William_H
Well-Known Member
As discussed some weeks back this morning we had a Man overboard training session or more specifically a forum. The aim was to talk about and get people to think about the danger and ways to respond if it happens. In discussing the whole thing with serious ocean sailors it became apparent that you simply must not go overboard. This can best be achieved by diligent use of harness tether strong points and jack stays.
We decided jack stays and hard points must be inboard near the centre line with tether short enough so you can not go over the gunwhale or life lines.You need multiple tethers so you can move one before releasing the other.
In our general club sailing there is a real danger from apathy. We sail in enclosed warm waters and most sailors are very comfortable in the water without life jacket. (so don't wear them) We generally sail in winds up to 20 knots. In fact so common is 18knots that we get used to it. Just enough wind to provide real danger if using spinnackers. A lot of boats don't have life lines.
So we went through the rules for MOB. Including having a spotter . Getting the boat under control and returning to the MOB. This management of the boat can be very difficult under spinnacker especially if key person is lost. We discussed setting a spin free by releasing halyard and sheets. Use a figure 8 stopper knot in the end where the final pull through is left in to form a bow. This can easily be released.
We discussed leaving spin up just turning the boat into the wind and relying on the motor to power you back to the victim with spin spread around the forestay.
In any case a competent crew is vital to get the boat turned around. Practice would help a lot.
Finally we looked at ways of recovering a person. We used a 38fter sloop rigged which was moored near a jetty so all could watch. Each person was encouraged to practice throwing a line with a suitable sized bowline tied in the end. We found cheaper ropes will float while better polyester braid would sink.
The first exercise involved out volunteer having a line thrown to him, he put the line around his chest and he was pulled to the rear of the boat. The line was fed through the fitting of the backstay where twin wires become one. This point was high enough to enable us to use the line as an assist to get him up the ladder at the stern. He was able to rest and lean back with no problem and the rope could help him get himself up.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1952&stc=1&d=1258186428
Next exercise was to use the foot rope from bow to winch at the stern. In anticipation we fitted the victim with canvas shoes. A man rope knotted and attached on top of the cabin was to assist him.
He found this method quite unsatisfactory. The rope went under the hull too far and it took a huge effort of upper body to pull himself up the man rope and eventually under the life line.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1951&stc=1&d=1258186171
Next exercise was using a small jib tied to the gunwhale and hauled up by spin halyard. This appeared to show great promise. He easily lay in the fold of the jib and was hauled up to near level with the gunwhale.
Helpers could have pulled him under the lifeline however at the critical moment the load on the jib between the attachments of tack and clew and stretch of the sail itself meant there was a gap between the foot of the jib and the gunwhale and he slipped through. The lesson was that the foot of the sail must be stretched very tight. Even then it will probably not be tight enough and the victim should be pulled up and on board from a point below the gunwhale rather than relying on the sail rolling him onto the side deck.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1953&stc=1&d=1258186552
We then went to hauling him out on a spin halyard using a spin pole or in this case a whisker pole attached to the mast ring. The pole is only used to push the halyard out overboard. A spin pole would normally be too long and a lashing near the middle could have a loop for the spin halyard to slide through. This should be located by ropes to each end.
In a real emergency if the MOB was wearing a life jacket with built in harness then the spin halyard could be attached direct. By him or a helper gone into the water to help.
I note that in a recent MOB from a Clipper racer in S Atlantic the helper was lowered on a halyard on his own harness so that he could take another halyard to MOB and attach it.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1954&stc=1&d=1258186696
In an emergency with no other option the bowline around the chest under the arm pits could be used. However if possible this should be padded and some injury would result. The MOB must keep arms down as loop could slip over his arms and he fall out.
In the exercise we used a dinghy trapeze harness which proved comfortable and safe for volunteers.
I had intended that the victim be hoisted up then swung over the life lines onto the foredeck In the exercise however he walked his feet up the hull and when he go to the gunwhale swung himself onto the gunwhale and so stepped over the lifeline.
The last exercise was to use the boom in a similar manner. We had found in practicing using a smaller boat that halyards had a lot of friction with a mans weight on the end. All of our boats carry a long powerful handy billy 4 purchase tackle for mast lowering. This was used attached to the main halyard which was attached with the topping lift to the end of the boom. The boom was raised as far as possible on the still connected Vang. It took a lot of time setting up and getting the tackle out long enough for the MOB to attach to his harness. However from there one man could (not easy but did) hoist him up although it needed another person to keep the boom swung out over the water. He was hoisted high enough to clear the lifelines and was lowered into the cockpit.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1955&stc=1&d=1258186818
All agreed that all boats should have a stern fold down solid ladder which in our climate is used a lot for swimming. This aided by a rope to the back stay or boom end can assist a tired MOB up the ladder.
If the pitch of the boat is too much over the side is the only recovery path. Spin halyard on spin or whisker pole was simplest and best. Sail over the side could be used for an unconscious person without needing a harness or someone to attach it but can let him fall through.
A few people had inflatable LJ with built in harness. To use this for lifting it would be vital that it have a crotch strap. In my opinion just a simple strap would not work well and a double strap or better a strap around the buttocks with loops to the front of the upper leg would keep the LJ and harness in place even if being hoisted by it. A harness without LJ would be the same.
