You are out for a day sail with a friend on his 30 foot production boat in 15-17 knots of true wind. After you come back up to speed following a tack, your friend notices that the tack of the genoa is fouled on the bow pulpit. He asks you to take the helm while he goes forward to clear the problem. Ignoring the safety rule of "one hand for yourself and one hand for the ship," your friend bends over and grabs the sail with both hands to get it off the bow pulpit. Unfortunately, a wind gust hits at that moment causing your friend to lose balance and go head first over the pulpit. He grabs for the rail with one hand but can't hang on. Your friend falls into the water at the bow and is hit by the beam of the boat as it passes by. Your friend only wears a PFD in heavy weather and is not wearing one today. You're not sure about any injuries from the fall and contact with the boat. Water temperature is about 60 degrees. Your friend is a bit older than you and weighs 40-50 pounds more than you do. What would you do? (Created by Gary Wyngarden)
- Status
This is big trouble
Recent tests carried out by a number of equipment manufacturers and reported in the sailing press show how hard it is to deal with crew over board situations. This one is typical in that there is inadequate crew. 1. Hit the MOB bottom on your GPS or chartplotter if you have one. There are likely waves of 2 to 3 feet, and you have no spotter, so finding your buddy could become a problem. 2. throw whatever you have on the stern rail towards him. Lifering, throw bag, man over board pole, whatever, you will help mark the spot and maybe provide some buoyancy (assuming he is still conscious). 3. this is no time to try a figure 8 stop or something fancy you learned in sailing school. With no one to help you handle the boat in a good breeze and no spotter, you can't afford to go far. Therefore, immediately head straight into the wind to kill your speed. You are likely going about 5 knots, or 10 feet/second. You are now 20 seconds into the emergency, and have gone 200 feet. By the time you are stopped and in irons, probably you have gone another 100 feet at least. 4. furl your headsail (or drop it). Otherwise, it will block your vision as you head back. Turn on the engine. You are not going to chop anyone up at this distance. Now you can fall off to a beam reach on the opposite tack and spot the MOB, hopefully by eye, if not, using the mark you created on the GPS. If you have a cockpit VHF, now is the time to send a PAN PAN. 5. You want to approach on the lee side of the cob and turn back into the wind below him, coming to a stop beside and to windward. With the help of the engine and the mainsail, you should be able to do this pretty easily. As you turn to windward, the engine must be taken out of gear and turned off; now you really could chop him to pieces. 6. Again assuming your buddy is awake, you should be able to attach him to the boat with a mooring line, a jib sheet or something. If not awake, your best hope is to hook him with a boat hook and get him close enough to the transom to tie something to him. You are obviously not going to jump into the water. 7. Getting someone who weights alot more than you back on board will now be the big challenge. If the water is fairly flat, you might get lucky and be able to use the swim ladder (maybe you even have an ice cream scoop stern, which will help). Otherwise, you will probably have to bring a halyard back, and crank like crazy on your primary winch. 8. Most fatalities in these situations involve trouble in getting the cob back on board. Cold water will weaken the cob very fast; he may have been injured by the collision with the boat; his wet clothes add to the weight. You can only hope to succeed if you use the mechanical advantage given to you by the winch and the height advantage of the mast. 9. This is where you may need help from someone else. It may be impossible for you to get the cob on board by yourself. That's why you got on the VHF earlier (if not, now is the time). No one is going to die of hypothermia in the time it should take another boat to get to you (this is a day sail). 10. All the tests reported show that this scenario is much harder to resolve in real life than on paper. Once your buddy has gone over the rail in this scenario, I think there is at least a 25% chance of a fatality. That's why we should wear our PFD's and hold on tight at the pointy end.
