sticky
Well-Known Member
Dan buoys et al
Every time I teach, I practise the man overboard drill a number of times. With five day skippers it could be up to a dozen times over five days. What Saltwater Gipsy advocates makes a lot of sense, but next time any of you try this, start your engine as you heave to. (Some will say that the engine controls are down below and therefore this would not be easy.) Then with judicious use of helm and throttle you can be back alongside your casualty in under two minutes. Then, if necessary, you deploy the danbuoy and all the other gear but judiciously so that you do not achieve a knock out. More often than not you do not need to deploy the danbuoy, because you hove to and the casualty is alongside on your leeward side. A good old seaman's lassoo should secure the casualty alongside and then you can start thinking about recovery. I maintain it is easier to get back than it is to recover the body, particularly if that body is unconscious. I appreciate that much depends on swell and wave height, time of day, how much light, and reactive speed of helm.
Be aware of cold water shock and hyperventilation and the fact that your casualty will probably not be able to help himself.
I am running a series of MOB conventions over the next six months, our first is out of Lymington this weekend. If anyone is interested in a convention please pm me. For this coming weekend we have 38 people and 11 boats. I appreciate this is blatant advertising but this is such an important subject we need to address it more seriously than playing around with a fender and bucket. This weekend we are using dummies as well as real people to recover.
Sticky
Every time I teach, I practise the man overboard drill a number of times. With five day skippers it could be up to a dozen times over five days. What Saltwater Gipsy advocates makes a lot of sense, but next time any of you try this, start your engine as you heave to. (Some will say that the engine controls are down below and therefore this would not be easy.) Then with judicious use of helm and throttle you can be back alongside your casualty in under two minutes. Then, if necessary, you deploy the danbuoy and all the other gear but judiciously so that you do not achieve a knock out. More often than not you do not need to deploy the danbuoy, because you hove to and the casualty is alongside on your leeward side. A good old seaman's lassoo should secure the casualty alongside and then you can start thinking about recovery. I maintain it is easier to get back than it is to recover the body, particularly if that body is unconscious. I appreciate that much depends on swell and wave height, time of day, how much light, and reactive speed of helm.
Be aware of cold water shock and hyperventilation and the fact that your casualty will probably not be able to help himself.
I am running a series of MOB conventions over the next six months, our first is out of Lymington this weekend. If anyone is interested in a convention please pm me. For this coming weekend we have 38 people and 11 boats. I appreciate this is blatant advertising but this is such an important subject we need to address it more seriously than playing around with a fender and bucket. This weekend we are using dummies as well as real people to recover.
Sticky