That is olewill in dark blue tee shirt.Special thanks to 2 volunteer MOBs olewill
We decided jack stays and hard points must be inboard near the centre line with tether short enough so you can not go over the gunwhale or life lines.You need multiple tethers so you can move one before releasing the other.
In our general club sailing there is a real danger from apathy. We sail in enclosed warm waters and most sailors are very comfortable in the water without life jacket. (so don't wear them) We generally sail in winds up to 20 knots. In fact so common is 18knots that we get used to it. Just enough wind to provide real danger if using spinnackers. A lot of boats don't have life lines.
So we went through the rules for MOB. Including having a spotter . Getting the boat under control and returning to the MOB. This management of the boat can be very difficult under spinnacker especially if key person is lost. We discussed setting a spin free by releasing halyard and sheets. Use a figure 8 stopper knot in the end where the final pull through is left in to form a bow. This can easily be released.
We discussed leaving spin up just turning the boat into the wind and relying on the motor to power you back to the victim with spin spread around the forestay.
In any case a competent crew is vital to get the boat turned around. Practice would help a lot.
Finally we looked at ways of recovering a person. We used a 38fter sloop rigged which was moored near a jetty so all could watch. Each person was encouraged to practice throwing a line with a suitable sized bowline tied in the end. We found cheaper ropes will float while better polyester braid would sink.
The first exercise involved out volunteer having a line thrown to him, he put the line around his chest and he was pulled to the rear of the boat. The line was fed through the fitting of the backstay where twin wires become one. This point was high enough to enable us to use the line as an assist to get him up the ladder at the stern. He was able to rest and lean back with no problem and the rope could help him get himself up.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1952&stc=1&d=1258186428
Next exercise was to use the foot rope from bow to winch at the stern. In anticipation we fitted the victim with canvas shoes. A man rope knotted and attached on top of the cabin was to assist him.
He found this method quite unsatisfactory. The rope went under the hull too far and it took a huge effort of upper body to pull himself up the man rope and eventually under the life line.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1951&stc=1&d=1258186171
Next exercise was using a small jib tied to the gunwhale and hauled up by spin halyard. This appeared to show great promise. He easily lay in the fold of the jib and was hauled up to near level with the gunwhale.
Helpers could have pulled him under the lifeline however at the critical moment the load on the jib between the attachments of tack and clew and stretch of the sail itself meant there was a gap between the foot of the jib and the gunwhale and he slipped through. The lesson was that the foot of the sail must be stretched very tight. Even then it will probably not be tight enough and the victim should be pulled up and on board from a point below the gunwhale rather than relying on the sail rolling him onto the side deck.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1953&stc=1&d=1258186552
We then went to hauling him out on a spin halyard using a spin pole or in this case a whisker pole attached to the mast ring. The pole is only used to push the halyard out overboard. A spin pole would normally be too long and a lashing near the middle could have a loop for the spin halyard to slide through. This should be located by ropes to each end.
In a real emergency if the MOB was wearing a life jacket with built in harness then the spin halyard could be attached direct. By him or a helper gone into the water to help.
I note that in a recent MOB from a Clipper racer in S Atlantic the helper was lowered on a halyard on his own harness so that he could take another halyard to MOB and attach it.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1954&stc=1&d=1258186696
In an emergency with no other option the bowline around the chest under the arm pits could be used. However if possible this should be padded and some injury would result. The MOB must keep arms down as loop could slip over his arms and he fall out.
In the exercise we used a dinghy trapeze harness which proved comfortable and safe for volunteers.
I had intended that the victim be hoisted up then swung over the life lines onto the foredeck In the exercise however he walked his feet up the hull and when he go to the gunwhale swung himself onto the gunwhale and so stepped over the lifeline.
The last exercise was to use the boom in a similar manner. We had found in practicing using a smaller boat that halyards had a lot of friction with a mans weight on the end. All of our boats carry a long powerful handy billy 4 purchase tackle for mast lowering. This was used attached to the main halyard which was attached with the topping lift to the end of the boom. The boom was raised as far as possible on the still connected Vang. It took a lot of time setting up and getting the tackle out long enough for the MOB to attach to his harness. However from there one man could (not easy but did) hoist him up although it needed another person to keep the boom swung out over the water. He was hoisted high enough to clear the lifelines and was lowered into the cockpit.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1955&stc=1&d=1258186818
All agreed that all boats should have a stern fold down solid ladder which in our climate is used a lot for swimming. This aided by a rope to the back stay or boom end can assist a tired MOB up the ladder.
If the pitch of the boat is too much over the side is the only recovery path. Spin halyard on spin or whisker pole was simplest and best. Sail over the side could be used for an unconscious person without needing a harness or someone to attach it but can let him fall through.
A few people had inflatable LJ with built in harness. To use this for lifting it would be vital that it have a crotch strap. In my opinion just a simple strap would not work well and a double strap or better a strap around the buttocks with loops to the front of the upper leg would keep the LJ and harness in place even if being hoisted by it. A harness without LJ would be the same.
That is olewill in dark blue tee shirt.Special thanks to 2 volunteer MOBs olewill
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