MOB while at anchor with current

[Daydream believer]

One reason for falling in would be the dinghy tipping over whilst alighting. I know a couple of people to whom this has happened. It has also happened to my daughter's helm when getting off my Squib. With nothing to grab on the side of the yacht & a round upturned dinghy the casualty soon ends up away from the boat fully clothed & one did not have an LJ.
My daughter was able to drop the mooring & sail up to her helm, circle him a couple of times whilst giving him instructions on the "correct" way to get into a dinghy; give those in the sailing club plenty of time to see what had happened; then pull him back on board. So that was Ok.

I have permanently rigged lines over the side of my boat going from about 6 ft from the bow to the stern & hanging just above the water. A small cable tie holds them up on the aft quarter such that a sharp pull will release them. I know - from having been over- the side that even if the crew can get alongside it greatly helps the MOBs confidence if they can grab a line themselves. If one falls in & can immediately grab something it does help even if one has a lifeline. I also have a very short tether (150mm) & can hook it on to the line, cut my main tether & slide to the back of the boat, where I will be dragged along. At least I will not be bashing my head on the side. I can then do my best to climb back on board the stern, if the boat is not moving too quick. It will not be if one was getting out of a dinghy. I always slow the boat down to a couple of knots when getting ready lines etc to enter port so hopefully would not be doing 6 knts.

If a crew went in & I was on board I would chuck the dan buoy as a marker then the heaving line & buoy to try & contact the MOB. If not perhaps lob the life raft over & hope it drifted with the casualty so they could get into it if i could do it quickly enough & they were fit enough to swim to it. This would apply to any MOB situation. If it is a big sea it may be possible to get the LRaft to a casualty, so he/she can get into that, then one can worry about transfer to the yacht in a more structured manner.
A mayday & a press of my AIS distress button ( it is set to MOB) would soon follow, as would a couple of well aimed orange markers & a couple of red flares. This is one instance where I do not think an electric laser flare would raise much interest, compared to a red hand flare.

I do not anchor, but if I did I would attach a fender to the rope, ( I have 10 M of chain & 30 M of rope) cut it & cast off. I cannot haul that lot up by hand very quickly so it would have to go. I do not carry a spare so would need to be able to recover it.

 

[Dutch01527]

Assuming that a dingy is not available to use immediately:throw floatation overboard, tell crew member, if you have one, to keep eyes on mob, start engine, let the anchor go and cut the rope anchor rode, motor around and rescue.

Calling a Mayday does not make sense as an initial action. It would take any potential rescuers a long time to get there. Better to spend time rescuing yourself. Attaching a floatation bouy to the anchor takes time. What price an anchor and chain vs a human life.

 

[Gwylan]

Hello,
suppose to be at anchor in a place with some current, someone falls overboard.
What to do?
Start engine - up the anchor and go to the rescue? If the current is strong one may need help from the engine to recover the chain, which might delay everything.
Let all anchor and cable in the water with a floater? It seems indeed one of those cases where one has to move as quick as possible.
We (tend to) wear lifejacket when out of the cockpit, though never clipped on with a tether.

When people are taking a swim -if possible with the speed of current- I often trail a long line with a fender, hoping that no one lets go; not one thing I do regularly though.
I'd be interested in knowing what would you do, either before or after.

Happened on my YM exam. I was responsible, sailing off the mooring.

Appoint a watcher and get them boat a hook or line.
Chuck everything you have that floats over board to give the victim some thing to catch. Danbuoy, fenders, stream a fender on a long line

Engine on to give way.
Anchor up so it's at least clear of the bottom. Or back on board if you have manpower.
Attempt approach against the flow to come at the casualty. Also your speed is much more manageable. Gives you longer time window
Make sure everyone knows which side you are going to attempt pick up.
The watcher keeps helm informed what's happening.
Mind the trailing lines and engine in neutral when the casualty is close.
Recover.
Depending on casualty and time of year you might need assistance.

 

[PilotWolf]

Calling a Mayday does not make sense as an initial action. It would take any potential rescuers a long time to get there.

And that's the WHOLE point to get the process started asap !

PW

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Again there is a big difference between swimming at anchor and falling overboard.

Most of these suggestions won't work for me - I learnt to swim at school but now not a chance - the worst 2 mins of my life every 5 years are trying to tread water for my STCW recertification. I could never do the helicopter dunker training again.

