it to me before my crew! LaDonna
Actually it depends who's on the boat. I don't have "regular" crew since I don't race. Just friends who want to go sailing. I go over the basics but to do a mob drill every time would a waste cuz they'd never remember any of it if I went over. Instead, I tell them where the radio is, show them how to use it and tell them to yell, scream or cry to get the attention of the CG. They'd be much more likely to make it to me before my crew! LaDonna
Probably a happy ending....
This is an interesting thread as I just completed teaching a two day beginners ASA sailing course for four people. One of the requirements in the curriculum is to teach and have them do the figure eight system under sail to retrieve a person who has fallen overboard. Each of the four persons was in charge of retrieving a person (floating cusion) several times. What bothers me as an instructor is the fact that that system is designed for the older long keel boats. We were on a J30 and could turn on a dime and retried the MOB quite easily. More important is that, at least in this area, most boats have the MOB throw out system attached to their boats. My crews have on several occasions have practice thowing out the floatating device and circled the MOB. It is a very quick system and you can bring a person to the boat very quickly. Several years ago after a race, S/V Trumpeter did rescure two young boys who flipped their power boat in Bellingham Bay. We were the last boat heading in when the accident happened--it was dusk and it was hard to see them in the water. We were forty yards away when it happen--we were under power at the time so it was easy to put the wheel over and reach the spot in a short time (2 minutes maybe?). I backed down to the first kid, put the engin into neutral and my crew (two other fellows), hauled the first kid (about 16--no life vests) aboard. As we looked for the second kid (younger, probably about 11 or 12), the first kid jumped back in. Don't ask me why--I don't understand young teenagers), we then found the second kid, haul him up to the boat and took him below, then picked up the teenager. When both kids were below getting dried off, we headed back to the harbor. We left the Boston Whaler floating upside down, but called on the VHS radio to the race committee that was just tieing up to come back and tow the BW back to the harbor. One of my crew drove the kids home--the younger child was a Japanese exchange student's son and didn't speak English. He was one cold and scare kid. Disturbing to me was the fact that as we were going into the harbor I called the Coast Guard in Bellingham. They seem not at all interested; asked me if every one was safe. I had to go to their office several days later and ASK for the forms to report the incident. They were not the least bit interested. I think if I were to go overboard, my wife would have little problem furling sails and powering around to get me. She would deploy the MOB system and then haul me up to the boat. If I were too tired to climb up the ladder, we have a motor lifter(can't think of the right term) nearby; she could just hook that onto me and haul me up. I love the new Hunter sterns just for this reason. What I learned from this incident was that I want strob lights on all my MOB gear. It is hard to see people in the water. At least up here, I wouldn't count on the Coast Guard, LaDonna.
This is an interesting thread as I just completed teaching a two day beginners ASA sailing course for four people. One of the requirements in the curriculum is to teach and have them do the figure eight system under sail to retrieve a person who has fallen overboard. Each of the four persons was in charge of retrieving a person (floating cusion) several times. What bothers me as an instructor is the fact that that system is designed for the older long keel boats. We were on a J30 and could turn on a dime and retried the MOB quite easily. More important is that, at least in this area, most boats have the MOB throw out system attached to their boats. My crews have on several occasions have practice thowing out the floatating device and circled the MOB. It is a very quick system and you can bring a person to the boat very quickly. Several years ago after a race, S/V Trumpeter did rescure two young boys who flipped their power boat in Bellingham Bay. We were the last boat heading in when the accident happened--it was dusk and it was hard to see them in the water. We were forty yards away when it happen--we were under power at the time so it was easy to put the wheel over and reach the spot in a short time (2 minutes maybe?). I backed down to the first kid, put the engin into neutral and my crew (two other fellows), hauled the first kid (about 16--no life vests) aboard. As we looked for the second kid (younger, probably about 11 or 12), the first kid jumped back in. Don't ask me why--I don't understand young teenagers), we then found the second kid, haul him up to the boat and took him below, then picked up the teenager. When both kids were below getting dried off, we headed back to the harbor. We left the Boston Whaler floating upside down, but called on the VHS radio to the race committee that was just tieing up to come back and tow the BW back to the harbor. One of my crew drove the kids home--the younger child was a Japanese exchange student's son and didn't speak English. He was one cold and scare kid. Disturbing to me was the fact that as we were going into the harbor I called the Coast Guard in Bellingham. They seem not at all interested; asked me if every one was safe. I had to go to their office several days later and ASK for the forms to report the incident. They were not the least bit interested. I think if I were to go overboard, my wife would have little problem furling sails and powering around to get me. She would deploy the MOB system and then haul me up to the boat. If I were too tired to climb up the ladder, we have a motor lifter(can't think of the right term) nearby; she could just hook that onto me and haul me up. I love the new Hunter sterns just for this reason. What I learned from this incident was that I want strob lights on all my MOB gear. It is hard to see people in the water. At least up here, I wouldn't count on the Coast Guard, LaDonna.
