MOB while at anchor with current

[Yealm]

We've had a call to a man who slipped from the deck of his yacht, and ended up stuck in deep mud next to it. He'd been on his own.

It was a dark evening, in December, with the tide flooding.
Mobile phone, radio and everything else was on the yacht.
He was shouting for an hour before a passing dog walker heard him, and raised the alarm.
Another half an hour, and the water would have covered him.
Not a nice way to go.

OMG he must have been pretty traumatized...

 

[jwilson]

On my Yachtmaster Offshore assessment about 45 years ago I was asked by the examiner if - on a fully crewed boat - you would ever NOT attempt to recover a MOB. My instant response was no.

At the time we were on a Contessa 32 with 4 crew plus examiner in the Needles Channel and a good bit of wind. What if it happened right now?

"I'd gybe to get back to him very fast - not the 'official' at the time reach-tack-reach. With guardwires off two could drag him back aboard if he was to leeward which is where I'd put the boat.

I did then admit that there might be occasions when trying to retrieve a MOB might put the rest of the crew and boat in danger. And these days with high freeboards the drag over the gunwale option is off the table.

 

[thinwater]

According to stats only between 17 and 25% of folk survive MOB...

At anchor? Or dinghy racing? I seriously doubt that statistic. Both are much closer to 100%, at least around here. I'm sure part of the difference is warmer water temperatures in the summer, appropriate clothing in the cooler seasons (racing dinghies without dry suit or wet suit is generally prohibited by the clubs, since it is dumb), and that folks grow up swimming in the ocean and surfing.

If it is the cold water that makes the severe hazard, and MOB is that dangerous because of it, then maybe ditch the lifejacket and wear a dry suit more often. Getting stuck in the cold mud in a dry suit is embarrassing, but you'd remain comfortable and not sink for 8 hours. I once did and 8-hour in-the-water test in a dry suit at 0Cwater/-5C air for a magazine article. I read a book part of the time.

Off shore in the shit, yes, that is different, but it is not the thread.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

At anchor? Or dinghy racing? I seriously doubt that statistic. Both are much closer to 100%, at least around here. I'm sure part of the difference is warmer water temperatures in the summer, appropriate clothing in the cooler seasons (racing dinghies without dry suit or wet suit is generally prohibited by the clubs, since it is dumb), and that folks grow up swimming in the ocean and surfing.

If it is the cold water that makes the severe hazard, and MOB is that dangerous because of it, then maybe ditch the lifejacket and wear a dry suit more often. Getting stuck in the cold mud in a dry suit is embarrassing, but you'd remain comfortable and not sink for 8 hours. I once did and 8-hour in-the-water test in a dry suit at 0Cwater/-5C air for a magazine article. I read a book part of the time.

Off shore in the shit, yes, that is different, but it is not the thread.

I think a great number of MOBs occur while at anchor or moored. A member of one of my old clubs drowned due to such as did the son of my old boatyards owner. Its the getting into and out of the dinghy issue.

Alcohol, lack of life jackets, rest of crew off duty and not spotting the issue, the victim having mentally gone of duty and failed to take care - a whole host of contributory factors.

They reckon 40 minutes to 2 hours survival with LJ in the Bristol Channel.

 

[arc1]

According to stats only between 17 and 25% of folk survive MOB.

The 17 to 25% figure is for cruise ships/large ferries. Leisure boating stats harder to come by. USCG figures for leisure boating in 2020 have 335 MOB reported with 181 deaths - problem being only the most serious incidents get reported (335 folk overboard in a year's worth of US leisure boating probably a massive under representation of reality). Interestingly, 80% of deaths in leisure boating over there on craft <21 ft, vast majority from open motor boats and sailing vessels don't make top 5 in list of casualties.

This isn't to belittle dangers of going overboard - I firmly intend to try and remain on the boat unless taking a dip!

 

[oldmanofthehills]

The 17 to 25% figure is for cruise ships/large ferries. Leisure boating stats harder to come by. USCG figures for leisure boating in 2020 have 335 MOB reported with 181 deaths - problem being only the most serious incidents get reported (335 folk overboard in a year's worth of US leisure boating probably a massive under representation of reality). Interestingly, 80% of deaths in leisure boating over there on craft <21 ft, vast majority from open motor boats and sailing vessels don't make top 5 in list of casualties.

This isn't to belittle dangers of going overboard - I firmly intend to try and remain on the boat unless taking a dip!

I find lack of stats frustrating but expect MOB is well under reported as most incidents are quickly resolved by climbing back into dinghy or even swimming ashore, thus probably survival rates for recreational boaters much better than falling off cruise ships.

Still 3 boat related drownings in my old neck of the woods and a near miss when an elderly captain swam nearly a mile to shore after falling through his netting, all make me think.

 

[Stemar]

TBH, the exact figures are irrelevant.

Falling overboard, whether at anchor or under way suddenly moves you from safe and secure to dodgy. Any aggravating factors - age, obesity, alcohol, cold water, absence of help - puts you firmly into the Oh Shit category. Stay on board!