How Often Do You Practice?

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Lawsy

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I don't know why this thought has just struck me on a grey evening in Manchester, but how often (if at all) do any of you practice man overboard procedures? In the 2 years since I took PB2, I have only once been involved in a man overboard practice & that was when I sat in on Mrs Lawsy's PB2 course last August. The one thing that all of us hope will never happen is man overboard. We probably also talk ourselves into believing it will never happen to us. Yet, a freak wave; a non-boaty friend slipping on a wet deck, & any of us might have to put our 'skills' into play. So, how often do any of you practice? Also, how do you practice? Chuck a paddle over the side on a quiet backwater of your home area, or what? Thoughts please gang.
 
A couple of times a year...but definetly in the beginning of the season...

All three of us (daughter, wife and self) with alternating roles so we all do our bit at least once..

1) Helm
2) Recovery
3) Lookout and Recovery Support
 
Oh yes, quite often Freddie the fender gets thrown overboard and we take turns in helming and recovery. Even my 6 year old daughter can get to within a safe close distance and kill the engine...and she knows how to send a mayday DSC message.... you never know! Even had CG do a practice drop onto the deck from a Seaking helicopter a couple of years back. A great experience, hopefully never to be repeated!!
 
We are always doing it, to recover someones favourite hat or the bucket has slipped from the hand, every body knows the drill shout, point, and keep pointing. and get the boat hook ready. It's a bit more difficult if we are at anchor though, in that case a buff is attached to the warp and all of it is ditched, then we get after the casualty.
 
The good ship Snow Goose is in a state of perpetual readiness for such situations.

Not only have we done one evian-bottle-overboard this year, but a couple of weeks ago we were tied up and I was trying to fish one of my younger daughter's shoes out of the water. I couldn't quite hook it with the boathook so I leant over the side...and reached further and further down until I felt myself slip.

"Darling," I cried to swmbo, "Could you please grab my legs?"

Moments passed and gravity did its stuff.

Just after the splash I heard: "Sorry, what was that you wanted?" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BUT on the plus side, I went in with keys, sunglasses and hat and emerged with all of them intact.
 
I quite enjoy doing it so, if we have guests, or new crew, I usually ask someone to surprise me by throwing a fender with legs over the side.

It gives them all a bit of confidence when they see how reasonably straightforward it is to pick it up, and how they can all join in the exercise.

Richard
 
Yup
great way to get everyone involved and they all love playing with the boat, and such play could save a life and its fun to do and and and , I am defiantly in instructor mode tonight,
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
yup a thing thats a must regularly .


I enjoy doing it to. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I think the real challenge is the actual recovery of the person/body into the boat. I dont think its too hard in a powerboat to get back to the person.
If the person is incapacitated, then I dont think you can get them back aboard many boats. Full stop. Thats why my first thing to do would be a mayday.
 
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If the person is incapacitated, then I dont think you can get them back aboard many boats. Full stop. Thats why my first thing to do would be a mayday.

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Mayday first or later is a judgement call, and will depend on the circumstances, and the boat. RYA say Mayday immediately, so nothing wrong with it.

There will be many cases where the casualty is not incapacitated, and they will be able to climb up the swim ladder, and many cases where this wont be the case, or where there is no simple means of boarding.

Practice, (in a variety of conditions), will identify the limitations of boat and crew, and help with the judgement call.
 
Thanks for the various responses to this thread. Looks like next time we are at the boat we might have to accidentally on purpose lose a fender over the side.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the various responses to this thread. Looks like next time we are at the boat we might have to accidentally on purpose lose a fender over the side.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dont forget to tie a hank of rope to it... makes it behave a bit more like a person.
 
[ QUOTE ]
You fished him out? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

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You ain't heard reports of a great white in the Solent then! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
well we've had longjohnsilver overboard, bit too much gin, boat tied up in the marina, stepped on to his dinghy on the back with attitude, and whoosh. Dragged him out. We've had captainshed fall overboard in Megavissy, he got back on the bathing platform. It very much depends on the circumstances. Sorry but rescuing a fender is not the same at all, I'm sure it helps to practice this, bit like mooring to a bouy, but getting a person out is far, far, more difficult.

If I fall off, I would if near, swim to the shore/pontoon.
 
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