Depends..........
on how much I pissed her off that day. Could be that she never noticed that I fell overboard.
on how much I pissed her off that day. Could be that she never noticed that I fell overboard.
Hell, She May Be the One Who Put Me In
If you are using Type 1 PFDs having one for all of the crew normally on board may not be a bad idea. On each of them have a whistle, strobe, and even flares. The reflective stuff across the shoulders is agood idea also. It is very difficult to find a head sticking up out of the water in calm seas and daylight let alone less optimal conditions.
If you are using Type 1 PFDs having one for all of the crew normally on board may not be a bad idea. On each of them have a whistle, strobe, and even flares. The reflective stuff across the shoulders is agood idea also. It is very difficult to find a head sticking up out of the water in calm seas and daylight let alone less optimal conditions.
Me OB
Because of a similar discussion on the C30 e-mail list, we practiced MOB drills yesterday. It was quite eye-opening. We always managed to retrieve the cushions: that was the extent of what I can say positively. Here are all of the really frightening things we learned: (1) It is not easy to bring one of the larger boats--like my C30--up into the wind the first time around. If it's a kid in the water, or a dog or some one about whom we are desparately worried, it would be a lot worse. (2) There is a certain difficult calculus in figuring out just where to turn upwind to (a) end up next to the MOB and (b) stop right next to the MOB. I have great sailing instincts and it was hard for me; for my wife it was not possible. (3) The other thing we found out is that my wife can't furl my roller-furling jib easily and certainly not in a few minutes. Moreover, if she drops the main, she can't see to whichever side the main drops down. So the idea of dropping the sails and turning on the engine, while it was great on my C22, doesn't work here. We are going to be working on this all summer, and I'll continue to wear my inflatable and am thinking seriously about all-weather jacklines, because if I go in, I'm going to have to swim to ... Oklahoma. PS: Given the fact that so many of sail in crowded areas, one of the first steps in the MOB drill has to be to look for other boats. This is not natural for people who are not comfortable conning a boat and worse than being in the water watching someone else try to pick us up would be getting run over by the boats which are avoiding the people who are trying to pick us up...
Because of a similar discussion on the C30 e-mail list, we practiced MOB drills yesterday. It was quite eye-opening. We always managed to retrieve the cushions: that was the extent of what I can say positively. Here are all of the really frightening things we learned: (1) It is not easy to bring one of the larger boats--like my C30--up into the wind the first time around. If it's a kid in the water, or a dog or some one about whom we are desparately worried, it would be a lot worse. (2) There is a certain difficult calculus in figuring out just where to turn upwind to (a) end up next to the MOB and (b) stop right next to the MOB. I have great sailing instincts and it was hard for me; for my wife it was not possible. (3) The other thing we found out is that my wife can't furl my roller-furling jib easily and certainly not in a few minutes. Moreover, if she drops the main, she can't see to whichever side the main drops down. So the idea of dropping the sails and turning on the engine, while it was great on my C22, doesn't work here. We are going to be working on this all summer, and I'll continue to wear my inflatable and am thinking seriously about all-weather jacklines, because if I go in, I'm going to have to swim to ... Oklahoma. PS: Given the fact that so many of sail in crowded areas, one of the first steps in the MOB drill has to be to look for other boats. This is not natural for people who are not comfortable conning a boat and worse than being in the water watching someone else try to pick us up would be getting run over by the boats which are avoiding the people who are trying to pick us up...
Speed
If you lose your captain overboard you generally gain a little speed because of the drop in weight.
If you lose your captain overboard you generally gain a little speed because of the drop in weight.