Recent tests carried out by a number of equipment manufacturers and reported in the sailing press show how hard it is to deal with crew over board situations. This one is typical in that there is inadequate crew. 1. Hit the MOB bottom on your GPS or chartplotter if you have one. There are likely waves of 2 to 3 feet, and you have no spotter, so finding your buddy could become a problem. 2. throw whatever you have on the stern rail towards him. Lifering, throw bag, man over board pole, whatever, you will help mark the spot and maybe provide some buoyancy (assuming he is still conscious). 3. this is no time to try a figure 8 stop or something fancy you learned in sailing school. With no one to help you handle the boat in a good breeze and no spotter, you can't afford to go far. Therefore, immediately head straight into the wind to kill your speed. You are likely going about 5 knots, or 10 feet/second. You are now 20 seconds into the emergency, and have gone 200 feet. By the time you are stopped and in irons, probably you have gone another 100 feet at least. 4. furl your headsail (or drop it). Otherwise, it will block your vision as you head back. Turn on the engine. You are not going to chop anyone up at this distance. Now you can fall off to a beam reach on the opposite tack and spot the MOB, hopefully by eye, if not, using the mark you created on the GPS. If you have a cockpit VHF, now is the time to send a PAN PAN. 5. You want to approach on the lee side of the cob and turn back into the wind below him, coming to a stop beside and to windward. With the help of the engine and the mainsail, you should be able to do this pretty easily. As you turn to windward, the engine must be taken out of gear and turned off; now you really could chop him to pieces. 6. Again assuming your buddy is awake, you should be able to attach him to the boat with a mooring line, a jib sheet or something. If not awake, your best hope is to hook him with a boat hook and get him close enough to the transom to tie something to him. You are obviously not going to jump into the water. 7. Getting someone who weights alot more than you back on board will now be the big challenge. If the water is fairly flat, you might get lucky and be able to use the swim ladder (maybe you even have an ice cream scoop stern, which will help). Otherwise, you will probably have to bring a halyard back, and crank like crazy on your primary winch. 8. Most fatalities in these situations involve trouble in getting the cob back on board. Cold water will weaken the cob very fast; he may have been injured by the collision with the boat; his wet clothes add to the weight. You can only hope to succeed if you use the mechanical advantage given to you by the winch and the height advantage of the mast. 9. This is where you may need help from someone else. It may be impossible for you to get the cob on board by yourself. That's why you got on the VHF earlier (if not, now is the time). No one is going to die of hypothermia in the time it should take another boat to get to you (this is a day sail). 10. All the tests reported show that this scenario is much harder to resolve in real life than on paper. Once your buddy has gone over the rail in this scenario, I think there is at least a 25% chance of a fatality. That's why we should wear our PFD's and hold on tight at the pointy end.
mob
when the guy goes over the bow and into the water, i just smile, because now i have a new 30 footer. right on!!!
when the guy goes over the bow and into the water, i just smile, because now i have a new 30 footer. right on!!!
Lifesling mod
One of the first things I did was add a block to the line of my lifesling. It also has a pellican clip on it. THis allows me to attach it to an extra eye on the boom. Clip on and winch up. Also a lifesling or item attached by rope may not reach the person, if they are awake, circle around them so they have a circle of rope to grab. that will lead them to the life sling. Always remember if you can see when throwing do not throw at the person, always past them so the rope lands on them.
One of the first things I did was add a block to the line of my lifesling. It also has a pellican clip on it. THis allows me to attach it to an extra eye on the boom. Clip on and winch up. Also a lifesling or item attached by rope may not reach the person, if they are awake, circle around them so they have a circle of rope to grab. that will lead them to the life sling. Always remember if you can see when throwing do not throw at the person, always past them so the rope lands on them.
Not a good thing
I just want to affirm David's post. This is not a easy situation. A group of sailors on Lake Travis last year had a one day MOB training session. I didn't get to attend but the video of the event was sobering. Retrieving a person that could not provide some assistance was a very long slow chore.... while still in the dock.... with no waves or wind... using the primary winch and a life-sling. In others words, with all things in favor of quick recovery, it wasn't. Throw in a little panic, a little uncertainty, a little wind and waves and you have the perfect concoction for a miserable body recovery operation. Be safe.
