Man overboard ....the sequel

[Bav34]

Many thanks to everyone who answered my question re MOB.

Before I give you the results from the English jury /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I just want to explain why my wife and I couldn't agree on the FIRST thing to do (no, that's not married life /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif).

For my YM exam I was taught the figure 8 return which involved one of your hundred crew pointing at the casualty whilst the others helped tack/gybe the boat down wind of the MOB and then played the main in and out under the instruction of the helmsman. I picked up the fender!!!

In the REAL world it's just me and 'er .... one of us floating.

Elaines major concern is that being 5'2'' and at the wheel of a nigh on 36' boat she would have trouble locating me .... particularly with the spray hood up. Quite rightly from her point of view she wanted to be confident that she could at least find me, then throw the toys, start engine , deal with sails etc etc. Hence the GPS was her option.

My quandry was that IF I threw the toys (MY first choice) that the cas. could have a problem getting to them but I would have the advantage of a point of reference .... I KNEW I had to stop the boat pdq BUT...... hence my question.

So now the results:

STOP the boat!
Carry the back up portable GPS in the cockpit !!!! (why didn't I think of that ??? Elaines concern is now covered but the back up has always been just that ... buried away in case of main GPS failure and to be honest out of sight was out of mind ....doh !
Depending on how close, either deploy the toys or start the engine (checking ropes etc)
Really from then on it is difficult to be specific as the next action is dependant on other factors.

I haven't mentioned the Coastguard as i wanted to keep this 'tight' ... us on our own ...what would we do ????

Whether right or wrong at least Elaine and I now have a procedure .... I'm sure one that often never gets really talked about for fear of ........ what ????

Go do it and thanks again.

Rgds Steve

(next I'll probably ask about actual recovery but that IS a can of worms !!!!!!!)

 

[jonathankent]

When learning on a Bav34 we were instructed to stand right to the side of the wheel.... using one hand on the wheel, and yourself leaning/standing to one side, you can see right down the boat. This certainly helps for that last bit of positioning when coming alongside the casualty for the recovery. As for recovery, we just used the jib/genoa sheets in a kinda loop thingy, but that was with the buoy and bucket.... luckily not had to use the procedure in real life.

 

[TheBoatman]

Steve
I'm glad you ended up with a result to your post, i.e. you've got a plan if you ever need it.

Now all you need to do is "test" the plan when no ones looking just to see if it actually has a chance of working! Get a 5 ltr can ('bout the same size as a head)and tie a weight to it, heel it over the side and then sit back and let SWMBO see if she can get back to it - then you try!

You mentioned about your spray hood (known on our boat as the "shed") when you heel the MOB over try letting your dan buoy go first and see if that helps with location.

Best of luck

Peter.

 

[PIGLETSDREAM]

Do let coastguard know that you are playing, and that it is not for real. Last summer we had a session of throwing all the toys overboard and were joined by a fishing boat and the inshore rescue team, who both thought that we had a real problem.

 

[jonathankent]

[ QUOTE ]
throwing all the toys overboard

[/ QUOTE ]
This turn of phrase makes me smile.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TheBoatman]

Good point + it scores loads of brownie points with the CG because you're practicing MOB drills.

Peter.

 

[MoodySabre]

On an ICC course we were told to turn under engine in a P shape - starting at the middle of the upright, out round the curve and then back down the line of your wake. A crash stop (tack without altering the ropes) is probably more comforting for the swimmer - a friend volunteered to jump in during an excercise and said the sight of the boat disappearing at speed was pretty worrying. Any plan is better than none - thanks for the reminder to discuss this with Mrs Moodysailor early next season. At least we now have a boat where you can start the engine from the cockpit - a problem with many older boats is ignition switches down below.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
Do let coastguard know that you are playing, and that it is not for real. Last summer we had a session of throwing all the toys overboard and were joined by a fishing boat and the inshore rescue team,

[/ QUOTE ]

you probably shouldnt have set off the DSC and thrown the smoke floats in with the other toys. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

in the summer I had a few sessions with my 10 and 12 year olds "rescueing" the dan buoy. They thought it a great game and soon got the idea.

 

[Searush]

Hmmm, nobody seems to like my idea of toys on a string and sailing/ motoring round the casualty. OK, fine, see if I care, I still think it's a sound plan.

Pause for breath, after sulk . . .

And, in at the deep end: OK, so tell me why you don't like it. - I know I'm going to regret this, but what the H*ll - I need to know. And I bet it'll lead to a little further lively discussion.

 

[jonathankent]

[ QUOTE ]
Do let coastguard know that you are playing, and that it is not for real.

[/ QUOTE ]
Does anybody do that? When I was learning, with the sailing school, they didn't tell the coastguard that we were playing. Didn't get anyone thinking it was for real, but now you've said it, it does make me think more about the situation. We didn't 'throw all the toys' in though.... just the buoy tide on to a bucket, and then practised turning the boat and coming back alongside.

 

[fisherman]

I think it's worth a try out, toss a 'mob' out and see how close the 'toys' can be. Even 20-30 feet is manageable for someone who really wants it, and the comfort and reassurance is immense. Assuming no lifejacket of course.

 

[Talbot]

I think the best advice I came across for nighttime rescue was in an article in PBO. There they could hear the guy, but not see him, so they tossed a large floating torch into the water. The guy swam to it, and they were then able to see him and subsequently rescue him. My King Peli divers torch floats beam up and would be ideal for this albeit, I would really have to like the MOB before risking loss of this torch /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Searush]

No-one is rising to the bait, I see. But it was a serious post.

