MOB in a self-tacker with an inexperienced crew

May I ask how many actually truthfully make training of new people on their boats ... ie - first hours doing MOB .. engine and sail handling etc.

I admit - that I know what I should do - but often do not .......... and I do not think I am odd man out on this.

All grownups coming on board must know and practice how to start the engine and engage gear. I put them straight on the helm as soon as we leave the dock, with me at their shoulder, and have them practice use of the throttle.

All grownups are shown how to send DSC distress signal.

For a day trip, that's about what I consider realistic.
 
I've tried this.

The technique that works is this: keep turning left!

aim for the target and miss. Turn left until you can aim for the target and miss again, turn left and aim for the target and miss.

Keep doing that and the target will get the line.


If you have someone who has zero experience then all they need to do is throw something and keep trying to get back to the target.
I tried this the first time I took my 15 and 11 year old daughters sailing and without further intervention from me they wrapped a line around my mOB fender first time.
I do not think it is as easy as you suggest. I know that in my own boat ( & the last 2) that as it gets to near gybe in any breeze it does not want to gybe so heads off down wind ultra quick, then any gybe will be a quite unnerving in which it will spin into the wind extremely quickly. ( Short fin very manouverable) Novices will only pull the boom in so far( if that is what you are suggesting, but dangerous if not) & they would probably also have to adjust the traveller etc. My last 2 boats were long keel so more manageable but would still need to be sailed rather than just steered in circles. . Yes, one can sail circles but they could easily be more like spirals down wind of the MOB & would need a fair degree of sail control. So no good to someone with limited, let alone zero, experience.
So I am not completely satisfied that your suggestions would actually work in any breeze & a bit of a sea in practice

As for first time!! the PBO put that one to bed in their test of the equipment some years ago.
 
All grownups coming on board must know and practice how to start the engine and engage gear. I put them straight on the helm as soon as we leave the dock, with me at their shoulder, and have them practice use of the throttle.

All grownups are shown how to send DSC distress signal.

For a day trip, that's about what I consider realistic.

I am actually similar ... I enjoy letting others handle the boat. I do not like to see them just sitting there mind in neutral ... and so far I have not had any complaints - in fact I hear 'thanks - that was really good ...'

I may not have a set system of instruction before leaving dock - but I do emphasise the need for care, Lifejacket and "one hand for ship" ... as we leave and progress in the trip - the other parts naturally fall into place.

If you try to instruct in a flow of items - I g'tee most will be either ignored or forgotten - but taken in their stride as the trip progresses - has a natural flow and I find they remember it better - because it has actual relevance by its action.
 
this is nothing to do with yacht master MOB recovery. I can do that, I've got a little blue book that confirms it.
this is about someone(lets assume a single non sailor on board) who has no experience and the skipper going overboard.

Your post a few pages back requires the novice to be able to ease two sheets, one at least of which is on a winch. Start the engine, steer the boat to remain abeam the wind, operate the engine in forward and reverse whilst keeping the boat abeam the wind and then if they eventually drift back onto the skipper, do something else to get a line to them.

Mine requires them to chuck something overboard and turn the wheel in one direction.


I teach idiots to fly aeroplanes for a living. I know which I think has the better chance of success ;-)
You are getting confused again, I made no reference to any RYA method, I made my suggested method in an earlier post, read that & try it bedore condemning.
While I am sure flying an aeroplane is quite complicated, would you expect a complete beginner, to safely land it, if you had a medical emergency & were unconcious?
 
One tactic I have known recommended is;
haul in mainsheet and jib as far as possible, then put helm hard over; boat is equipped with a handy piece of line to keep the helm thus;
boat will turn in circles while staying in the same patch of sea, giving crew time to recover from panic and sort selves out, and do all the various other things recommended on this thread, while staying close to and able to talk to casualty.
and yes, this does work even with a self tacking jib.
 
You are getting confused again, I made no reference to any RYA method, I made my suggested method in an earlier post, read that & try it bedore condemning.
While I am sure flying an aeroplane is quite complicated, would you expect a complete beginner, to safely land it, if you had a medical emergency & were unconcious?
I refer to your method so I guess it's you who's confused. Sailing in a circle is not equivalent to landing an aircraft.
 
Top