I just want to affirm David's post. This is not a easy situation. A group of sailors on Lake Travis last year had a one day MOB training session. I didn't get to attend but the video of the event was sobering. Retrieving a person that could not provide some assistance was a very long slow chore.... while still in the dock.... with no waves or wind... using the primary winch and a life-sling. In others words, with all things in favor of quick recovery, it wasn't. Throw in a little panic, a little uncertainty, a little wind and waves and you have the perfect concoction for a miserable body recovery operation. Be safe.
Tack and Luff
I would immediately tack and luff the jib and main. While throwing a cushion over and deploy the type IV life ring. I would at least be close to the MOB and would be tending to drift back towards him. I would then call in a Pan-Pan as even if I get him back on board soon, he will be in shock and suffering from hypotermia. I have a "space blankets" (thermal survival blanket) as part of my on board emergency gear, which I would wrap in him as soon as he is back on board. As I have a walk through transom that would be my first choice to try to get him back on board. If that was too difficult as he was too weak from exposure, I would use the main halyard to raise him on board using the type IV harness. If he was too far away to regain contact I would let the sails go where ever they liked and start my engine to manuver to get him on my lee side to try to make contact. Keep visual contact with the MOB throughout the whole episode. Hope I got a few of these right, we are new sailors.
I would immediately tack and luff the jib and main. While throwing a cushion over and deploy the type IV life ring. I would at least be close to the MOB and would be tending to drift back towards him. I would then call in a Pan-Pan as even if I get him back on board soon, he will be in shock and suffering from hypotermia. I have a "space blankets" (thermal survival blanket) as part of my on board emergency gear, which I would wrap in him as soon as he is back on board. As I have a walk through transom that would be my first choice to try to get him back on board. If that was too difficult as he was too weak from exposure, I would use the main halyard to raise him on board using the type IV harness. If he was too far away to regain contact I would let the sails go where ever they liked and start my engine to manuver to get him on my lee side to try to make contact. Keep visual contact with the MOB throughout the whole episode. Hope I got a few of these right, we are new sailors.
One step further
This scenario always worries me, as mentioned, it's dufficult at best. Let me go one step further & see if this will jolt those of you who think this is no big deal... What if YOU were the person to go overboard? Most folks on these forums are (or were) captains, & think & practice for MOB drills. What about your crew? can they do a MOB overboard drill? What if your crew is inexperienced at skippering? It's in your best interest if they know the drill!!! Cause now it's your bacon that's getting saved!
This scenario always worries me, as mentioned, it's dufficult at best. Let me go one step further & see if this will jolt those of you who think this is no big deal... What if YOU were the person to go overboard? Most folks on these forums are (or were) captains, & think & practice for MOB drills. What about your crew? can they do a MOB overboard drill? What if your crew is inexperienced at skippering? It's in your best interest if they know the drill!!! Cause now it's your bacon that's getting saved!
Great question.
Thank you for offering this scenario. I would do my best to avoid running directly over Bubba, then head upwind and deploy seat cushions and most importantly the life sling attached to my stern railing. Right now the sling is “out of the way”. I think I will put it within reach of the wheel so I would not have to leave the helm to deploy it. I would then use what momentum I have left to turn and begin a circle around Bubba and come up from behind him. If the sling works as advertised, the circling would bring the line to Bubba and if he were still conscious, he could simply grab it and let the line run through his hand until the floatation part of the sling reached him. Meantime I would be heading back upwind to slow my momentum. It strikes me that turning quickly port and starboard might also act like an air brake and slow my progress if necessary. I have a 336, so bringing Bubba aboard should be pretty simple. I would then drop the swim ladder and open up the walk-through on the stern and haul Bubba in. Once opened up, my transom is low enough that even if Bubba weighs quite a bit, I would only have to lift him a few inches to bring him aboard.