Everyone on my boat gets briefed
Ok - So we've established in earlier threads that I over plan but - Every guest on my boat gets shown how to toss the lifesling, haul in the jib, drop the engine, start it, and steer the boat - as well as how to use the radio and how to use the 12 volt blender. Haven't had to get picked up yet - knock wood - but its comforting to believe they might be able to do it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Ok - So we've established in earlier threads that I over plan but - Every guest on my boat gets shown how to toss the lifesling, haul in the jib, drop the engine, start it, and steer the boat - as well as how to use the radio and how to use the 12 volt blender. Haven't had to get picked up yet - knock wood - but its comforting to believe they might be able to do it. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Our MOB
MOB I believe Les stated that the ASA courses still teach the figure 8 recovery. While this method does work in most weather conditions, it forces you to put distance between the boat and your MOB. I prefer the Quick Stop or as some say Emergency Circle. All 105LBS of my wife can, designate a spotter, start the engine, deploy the life sling, motor through the tack, jib now back winded (blow the jib or furl if conditions warrant, read strong winds) and complete circle head to wind easing all sheets as approaching MOB (red throw cushion). She feels much more confident in this maneuver as we are often sailing short-handed or with just our young children ages 4 and 7. Last note, if the 4-year-old somehow gets out of his harness and tether and manages to get overboard, my wife will be short to follow. This is a planned event, I am responsible for getting the boat back to them and she is responsible for consoling the little one. One thing that I saw stressed several times in this thread…. You must practice! By practicing you will become much faster at your chosen maneuver or maneuvers. Safe Sailing to All and Happy 4th.
MOB I believe Les stated that the ASA courses still teach the figure 8 recovery. While this method does work in most weather conditions, it forces you to put distance between the boat and your MOB. I prefer the Quick Stop or as some say Emergency Circle. All 105LBS of my wife can, designate a spotter, start the engine, deploy the life sling, motor through the tack, jib now back winded (blow the jib or furl if conditions warrant, read strong winds) and complete circle head to wind easing all sheets as approaching MOB (red throw cushion). She feels much more confident in this maneuver as we are often sailing short-handed or with just our young children ages 4 and 7. Last note, if the 4-year-old somehow gets out of his harness and tether and manages to get overboard, my wife will be short to follow. This is a planned event, I am responsible for getting the boat back to them and she is responsible for consoling the little one. One thing that I saw stressed several times in this thread…. You must practice! By practicing you will become much faster at your chosen maneuver or maneuvers. Safe Sailing to All and Happy 4th.
SOB - Skipper overboard
Been there. Our MOB was really ugly. Total miscommunication and chaos. It did not go smoothly. It's a major issue when you have non-sailors aboard so I am always careful to have another sailor/motor user on board who can handle my boat. Safety first, no matter what. Sometimes I feel like a flight attendant giving the pre-takeoff lecture but it's worth it. Everyone knows before we leave the dock where all the safety equipment is located and the basics of how to use it and how to keep a lookout on your MOB. Rule Number ONE - do not jump overboard to attempt a rescue! SF Bay is very cold and rescuing one hypothermic is enough. I assign a spotter before leaving the dock. All on board are taught how to use the radio immediately. The novices learn to hoist the sails and are told how to take them down quickly if the need arises. I never take out pleasure cruisers without doing a dry run at the dock to raise a;nd lower the sails. They need to know how to do at least that. And they love it! I can say for a fact that most MOB's are guys with their zippers down. Second most common from what I've seen is popping a chute and having lines in disarray and having your foredeck man go overboard. So no amateurs on the foredeck. Just go for the basics and you'll be fine.
Been there. Our MOB was really ugly. Total miscommunication and chaos. It did not go smoothly. It's a major issue when you have non-sailors aboard so I am always careful to have another sailor/motor user on board who can handle my boat. Safety first, no matter what. Sometimes I feel like a flight attendant giving the pre-takeoff lecture but it's worth it. Everyone knows before we leave the dock where all the safety equipment is located and the basics of how to use it and how to keep a lookout on your MOB. Rule Number ONE - do not jump overboard to attempt a rescue! SF Bay is very cold and rescuing one hypothermic is enough. I assign a spotter before leaving the dock. All on board are taught how to use the radio immediately. The novices learn to hoist the sails and are told how to take them down quickly if the need arises. I never take out pleasure cruisers without doing a dry run at the dock to raise a;nd lower the sails. They need to know how to do at least that. And they love it! I can say for a fact that most MOB's are guys with their zippers down. Second most common from what I've seen is popping a chute and having lines in disarray and having your foredeck man go overboard. So no amateurs on the foredeck. Just go for the basics and you'll be fine.
