MOB strategy for inexperienced crew

[benjenbav]

For the more competent… Practise, like the man said.

Personally I would prefer to fall downwind towards a MOB rather than try to drive up. Better vis, shield the MOB, less chance of injury to MOB.

 

[capnsensible]

Interesting stuff

Its not worst case scenario (that would involve having an MOB at night)

But

What is the procedure when you have the spinnaker up?

Jonathan

Let go sheets guys and halyard. As you crash stop, it often falls on the foredeck anyway. Recover all lines obviously before starting engine.

I experimented with a friend on his Westerly Fulmar the effects of simply putting the helm hard over so bow swung into wind with the spinnaker up. It's a good brake! But you also risk......break.

 

[capnsensible]

For the more competent… Practise, like the man said.

Personally I would prefer to fall downwind towards a MOB rather than try to drive up. Better vis, shield the MOB, less chance of injury to MOB.

You would need to drop the main. Much safer and quicker motoring up head to wind. Main sheeted hard in. Can't expect novices to be subtle.

Mob with a simulated broken engine explores that. Top tip, approach on a close reach, spill and fill the sails as you head towards the casualty and slowly luff as you get close. Angles vary with winds speed and sailplan. Obviously for the more experienced......and on someone else's boat in heavier airs Have done this at just above drifting winds to a full 35 knots gusting more.

It's a great test of boat handling skills.

 

[Roberto]

+1
I'd add that as we are often under pilot, first thing is indicating how to disengage it; then stop the boat/start engine; we have a vhf remote mic in the cockpit, that would be dsc red button with voice confirmation "man overboard, confirm man overboard please come to help".
They are now a little more grown up, but there is/was no way my daughters would be able to maneuver, let alone bring me back on board.

. Id get that moved or get a remote mic.

My instructions to inexperienced crew are:
Stop the boat
Call a mayday
Do what the coastguard tells you.

 

[KevinV]

Interesting stuff

Its not worst case scenario (that would involve having an MOB at night)

But

What is the procedure when you have the spinnaker up?

Jonathan

Who's flying a kite with only inexperienced crew on board??

 

[benjenbav]

Who's flying a kite with only inexperienced crew on board??

I tried that once - in a race run by the RYS - I wasn’t going to do it and the lack of planning was my downfall.

…having rounded the first upwind mark with a decent lead I got cocky and asked the crew to hoist the spinnaker… which went straight into the briny and I sailed over it.

The very worst bit was the Castle’s laconic enquiry over the VHF:

“Number 47, would you please let us know if you’re still racing?”

 

[Stemar]

I’d add the heretical suggestion that - if in range, remind them that they can call the coastguard on 999 via their mobile.

There's nothing heretical about a suggestion that works.

 

[capnsensible]

Who's flying a kite with only inexperienced crew on board??

Sunsail when doing corporate racing in the Solent.....

 

[TLouth7]

I am extremely sceptical that an inexperienced crew could rescue me, so I ask them to sail around within sight of me until a proper rescuer (who I would call with the floating, waterproof VHF I carry on my person) arrives. They would hopefully make a good visual target for the RNLI or whoever to aim for. If I'm unconscious then I am as good as dead so don't really mind whether they try to retrieve my body or not.

In any case I suspect the far more likely scenario is that I or one of my crew injure ourself onboard, so I value my first aid training above MOB practice.

 

[Elessar]

For the more competent… Practise, like the man said.

Personally I would prefer to fall downwind towards a MOB rather than try to drive up. Better vis, shield the MOB, less chance of injury to MOB.

That’s the mobo way. What I do every time. (Practice only touch wood never for real)

 

[Wansworth]

Would this work….. on a calm day having advised crew of what to do get in the dingy and see how they manage?

 

[R.Ems]

Would this work….. on a calm day having advised crew of what to do get in the dingy and see how they manage?

Good idea. They will benefit from the skipper not being on board, and having the practise and responsibility, without much risk.
They will be less likely to panic in future if it happens for real. And get an encouraging confidence boost, when they get it right.

 

[capnsensible]

That’s the mobo way. What I do every time. (Practice only touch wood never for real)

Yup, exactly what's taught on mobo courses. Stop a bit upwind and beam onto wind. Let nature do the work. When close If the boat is rolly I get them to turn engine (s) ignition off in case someone falls onto the throttles during recovery. At that stage it doesn't matter that the bow will tend to drop off downwind.

But of course no sails. It can be done on a yacht beam to wind if its light and juggling engine ahead and astern.

 

[benjenbav]

That’s the mobo way. What I do every time. (Practice only touch wood never for real)

I forgot which forum I was posting on.

 

[Stemar]

Many years ago on my DS course, I was taught the current "correct way to do it (can't remember what it was now too long ago - now I'd improvise according to the conditions), but I found that in sensible weather, a quick helm down left us hove to, upwind of the casualty and drifting slowly down towards him. I can't help thinking that that would be the easiest for inexperienced crew, while they dial 999 on their mobiles.

 

[KevinV]

Many years ago on my DS course, I was taught the current "correct way to do it (can't remember what it was now too long ago - now I'd improvise according to the conditions), but I found that in sensible weather, a quick helm down left us hove to, upwind of the casualty and drifting slowly down towards him. I can't help thinking that that would be the easiest for inexperienced crew, while they dial 999 on their mobiles.

This is exactly what I did when being "interviewed" for some extended cruising with a singlehander, when I had very little yacht experience. Helm hard over, stopped the boat, at which point all the time I spent accidentally sailing backwards as a self-taught dinghy sailor came in very handy
Skipper said it couldn't be done, but it can - slow, but gentle, controlled, almost zero mucking about with the sails, and no losing sight of Freddy (the fender)

 

[Buck Turgidson]

You would need to drop the main. Much safer and quicker motoring up head to wind. Main sheeted hard in. Can't expect novices to be subtle.

Mob with a simulated broken engine explores that. Top tip, approach on a close reach, spill and fill the sails as you head towards the casualty and slowly luff as you get close. Angles vary with winds speed and sailplan. Obviously for the more experienced......and on someone else's boat in heavier airs Have done this at just above drifting winds to a full 35 knots gusting more.

It's a great test of boat handling skills.

Sounds like my YM test.

 

[capnsensible]

Sounds like my YM test.

Yeah it demonstrates to an examiner a lot about your ability to control a yacht under sail, wind awareness and delegation of tasks to your crew. During prep weeks I would get the candidates to do it many times before their exams.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The midline in this video is interesting but I worry that, in a significant swell, the MOB could be dragged through the water very quickly causing breathing difficulties or even lifted out then dropped like a salmon on a rod as the boat rolls.

I think more likely the MOB will be acti g as a 'flopper stopper'

 

[BobnLesley]

I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it. Inexperienced crewmen are easily replaced and ones who aren't capable of keeping themselves aboard probably aren't worth persevering with anyway. Just sail on and get a new one ?