Thank you for offering this scenario. I would do my best to avoid running directly over Bubba, then head upwind and deploy seat cushions and most importantly the life sling attached to my stern railing. Right now the sling is “out of the way”. I think I will put it within reach of the wheel so I would not have to leave the helm to deploy it. I would then use what momentum I have left to turn and begin a circle around Bubba and come up from behind him. If the sling works as advertised, the circling would bring the line to Bubba and if he were still conscious, he could simply grab it and let the line run through his hand until the floatation part of the sling reached him. Meantime I would be heading back upwind to slow my momentum. It strikes me that turning quickly port and starboard might also act like an air brake and slow my progress if necessary. I have a 336, so bringing Bubba aboard should be pretty simple. I would then drop the swim ladder and open up the walk-through on the stern and haul Bubba in. Once opened up, my transom is low enough that even if Bubba weighs quite a bit, I would only have to lift him a few inches to bring him aboard.
Hove to
I am alone and to go through the figure 8 MOB would take time and I do not have a spotter. If I hove to immediately I will reverse direction and free myself from the helm while I drift backwards towards him. Now I can do all the other necessary things mentioned previously.
I am alone and to go through the figure 8 MOB would take time and I do not have a spotter. If I hove to immediately I will reverse direction and free myself from the helm while I drift backwards towards him. Now I can do all the other necessary things mentioned previously.
This is a good question...
I agree on the "hove to" in this situation. Since the jib is already fouled, turn the wheel to windward, (or tiller to leeward) and dump the wind out of the main. Then throw whatever is availe (floatation wise), work my way back to make the pickup. I would think that hoving to would allow, as mentioned, the single person to get away from the wheel (tiller) and get some kind of fix on the victim.
I agree on the "hove to" in this situation. Since the jib is already fouled, turn the wheel to windward, (or tiller to leeward) and dump the wind out of the main. Then throw whatever is availe (floatation wise), work my way back to make the pickup. I would think that hoving to would allow, as mentioned, the single person to get away from the wheel (tiller) and get some kind of fix on the victim.
Call for help
I'd not be able to pull an unconscious 220lb mob back onto my boat. My job is to get to the mob and tie him to the boat. Then call for help on the VHF or 911 on the cell phone. The mob is going to die of exposure if I don't get help. Also, make sure that I don't become a second victim by going overboard. Put on the PFD and get tethered to the boat.
I'd not be able to pull an unconscious 220lb mob back onto my boat. My job is to get to the mob and tie him to the boat. Then call for help on the VHF or 911 on the cell phone. The mob is going to die of exposure if I don't get help. Also, make sure that I don't become a second victim by going overboard. Put on the PFD and get tethered to the boat.
This weekend...
..we were 2 minutes into our starting sequence(5 minutes). Wind was at 15kts and up to 5ft seas running with a strong current. Our fore deck was rigging our new spin pole when she to a header. We were moving at about 6+kts. She went over the weather rail and the helm immediately tossed the horseshoe and stuck the bow into the wind. One crew kept an eye on her while the genoa was immediately dropped on deck. We tacked and came back to weather of her. As we approached the main was unsheeted and two crew members made ready to grab her at the leeward rail. She was walked back to the transom where we pulled her aboard. She stripped off her jacket and went back to the fore deck for the remainder of the start sequence. Oh yes, we won.
..we were 2 minutes into our starting sequence(5 minutes). Wind was at 15kts and up to 5ft seas running with a strong current. Our fore deck was rigging our new spin pole when she to a header. We were moving at about 6+kts. She went over the weather rail and the helm immediately tossed the horseshoe and stuck the bow into the wind. One crew kept an eye on her while the genoa was immediately dropped on deck. We tacked and came back to weather of her. As we approached the main was unsheeted and two crew members made ready to grab her at the leeward rail. She was walked back to the transom where we pulled her aboard. She stripped off her jacket and went back to the fore deck for the remainder of the start sequence. Oh yes, we won.