I've said before but I was a b@$t@rd for drills because if I 'm the one in the water you better get me back for tea and biscuits PDQ, I pretty much lost my job at last company for fighting over the lack of crew training with managers. I was told to stop making waves(!)

And I know for 99% of members here this is leisure but everything fun also does have a way of going bad sometimes - various antibiotics are available But a lot of things learned on board relate to home as well - 1st aid/fire fighting/basic safety.

W.

Unless the water is very warm then wearing speedos instead of foul weather gear could make a huge difference. All of the round the world single handers types that stopped to swim did so with a ruddy long line out. I've even heard of people making a sort of giant safety loop by poling out to each side (spinnaker and boom or something presumably). If I'm on my own and there's any current, whether it's cause I'm moving through the water or the water's going round me, I tend to be ultra careful. I've clipped on before going forward whilst at anchor quite frequently.

I have a similar background to you were risk management is second nature - I want a plan or procedure to follow for any foreseeable and likely situations - even if I need to adapt it I'm dealing with the problem straight away and, providing the others are on the same page, we'll be working together not doing Laurel and Hardy impersonations.

 

[Juan Twothree]

Calling a Mayday does not make sense as an initial action. It would take any potential rescuers a long time to get there. Better to spend time rescuing yourself.

I totally disagree.
It only takes a few seconds these days to push the big red button on your VHF.
Get rescue assets alerted, THEN start your own rescue attempt.
The survival clock starts ticking from the moment the person enters the water, not from when you call for help.

 

[PilotWolf]

I totally disagree.
It only takes a few seconds these days to push the big red button on your VHF.
Get rescue assets alerted, THEN start your own rescue attempt.
The survival clock starts ticking from the moment the person enters the water, not from when you call for help.

I don't think I know you - my time in the RNLI was not pleasant and I have no respect for them other than those at the sharp end.

But it is nice to see to an honest unbiased opinion from the inside.

W.

 

[Juan Twothree]

I don't think I know you - my time in the RNLI was not pleasant and I have no respect for them other than those at the sharp end.

But it is nice to see to an honest unbiased opinion from the inside.

W.

Why thank you.
Sorry that your experience in the RNLI wasn't positive. I guess I've been fortunate in having worked with some very friendly and supportive people, both fellow crew and those higher up.

And it helps too that I've been doing it for so long now that no one can be bothered to argue with me any more!

 

[savageseadog]

It makes me think that routinely tying a large fender to the anchor chain/warp to buoy it so it can be dropped in a moment.........and recovered. Obviously outside the pulpit etc.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Assuming that a dingy is not available to use immediately:throw floatation overboard, tell crew member, if you have one, to keep eyes on mob, start engine, let the anchor go and cut the rope anchor rode, motor around and rescue.

Calling a Mayday does not make sense as an initial action. It would take any potential rescuers a long time to get there. Better to spend time rescuing yourself. Attaching a floatation bouy to the anchor takes time. What price an anchor and chain vs a human life.

yea all to true , BUT , the longer time takento alert the resuce services the longer plus longer time to assist them or maybe YOU and them

 

[PilotWolf]

Why thank you.
Sorry that your experience in the RNLI wasn't positive. I guess I've been fortunate in having worked with some very friendly and supportive people, both fellow crew and those higher up.

And it helps too that I've been doing it for so long now that no one can be bothered to argue with me any more!

I had no issues with crew in general - some so called coxs most defiantly yes but as said I'd always I stand by my crew but never media whores. I probably think you know who I'm referring to...

PW

 

[thinwater]

Like all MOBs, very situation dependent. We assume most sailing MOBs will be in foul weather, but at anchor it's more likely the person was either climbing out of a dinghy or just careless, and weather is not a factor. There is also a higher probability that they are not wearing a PFD, in which case it will all be over for a non-swimmer before help comes.

I very seldom sail with anyone that is not a strong swimmer. Most have lifesaving certs. I've anchored in tidal streams many times. Generarlly they are relativly narrow cuts behind barrier islands. Generally the boat is within 25 meters of land, the tide is parrallel to shore (can't really be other wise in a long channel) and they will be standing on-shore before you can say "oh shit." As the victim, wouldn't you bee-line for shore rather than back to the boat or wait for help?

I've never had a boat without a tender ready to go, even if only a kayak. A deflated inflatable is not worth having IMO. Too much trouble to bother using. I can get the tender in the water within 30 seconds. I may not be able to recover the swimmer from the water or get them on deck, but I can suport them and get them to shore. This is what whitewater kayakers do.