I have used a Lifesling in practice
Brian, I have used a lifesling but not in an actual emergency. All my racing crews have practiced with the lifesling. Our biggest problem was hauling a "victum" who was playing at being very tired out of the water, but that was a Hunter 40 with a big stern. We did use a block and tackle to get him out. Our victums all wear wet suits and they may also account for extra weight. We've also measured the time it takes to do the figure eight system and the life sling. The lifesling is the big winner which is why I have a problem with those oganizations that keep teaching that method. My wife and I have talked about this. We believe that if either of us were to fall overboard, the other would deploy the lifesling and then turn the boat around. As soon as the rope came to the person overboard, head the boat into the wind and pull the POB to the boat. We both agree that in normal (?) conditions, this should take less than five minutes. P.S. I once tossed a cushion overboard and said, Man Overboard--there goes your skipper. The first thing my crew did (mostly university colleages) was to vote whether they wanted to go back or not. I told them, no skipper, no beer. It was a record recovery.
Brian, I have used a lifesling but not in an actual emergency. All my racing crews have practiced with the lifesling. Our biggest problem was hauling a "victum" who was playing at being very tired out of the water, but that was a Hunter 40 with a big stern. We did use a block and tackle to get him out. Our victums all wear wet suits and they may also account for extra weight. We've also measured the time it takes to do the figure eight system and the life sling. The lifesling is the big winner which is why I have a problem with those oganizations that keep teaching that method. My wife and I have talked about this. We believe that if either of us were to fall overboard, the other would deploy the lifesling and then turn the boat around. As soon as the rope came to the person overboard, head the boat into the wind and pull the POB to the boat. We both agree that in normal (?) conditions, this should take less than five minutes. P.S. I once tossed a cushion overboard and said, Man Overboard--there goes your skipper. The first thing my crew did (mostly university colleages) was to vote whether they wanted to go back or not. I told them, no skipper, no beer. It was a record recovery.
Skipper Overboard
Yes, I believe my normal crew could retrieve the Captain. As a group we all take turns at the helm practicing "Man Overboard". We also make sure we have a clear "chain of command" before we leave the dock. I believe preparation is the main key.
Yes, I believe my normal crew could retrieve the Captain. As a group we all take turns at the helm practicing "Man Overboard". We also make sure we have a clear "chain of command" before we leave the dock. I believe preparation is the main key.
Skipper most likely COB
When I talked my wife into trying my dream of sailing we agreed to attend an ASA school to make sure we had the skills to take care of each other. The Modern Sailing Academy in Sausilito teaches the wife COB skills first because it's always the skipper on the bow or out of the cockpit. We have sailed in some amazing conditions with no problems but it's nice to know that she can come about and rescue your blown away hat if she needs to! We rig a Lifesling even on calm ponds, it's a bitch getting back aboard on your own.
When I talked my wife into trying my dream of sailing we agreed to attend an ASA school to make sure we had the skills to take care of each other. The Modern Sailing Academy in Sausilito teaches the wife COB skills first because it's always the skipper on the bow or out of the cockpit. We have sailed in some amazing conditions with no problems but it's nice to know that she can come about and rescue your blown away hat if she needs to! We rig a Lifesling even on calm ponds, it's a bitch getting back aboard on your own.
"this is a drill"
Every hat that goes overboard becomes a MOB. We have only really lost one but we didn't go back for it immediately. I guess it depends on who is overboard!
Every hat that goes overboard becomes a MOB. We have only really lost one but we didn't go back for it immediately. I guess it depends on who is overboard!