How to react
I think the most important thing to figure out is, can he keep himself afloat? If he is drowning in the water and not conscience, the most important thing is to get a floatation device on him ASAP. So, I think if I were alone the first thing I would do is throw the floatation device, then turn into the wind and while the boat is slowing down, check to see if he is able to keep himself above water. If not, heave-to, grab my 200' (I shouldn't have gone farther) line, tie one end to the boat and the other to myself and dive in, grab the floatation device and get it on/around him. Then tie the line to him and then swim back to the boat. Should only take 3 minutes in the water. Once back aboard I would pull him to the stern to where I could put a temp harness on him (Hopefully I can remember how to do this) and then run him over to the side of the boat and use the boom to lift him onto the boat. I am young and can get to him fastest by swimming. For others this may not be an option and that's why the standard is to not jump in but I don't care about standards, I care about the person and I think this way is the fastest. If he is able to take care of himself and get to the floatation device, then I would release the sheets and start the motor and motor his way and kill the engine when I got close and then throw him a line and pull him to the stern. Hopefully, between the two of us, we can get him back up by using the swim ladder. I've tried the figure 8 thing by myself on a sunny day and it's a lot harder then you think. I kept loosing the marker. It took me about 45 minutes to retrieve it. My biggest mistake was not hitting the MOB button on the GPS and there I go again...I forgot it in my steps above
I think the most important thing to figure out is, can he keep himself afloat? If he is drowning in the water and not conscience, the most important thing is to get a floatation device on him ASAP. So, I think if I were alone the first thing I would do is throw the floatation device, then turn into the wind and while the boat is slowing down, check to see if he is able to keep himself above water. If not, heave-to, grab my 200' (I shouldn't have gone farther) line, tie one end to the boat and the other to myself and dive in, grab the floatation device and get it on/around him. Then tie the line to him and then swim back to the boat. Should only take 3 minutes in the water. Once back aboard I would pull him to the stern to where I could put a temp harness on him (Hopefully I can remember how to do this) and then run him over to the side of the boat and use the boom to lift him onto the boat. I am young and can get to him fastest by swimming. For others this may not be an option and that's why the standard is to not jump in but I don't care about standards, I care about the person and I think this way is the fastest. If he is able to take care of himself and get to the floatation device, then I would release the sheets and start the motor and motor his way and kill the engine when I got close and then throw him a line and pull him to the stern. Hopefully, between the two of us, we can get him back up by using the swim ladder. I've tried the figure 8 thing by myself on a sunny day and it's a lot harder then you think. I kept loosing the marker. It took me about 45 minutes to retrieve it. My biggest mistake was not hitting the MOB button on the GPS and there I go again...I forgot it in my steps above
Agree with heave to
there are some who still think the motion is too fast, but if you are hard on the wind when the OB occurs, I have found it is the quickest way to return to the position. We've retrieved hats and OB PFDs many times this way and it avoids the noise of slatting sails. Once close to the mob the boat can be stopped by letting the hseets fly, useful whn alone on the boat, to work on getting the crew member back to the boat, but it's the quicket way I have found of returning to the spot. Stu
there are some who still think the motion is too fast, but if you are hard on the wind when the OB occurs, I have found it is the quickest way to return to the position. We've retrieved hats and OB PFDs many times this way and it avoids the noise of slatting sails. Once close to the mob the boat can be stopped by letting the hseets fly, useful whn alone on the boat, to work on getting the crew member back to the boat, but it's the quicket way I have found of returning to the spot. Stu
rapid response
I would hope to be watching my only mate go overboard and have been prepared to release the main and jib sheets/halyards. I would throw a life ring/bouy as quickly as possible making sure he got it. Most likely I would turn the boat into the wind as I depowered the sails. From there I would determine which route to make a rescue approach. Leaving the sails up will allow me to single sail the boat back to pick up my mate.
I would hope to be watching my only mate go overboard and have been prepared to release the main and jib sheets/halyards. I would throw a life ring/bouy as quickly as possible making sure he got it. Most likely I would turn the boat into the wind as I depowered the sails. From there I would determine which route to make a rescue approach. Leaving the sails up will allow me to single sail the boat back to pick up my mate.
