Man Overboard Training

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William_H

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I seem to have become involved in giving training for Man Overboard at our local yacht club.
This question then is to try to get some ideas for the course. Now I am happy to talk about getting a person to keep an eye on the MOB, throw danbuoy/flotsum and get the boat turned around to approach and stop at the MOB and to get a rope/ lifebuoy to the MOB.
The difficulty comes when we try to get the MOB back on board. Most of our boats are in the 20 to 304 ft class. We want to use a larger 34ft fin keel as it will be most challenging. There is a ladder at the back but I want to address the exhausted or unconscious MOB.
I would like to try the small jib shackled to the gunwhale and hoisted by the head from a halyard to roll a body over the side. Perhaps a bowline of rope around under a victims armpits might work but we have a volunteer and I don't want to injure him.
The question then is ... are there any other methods for hoisting a body on board, we will have a RIB on hand but don't think a dinghy would normally be available. Fortunately most of our sailors can swim and water is not cold. thanks olewill
 
With a RIB the best method for those in reasonable shape is a couple of hefty blokes squatting down either side of the victim, using the arm furthest from them to grip the top of their life jacket/buoyancy aid. Warn the victim (unless you really, really don't like them) then both of the rescuers simultaneously use the other hand to give the victim a good shove underwater straight down (but NOT by pushing down on the top of their head).

As they come up use the arm holding the lifejacket to help them shoot back up and then reach across and grab the bottom of the lifejacket with the other hand and keep pulling them up and in to the RIB. The aim is to get the victim a**e up draped across the tube with the upper body lying down into the RIB itself. Once you've got them there you can then just roll their legs into the RIB as well.

The trick is not to be half-hearted - you have to be synchronised and really go for it. I've seen the same trick done by just one person to get someone on to a sugar-scoop transom. He crossed his arms first and then pushed the girl underwater and, as she came up, uncrossed his arms so she rotated 180 and ended sitting on the transom - very impressive but I'm not sure he'd have done so well with a 15 stone bloke with full clobber on!

Are you sure no-one will have a small inflatable you could use as an intermediate stage? Most 30'+ yachts would I'd have thought. When we went through this many years ago as part of my 70 sq mtr ticket (a sort of glorified day skipper thing the RAFSA issued at BKYC) we concluded that the only way we could get someone back on to a Contessa26 or 32 if we were single-handed was to use a dinghy or liferaft and try and get them into that so they were at least out of the water and less likely to be clouted by the boat as it bounced up and down.
 
William_H said:
I seem to have become involved in giving training for Man Overboard

The difficulty comes when we try to get the MOB back on board. There is a ladder at the back but I want to address the exhausted or unconscious MOB.

I would like to try the small jib shackled to the gunwale and hoisted by the head from a halyard to roll a body over the side.

Perhaps a bowline of rope around under a victims armpits might work but we have a volunteer and I don't want to injure him.
olewill
Click to expand...

G'day Will,
Using the sail works, I had a rather large gentleman step off one day, he could not climb the rear ladder so we rigged the 3 and used the main halyard, still hard work though.

The rope under the arms is a waste of time for lift out, but fine to hold them till other arrangements are made.

A bosun's chair also works well provided they are not out to it.

Using a render as a MOB for the first few runs will ensure they aproach from the correct side and be good training for spotters and riggers to prep for lift out.

Avagoodweekend......
 
I always carry a 5:1 block and tackle which I can attach either to the shrouds via a Prusik knot or to one of the spare halyards. Using the purchase available via this system I have seen a small woman lift a large RNLI volunteer very easily back on board.

The only other note is that in anything other than very calm conditions I would never allow the MOB anywhere near the stern ladder.
 
A bunch of east coasters got together last year with a few boats and willing "overboarders" to get hands on training. I couldnt attend but it was very well written up - MoodySabre on the East Coast was heavily involved in the organising - pm him would I am sure give more detail.
 
Man Over Board

Hi.
Great care must be taken when hoisting a person from the sea.

1. If they have been in the water for some time and possibly hypothermic, then they should be hoisted in a horizontal position, otherwise they may become a fatality.

2. Hoisting someone by means of a bowline around the waist only, could cause the casualty to suffocate, especially if this takes several minutes. It could be possible for the casualty to slip through the bowline and back into the water, if rope is under armpits.

I hope this is of some help.
Fair winds,
Lancelot
 
MOB drill is an excellent thing to practice.

What about setting the boat up for the real thing ?

The boom, for example, already has a poweful block and tackle fitted to its end. Put a clip on the car instead of a shackle and there is an instant heavy lift device to dangle over the side.

Boarding ladders are useful tools too, not for the victim but those manouvering a heavy weight back on board.