I had a relative non-swimmming guest jump in to swim once. Others were in the water, he said he could swim, but the water was over his head and he panicked. My daughter dove in and got him in seconds. She was the only person that noticed, because drowning people cannot call out. Because there was a tide, I push a kayak in within seconds and went and collected the two of them; they were in no jeprody by then--she was swimming/towing him back, but it would have been a long, hard pull.

Note that a Lifesling is attached to the boat. In a strong tide or when the boat is moving, it will be out of range of the swimmer quickly. You also need a floatation devise (even a cushion) that is not attached to the boat. A Lifesling is only for recovery. It can also make sense to throw it in the water if you are going to swim in a moderate tide; if you underestimate the tide or get tired, there it is.

 

[jdc]

This has happened to me when at anchor at 'the rocks' in the river Deben. I was sailing mid week with a friend and we stopped for a quick swim on a beautiful hot day, no one around. I told him 'when you dive in make sure you turn immediately to face forwards: whatever you do don't get swept behind the boat.' Of course the silly b only turned back to look at the boat once already well astern. So I leapt into the dinghy and paddled after him, pulling him aboard. Then started to row back. It took ages as we'd almost been swept to Ramsholt by that time. The orange grockle boat from Waldingfield then came past, full of grannies; what they thought of two naked middle-aged men paddling in a rubber-duck I dread to think!

 

[Juan Twothree]

The orange grockle boat from Waldingfield then came past, full of grannies; what they thought of two naked middle-aged men paddling in a rubber-duck I dread to think!

"And that, your honour, concludes the case for the defence".

 

[Birdseye]

Not knowing the strength nor medical history of the swimmers

I'd have a word with crew, express my misgivings and move to somewhere without as much tidal flow.

Having a bunch of people with mixed abilities - its a recipe for disaster. I'd wimp out and as skipper - No way!

We have some pretty hefty tidal flows up north where the Coral Sea meets the Tasman and down south where the Southern Ocean sluices through Bass Strait. I don't know anything about the northerly flow but down south the current is full of sand and swimming would be unpleasant, and the water is cold.

If its an unplanned MOB - depends on the capability of the MOB and where they are going. If they are moving into uncharted areas a rescue by yacht looks questionable.

Dinghy seems the sensible option.

Jonathan

Would have thought in your case that you would be worried about sharks and nasty jellyfish etc. Or sea water crocs.

 

[NormanS]

There are only the two of us, and some of the places where we sail, the nearest lifeboat is up to five hours away, so neither of us would be wasting time on the radio, even if we had radio reception. Dhan buoy, throwing ring, dinghy, in that order. The dinghy is always in the water when we're anchored.

 

[Juan Twothree]

the nearest lifeboat is up to five hours away, so neither of us would be wasting time on the radio, even if we had radio reception.

No radio reception? Then use a PLB or EPIRB to raise the alarm.

No lifeboat? Then a helicopter would be just the ticket. Once they're in radio range, explain to them that they're looking for a person in the water, rather than homing on the beacon.

 

[NormanS]

No radio reception? Then use a PLB or EPIRB to raise the alarm.

No lifeboat? Then a helicopter would be just the ticket. Once they're in radio range, explain to them that they're looking for a person in the water, rather than homing on the beacon.

I'll get them out of the water first, then, if necessary, ask for medical help. There is no way that I, as the only person remaining on board, would spend even seconds alerting distant help.

 

[Juan Twothree]

I'll get them out of the water first, then, if necessary, ask for medical help. There is no way that I, as the only person remaining on board, would spend even seconds alerting distant help.

But what if you can't get them out of the water?
It's easy to say you'll get them straight into the dinghy, but suppose it proves more difficult than expected, for any one of a number of reasons?

After ten minutes of struggling, you might wish you'd pressed the button ten minutes earlier. As you say, it only takes a few seconds.

SAR services much prefer to get called in good time, and then stood down en route, than to get there too late to do anything.

Been there, done it, have given evidence at the inquest.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

The biggest risk in any MOB is often losing sight of the casualty. No point in calling for external assistance if no one can find the victim. Thus if the only one on board your entire focus must be on MOB location before proceeding to next step. This was drummed into us as priority by Yachtmaster Instructor.

Pressing and holding big red button will take you from your position when you can view casualty. Great if someone else to delegate that task too.

If they have no life jacket and water cold they will be dead before that lifeboat or helicopter arrives - so their life is down to you