Rambo you ain't
Lots of good stuff but the unconscious/injured and no PFD is the big show stopper. It takes a while to DIE of hypothermia, it takes a while to tire out and drown, but you can drown in a few seconds if you are injured or unconscious. Doing the Rambo thing with the 200' rope sounds like a good answer to the "get to him fast, he is drowning" problem. Has anybody ever towed 200' of rope tied to a boat? I have rescuing my kids who where becalmed in our hardshell sailing dingy. Let me tell you, unless it is polypropoline line you are going to have to be a GREAT swimmer. We where at anchor and the winds where calm and no current. I had to swim about 100' which I though would be easy as neather boat was moving much. WRONG!!! I was shocked at the additional drag and weight I had to contend with. And 200' of line to go 100' is not enough. As it sags to the bottom you have to exert a constant and significant force to just keep the line off the bottom. I could also feel the movement of the boat as it moved on the anchor. Then it tries to draw you back to the boat when you do stop for a rest. Add in a moving boat and waves and wind and nobody on the boat to help. BAD IDEA. Better I think to have one guy drown than two. Tragic but better. I would MOB button on the chartplotter Check on his position Chum the water with things that float Check on his position Head into the wind via a tack to come to a quick stop Check on his position PAN-PAN-PAN on VHF with MOB and a general location to get them moving toward you. You can fill them in later they will forgive you. Check on his position. Start the motor Check on his position Drop the sails Check on his position If you lost him go to a position upwind of the floats you chummed the water with. He will drift slower than they will and will be up wind of them. If you still have him in sight maneuver till you are approaching from down wind and take him on what ever side you think best. Opinions vary and I can see the logic in all of them. I prefer to take him on the side that doesn't have all the mailsail lying about on it. If he is conscious then the rest is just a manual labor drill and it will probably work out OK. Go slow, don't make things worse by rushing. If he can't hold onto a line then have him tie a knot around himself. I plug for knowing how to tie a bowline around yourself with one hand should go here. SKILLS = SAFETY. Once you get a line on him, stop the motor or tow him at idle till you have enough searoom and stop the motor. Get the line to a winch and have at it. Go slow, if you tucker out you are not going to be of much help. During one of the rest breaks you WILL have to take give the CG an update. Once he is back on board and has something warm in him and something dry on him beat the living snot out of him for being so dumb. If he is unconscious then there is really no way of maneuvering the boat without risking running him down. You can't be at the helm and over the toerail at the same time. You are going to have to determine if the boat or he is drifting faster down wind and position yourself so you drift into each other. We all know which drifts faster because we practice this stuff all the time right? PRACTICE = SAFETY. The problem is kinda academic for this scenerio as he does not have a PFD on and if he is unconscious he is almost certainly not going to be floating. So how do you locate a guy who is under water somewhere with in a 100' circle? Well polorid sunglasses would be nice as they allow you to see a little farther into the water. Now in the Bahamas you could probably see him lying on the bottom but other places you are going to have a more difficult time of it. You are only trying to recover the body at this point. That means giving the CG divers the best location you can. If you break the golden rules you can end up paying for it with your life. Wear your PFD more rather than less. Get one that is comfortable. I like to wear mine under my windbreaker as insulation. Works great. We can do frostbite sailing till Jan with the appropriate gloves and ski masks. Find a reason to wear it and preach the gospel of wearing it. It could be the gift of life for somebody. One of my favorites is "You lead by example". The kids have to wear one due to their age so Dad and Mom should set a good example and wear theirs too. The wife gave me a rashion of stuff the first few times on this but after a while she got used to it and now doesn't feel comfortable without one. It does give you a certain confidence when you have one on.