HOB
I was out last November on a very windy day in my 28.5 with two other experienced sailors when my hat blew overboard. It was more than just a hat, it was my FAVORITE hat. So I ordered the helmsman to turn around while the other crewman and I tried to spot the white hat in the dark water. To my disappointment, the waves made the hat all but invisible. It took a while, but our searching finally paid off, and we maneuvered in for the pickup. What happened next I would have to attribute to the surprise of it all. A year and a half earlier, I had taken ASA 101 (basic keelboat training) which included countless MOB drills. As we maneuvered, I felt calm, because I had done this so many times (although not since that class), I felt this shouldn't be too difficult. We made our first "pass" at about 5 knots. I was on the foredeck with a boathook, waiting to snare my hat as we went by. I could probably have harpooned it from that position and at that speed, but I wasn't even close to catching it with the hook. Around we turned for a second pass, which was as futile as the first. As my favorite hat went floating by the second time, it finally hit me that we were missing the crucial step of heading up to stop the boat next to the HOB, which we did, successfully, on our third attempt. Lesson learned. By all means practice! If this ever happens for real, it will probably happen on a windy day with lots of waves. The shock of it will fluster everyone (when all three experienced sailors all forget about stopping the boat, that's flustered!). Practice would have made this recovery seem more routine. Maintain visual contact at all times. I was taught "spotter, spotter, trash the water." Translation: have your spotter unload the cockpit ASAP, to put as many floating objects around the MOB as possible. This will help with maintaining visual contact, and some of those objects should be throwable PFD's. One last word. I think some helmsman rely too heavily on using the engine as a crutch for maneuvering the boat. I'd recommend practicing WITHOUT the engine, which should be faster and build more confidence. I now prefer the quick recovery technique, where you turn immediately into the wind and ignore the backwinded jib. At night, I attach strobes to the throwable PFD's. Anyone on deck must wear SOSpenders with a harness, light, and whistle, and must clip onto the jack lines. And I now have a little hat clip for that favorite hat of mine. Eric Lorgus s/v Explorer 87H285 s/v Impulse 83H54
I was out last November on a very windy day in my 28.5 with two other experienced sailors when my hat blew overboard. It was more than just a hat, it was my FAVORITE hat. So I ordered the helmsman to turn around while the other crewman and I tried to spot the white hat in the dark water. To my disappointment, the waves made the hat all but invisible. It took a while, but our searching finally paid off, and we maneuvered in for the pickup. What happened next I would have to attribute to the surprise of it all. A year and a half earlier, I had taken ASA 101 (basic keelboat training) which included countless MOB drills. As we maneuvered, I felt calm, because I had done this so many times (although not since that class), I felt this shouldn't be too difficult. We made our first "pass" at about 5 knots. I was on the foredeck with a boathook, waiting to snare my hat as we went by. I could probably have harpooned it from that position and at that speed, but I wasn't even close to catching it with the hook. Around we turned for a second pass, which was as futile as the first. As my favorite hat went floating by the second time, it finally hit me that we were missing the crucial step of heading up to stop the boat next to the HOB, which we did, successfully, on our third attempt. Lesson learned. By all means practice! If this ever happens for real, it will probably happen on a windy day with lots of waves. The shock of it will fluster everyone (when all three experienced sailors all forget about stopping the boat, that's flustered!). Practice would have made this recovery seem more routine. Maintain visual contact at all times. I was taught "spotter, spotter, trash the water." Translation: have your spotter unload the cockpit ASAP, to put as many floating objects around the MOB as possible. This will help with maintaining visual contact, and some of those objects should be throwable PFD's. One last word. I think some helmsman rely too heavily on using the engine as a crutch for maneuvering the boat. I'd recommend practicing WITHOUT the engine, which should be faster and build more confidence. I now prefer the quick recovery technique, where you turn immediately into the wind and ignore the backwinded jib. At night, I attach strobes to the throwable PFD's. Anyone on deck must wear SOSpenders with a harness, light, and whistle, and must clip onto the jack lines. And I now have a little hat clip for that favorite hat of mine. Eric Lorgus s/v Explorer 87H285 s/v Impulse 83H54
Prepare Beforehand
There were some basic threads of that thought in the preceeding replies. Most of us sail with guests that have limited seamanship skills, or with a crew we're not always used to sailing with. Prevention is the key! 1. Everyone on board wears a PFD underway, unless below deck. No exception. And, they get briefed on how to use it. We have inflatables for all, in addition to real type I offshore vests. Crew/passengers are shown how to inflate them manually, too, and where the whistle is, etc. 2. Nobody goes forward of the cockpit w/o first checking with the skipper or "officer on deck". The person in-charge is responsible for a visual check to ensure the forward areas are clear, instruct on proper hand-holds, and to keep that person to the windward. And, to monitor that person to make sure they are keeping out of dangerous situations (and haven't fallen overboard). 3. Keep the tangle of lines/sheets cleaned up. Less likely for someone to trip or become entangled (and less likely to jam a kink in a cheek block). 4. Limit the alcohol to the pub at the dock after your return. ......... As you head into the wind, you are almost set to heave-to. Practice that maneuver as well. Also, have a block/tackle setup with at least a 3:1 purchase that you can quickly rig to the boom end or to a strong davit, cleat, winch, etc. Pulling up a hypothermic , waterlogged deadweight of 150-200 lb up over your freeboard is not easy! You can become injured easily yourself trying it. Become familiar with first aid procedures for early/advanced hypothermia.