Rope is useful but how is it stowed and, more important, is it "handy"?

I would assume that the victim will not be able to help with their own rescue. Get them back on board ASAP and start warming them up ASAP.

73s de
Johnth
 
If you don't want to use the sail - as many boats have roller genoas and thus no small sail - why not use a couple of wide straps - like those used on lorries for fastening down loads
 
Using integral lifejacket harness?

Could a halyard be shackled to the eye(s) of a lifejacket harness? We have Kru Sports Pro lifejackets with rings/eyes that I think could be got at with the bladder inflated?

Is such an approach at all possible?
 
Will; I suggest you try out the triple bowline.
Tie it in a non-floating rope of at least 7m (a spare genoa-sheet?) using all but the last half-metre of the doubled rope to finish with three equal loops of about a metre length. The short doubled tail is knotted (fig,8?) for lifting on a haliard or mainsheet.
In the water, work the third loop under the armpitsm and the equal loops round each leg behind the knees.The legs are half a person's weight, so the armpits do not suffer unduly, and on lifting the legs fold up, knees to the chest: the casualty becomes a compact 'ball' which can be swung over the rail and, if the hoist-rope is made long enough, down the companionway out of the weather; possibly all the way to a berth.
This is the only technique I have tried that gives half a sailing couple a good chance of recovering the other half, and it is well worth testing and practicing, as it minimises the risk mentioned by 'Lancelot'.
 
If your "victim" goes over with all the gear on, use all the help there is I say. Rings on lifejackets ring on safety harness, the lot.

By the by, ever wondered why sailing jackets do not have epaulets? Of the sturdy kind as used by F1 pilots on their fire retarding suits. Something else to grab hold of ?

73s de
Johnth
 
William_H said:
I seem to have become involved in giving training for Man Overboard at our local yacht club.
This question then is to try to get some ideas for the course. Now I am happy to talk about getting a person to keep an eye on the MOB, throw danbuoy/flotsum and get the boat turned around to approach and stop at the MOB and to get a rope/ lifebuoy to the MOB.
The difficulty comes when we try to get the MOB back on board. Most of our boats are in the 20 to 304 ft class. We want to use a larger 34ft fin keel as it will be most challenging. There is a ladder at the back but I want to address the exhausted or unconscious MOB.
I would like to try the small jib shackled to the gunwhale and hoisted by the head from a halyard to roll a body over the side. Perhaps a bowline of rope around under a victims armpits might work but we have a volunteer and I don't want to injure him.
The question then is ... are there any other methods for hoisting a body on board, we will have a RIB on hand but don't think a dinghy would normally be available. Fortunately most of our sailors can swim and water is not cold. thanks olewill
Click to expand...

Hi William,
I think you should also address the problem of a 2 man crew with one overboard. I think that the majority of sailboats up to 40' are sailed with husband wife crews or 2 friends. The first problem is getting the boat alongside when one crew is at the helm and the other hidden by the hull in the front of the boat. There is a serious risk of running them down or making repeated passes but missing them. Our practice has found that by far the best method is to reverse up to the crew in the water as they are in sight all the time from the back of the boat and the boat can be brought to rest alongside the person. We then have the dinghy, inflated, across the stern of our 36' boat held by two quick release carabiners. I would release one so the dinghy drops into the water held by its painter, on one carribeaner. Lower the steps and pull the crew into the dinghy. It is then easier to bring the crew aboard from there. What will you suggest in these circumstances?
 
All the suggestions go to rats if the casualty is unconcious and there is only one left on board. Bearing in mind the high freeboard of many boats how does the remaining person reach the man in the water let alone get him back on board?

It seems to me the only way would be to stop the boat, launch the dinghy attached by a long line to the boat and approach the casualty in the dinghy. It is possible for one person to drag even a hefty man over the tube of an inflatable if they are brought in horizontally;- an arm and tie it or sit on it and then a leg and then roll.

If hypothermia is not a risk, then, from the dinghy it would be possible to arrange some sort of sling to keep the person horizontal (although if the water is not cold, that is maybe not important) and then return to the boat and hoist out with some mechanical aid.

As one who has jumped over the side without warning and left his crew of sea cadets to haul him out, I speak from frightened experience!
 
Well, I think that it is best to assume that the victim is out for the count and to assume the victim can not help in their own rescue.

If you are the only sole available to help, do whatever is required to get your vessel, or whatever help there is, alongside safely (remember, not to place you or your vessel in distress). Use an empirical approach, if one method is not working try something else. I do not think that there is just one correct method to get a victim back in to the warm, just keep trying.

Practice your "drill" but remember the boy scout motto too.

Oh, incidentally, sailing is fun (well it is for me) so lets not get too paranoid eh !

73s de
Johnth
 
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