I have a lifebouy on the pushpit with a floating line (permanently tied to the stern cleat) & danbouy attached. It can be instantly thrown over and the boat can be circled around the casualty. In effect you can wrap the line around them. It is easy for them to hold the line or life buoy. And, once stoped with sails down, they can be pulled back to the boat where a bathing ladder can be used to get them out of the water.

Seems like a good plan to me, and easy for short-handed use, but I have to say it has never been tested in panic mode. However, I would be interested in comments - rude or otherwise. Come on now, don't just ignore me or I'll sulk for days. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[jonathankent]

- - You have this user on ignore - - /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Only joking of course /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bav34]

Hi Searush. I'm certainly not going to criticise you /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ... all thoughts are welcome. MY concern with that method is in the scenario I originally gave, the boat was creaming at 7 knots. Given the reaction time of the remainding crew member, by the time the rope was thrown the distance that the yacht would have sailed would be considerable ... even at slower speeds it would be a problem. You would then be crashing the boat round and possibly steering into your own trail of safety line! Not putting you down .... but I still like what i wrote at the top. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[graham]

Works very well and avoids having to manouvefe the boat dangerously close to the MOB..There is a custom made floating harness on a rope in a velcro fastened bag available.

last year we overheard a faint mayday that noone else including the CG heard or responded to. I kept asking them to repeat with a position but no answer. We relayed it to the CG and carried on but obviously the mood had plummeted.

Short while later the vessel involved called again cancelling the Mayday .it turned out the skipper had gone overboard leaving only one person on board who very quickly deployed the floating harness circled around the MOB and hauled him back in without further drama.

Not sure how experienced the lady left aboard was but the method certainly worked on that occasion.

I think I would leave the danbuoy seperate so it can be lobbed in immediately then tow the float around using the danbuoy as a marker easier to see than just a head.

 

[Mudplugger]

No, I'll go along with you on this suggestion: Having spent the best part of 25 mins in the muddy waters of the Colne a few years ago (mid Nov) Had the lifebuoys thrown at me and watched with a degree of concern as they all(4) skipped across the waves away from me!. Got a bit serious when I tried to swim and lost the buoyancy from my wet gear! but managed to get back with the aid of a long warp. Old set up changed to:1 lifebuoy with Dan buoy, 2 lifebuoy with 250metres floating warp fastened to u bolt on deck, 2 remaining free of attachments, Night sailing alway's have 3 floating light in cockpit locker! As a matter of interest at time weighed in @ 16 stone.... with wet winter woolies etc...was pushing 22 stone to be lugged out of water! Technique changed to circle casualty and get a rope to them!!

 

[peteandthira]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm, nobody seems to like my idea of toys on a string and sailing/ motoring round the casualty. OK, fine, see if I care, I still think it's a sound plan.

Pause for breath, after sulk . . .

And, in at the deep end: OK, so tell me why you don't like it. - I know I'm going to regret this, but what the H*ll - I need to know. And I bet it'll lead to a little further lively discussion.

[/ QUOTE ]

I, for one, like it. We have that "Oscar" recovery job on the pushpit and it's very likely to be our primary option. You can also oik 'em out of the water with it having thrown a halyard with a carabina on the end.

Pops

 

[TheBoatman]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm, nobody seems to like my idea of toys on a string and sailing/ motoring round the casualty. OK, fine, see if I care, I still think it's a sound plan.


[/ QUOTE ]

My I respectfully suggest you try that and let me know if you actually succeed?

On RYA PB courses that I instruct on some of the candidates occasionally suggest just that - and I duly let them try it with a line from the stern of the boat - the normal outcome after 10 minutes of trying is that they have to almost run the MOB down before they can get the line anywhere near the MOB.

The reason is (assuming you have a line with something that floats on the end of it) the line has weight on it all the time and tends to follow the boats wake - so if you describe a 20' circle around the MOB the line will follow that 20' circle - try it and see!!!

It's probably best if you hold onto the line until you're within 20' then heave it over their head, aiming for a point at least 20' beyond them.

At sea you need to get the engine started and aim for an imaginary point 150-200 yards DIRECTLY DOWNWIND of the MOB and then put/aim your bow roller on them, don't use to many revs as all you want is the boat to hold it's head to wind with about a knot of progress towards the MOB. The sails will be flogging but that's only noise - the engine is able to push the boat up against the wind and that only leaves tide to worry about and seeing as the tide is having the same effect on the MOB as the keel of the boat you will both drift in the same direction - you can then slowly close the gap between the MOB & boat - if you're the only one left on-board, then now is the time to hit the auto helm button whilst you prepare a heaving line and release the sheets - once the sheets are released and the heaving line is ready start to aim for a point about 1 boat length away from the MOB because if you don't he/she will be sure you're going to kill them by running them down and start to swim away from the boat, conversely if your aiming point is 30'+ away for some reason they think you're going to miss them and start swimming towards the boat /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
As they pass the bow put the engine into neutral and throw them the line - once they have it and are long side the boat kill the engine if you think it would be safer and the boat won't suddenly take off.

If at any time during this you think you have enough time to safely contact the CG then do it.

Peter.

 

[Laurin]

Hi Talbot,

Could you tell me the exact model (maybe even a link) of the torch that floats beam up. The ocean course I went on in OZ suggested this as a method but I have never found a torch that will do it. (Then again it's a bit hard to test this in the shop and it the way it floats isn't usually specified on the box???)

Ta