There were some basic threads of that thought in the preceeding replies. Most of us sail with guests that have limited seamanship skills, or with a crew we're not always used to sailing with. Prevention is the key! 1. Everyone on board wears a PFD underway, unless below deck. No exception. And, they get briefed on how to use it. We have inflatables for all, in addition to real type I offshore vests. Crew/passengers are shown how to inflate them manually, too, and where the whistle is, etc. 2. Nobody goes forward of the cockpit w/o first checking with the skipper or "officer on deck". The person in-charge is responsible for a visual check to ensure the forward areas are clear, instruct on proper hand-holds, and to keep that person to the windward. And, to monitor that person to make sure they are keeping out of dangerous situations (and haven't fallen overboard). 3. Keep the tangle of lines/sheets cleaned up. Less likely for someone to trip or become entangled (and less likely to jam a kink in a cheek block). 4. Limit the alcohol to the pub at the dock after your return. ......... As you head into the wind, you are almost set to heave-to. Practice that maneuver as well. Also, have a block/tackle setup with at least a 3:1 purchase that you can quickly rig to the boom end or to a strong davit, cleat, winch, etc. Pulling up a hypothermic , waterlogged deadweight of 150-200 lb up over your freeboard is not easy! You can become injured easily yourself trying it. Become familiar with first aid procedures for early/advanced hypothermia.
Heave To, immediately!
I am surprised that only one person mentioned what I consider to be the single most important emergency maneuver, Heaving To. It is fast and easy to do. It requires little or no sail trim, unless you are going down wind, in which case you will have to maneuver around into the wind. On a beat or a reach, simply come about, But Do Not Uncleat the Jib, after the bow has crossed through the wind, attempt to come about again back into your original tack. The back winded jib will prevent you from coming about the second time. Your vessel will be stalled, head to wind. Tie the tiller or wheel hard over and you are free to assist with the retrieval of the P.O.B. (Person Over Board, to be politically correct). The rudder hard over will be trying to bring the vessel about, the back winded jib will prevent it form happening. You may have to pull the main sheet in tight to prevent it from flogging. If the maneuver is done quickly enough, the vessel will usually drift slowly down onto the P.O.B. I have done this on vessels from 20 to 45 ft., in many different conditions and it works. It can be hard on the sails on a windy day. I make my crew practice and they are amazed at how easy it is to Heave To. I have sailed with many experienced sailors that have never tried Heaving To. I think the sound of it scares sailors (which is uncharacteristic for sailors). Try it, you'll like it. John
I am surprised that only one person mentioned what I consider to be the single most important emergency maneuver, Heaving To. It is fast and easy to do. It requires little or no sail trim, unless you are going down wind, in which case you will have to maneuver around into the wind. On a beat or a reach, simply come about, But Do Not Uncleat the Jib, after the bow has crossed through the wind, attempt to come about again back into your original tack. The back winded jib will prevent you from coming about the second time. Your vessel will be stalled, head to wind. Tie the tiller or wheel hard over and you are free to assist with the retrieval of the P.O.B. (Person Over Board, to be politically correct). The rudder hard over will be trying to bring the vessel about, the back winded jib will prevent it form happening. You may have to pull the main sheet in tight to prevent it from flogging. If the maneuver is done quickly enough, the vessel will usually drift slowly down onto the P.O.B. I have done this on vessels from 20 to 45 ft., in many different conditions and it works. It can be hard on the sails on a windy day. I make my crew practice and they are amazed at how easy it is to Heave To. I have sailed with many experienced sailors that have never tried Heaving To. I think the sound of it scares sailors (which is uncharacteristic for sailors). Try it, you'll like it. John
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