Lots of good stuff but the unconscious/injured and no PFD is the big show stopper. It takes a while to DIE of hypothermia, it takes a while to tire out and drown, but you can drown in a few seconds if you are injured or unconscious. Doing the Rambo thing with the 200' rope sounds like a good answer to the "get to him fast, he is drowning" problem. Has anybody ever towed 200' of rope tied to a boat? I have rescuing my kids who where becalmed in our hardshell sailing dingy. Let me tell you, unless it is polypropoline line you are going to have to be a GREAT swimmer. We where at anchor and the winds where calm and no current. I had to swim about 100' which I though would be easy as neather boat was moving much. WRONG!!! I was shocked at the additional drag and weight I had to contend with. And 200' of line to go 100' is not enough. As it sags to the bottom you have to exert a constant and significant force to just keep the line off the bottom. I could also feel the movement of the boat as it moved on the anchor. Then it tries to draw you back to the boat when you do stop for a rest. Add in a moving boat and waves and wind and nobody on the boat to help. BAD IDEA. Better I think to have one guy drown than two. Tragic but better. I would MOB button on the chartplotter Check on his position Chum the water with things that float Check on his position Head into the wind via a tack to come to a quick stop Check on his position PAN-PAN-PAN on VHF with MOB and a general location to get them moving toward you. You can fill them in later they will forgive you. Check on his position. Start the motor Check on his position Drop the sails Check on his position If you lost him go to a position upwind of the floats you chummed the water with. He will drift slower than they will and will be up wind of them. If you still have him in sight maneuver till you are approaching from down wind and take him on what ever side you think best. Opinions vary and I can see the logic in all of them. I prefer to take him on the side that doesn't have all the mailsail lying about on it. If he is conscious then the rest is just a manual labor drill and it will probably work out OK. Go slow, don't make things worse by rushing. If he can't hold onto a line then have him tie a knot around himself. I plug for knowing how to tie a bowline around yourself with one hand should go here. SKILLS = SAFETY. Once you get a line on him, stop the motor or tow him at idle till you have enough searoom and stop the motor. Get the line to a winch and have at it. Go slow, if you tucker out you are not going to be of much help. During one of the rest breaks you WILL have to take give the CG an update. Once he is back on board and has something warm in him and something dry on him beat the living snot out of him for being so dumb. If he is unconscious then there is really no way of maneuvering the boat without risking running him down. You can't be at the helm and over the toerail at the same time. You are going to have to determine if the boat or he is drifting faster down wind and position yourself so you drift into each other. We all know which drifts faster because we practice this stuff all the time right? PRACTICE = SAFETY. The problem is kinda academic for this scenerio as he does not have a PFD on and if he is unconscious he is almost certainly not going to be floating. So how do you locate a guy who is under water somewhere with in a 100' circle? Well polorid sunglasses would be nice as they allow you to see a little farther into the water. Now in the Bahamas you could probably see him lying on the bottom but other places you are going to have a more difficult time of it. You are only trying to recover the body at this point. That means giving the CG divers the best location you can. If you break the golden rules you can end up paying for it with your life. Wear your PFD more rather than less. Get one that is comfortable. I like to wear mine under my windbreaker as insulation. Works great. We can do frostbite sailing till Jan with the appropriate gloves and ski masks. Find a reason to wear it and preach the gospel of wearing it. It could be the gift of life for somebody. One of my favorites is "You lead by example". The kids have to wear one due to their age so Dad and Mom should set a good example and wear theirs too. The wife gave me a rashion of stuff the first few times on this but after a while she got used to it and now doesn't feel comfortable without one. It does give you a certain confidence when you have one on.
floating?
"if he is unconscious he is almost certainly not going to be floating." I've never seen an unconscious person in the water...well...except a dead person who was floating. I know many people can float with their head above water without doing anything when they are awake. Would being unconscious change that? I know I wouldn't be able to find anybody if they went more then 6" below water here in the northwestern gulf area.
"if he is unconscious he is almost certainly not going to be floating." I've never seen an unconscious person in the water...well...except a dead person who was floating. I know many people can float with their head above water without doing anything when they are awake. Would being unconscious change that? I know I wouldn't be able to find anybody if they went more then 6" below water here in the northwestern gulf area.
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