Two-handed MOB - do what first, then what next?

[Babylon]

Fully-crewed (training yacht) procedure for a MOB (acronym SPTMM):

SHOUT to alert everyone else on board
POINT to casualty (and keep pointing to him/her)
THROW yellow things in water
MOTOR on (drop/furl heads'l, sheet in main)
MAYDAY transmission

In this scenario, each hand has a designated job, so each job is more or less simultaneous, seamlessly moving to the recovery of the casualty (under power if you have it, under sail if you don't).

But two-handed... ie single-handed once your mate/skipper has gone overboard?

My instinctive reaction would be to crash-tack and effect an immediate recovery if possible, but if not:

THROW Danbuoy (with auto-light) in water, followed by D-ring (with auto light) as losing sight of the casualty would be my biggest concern
ENGINE on, furl heads'l, sheet in main
Get back to casualty under power and attempt recovery as soon as possible.

In this scenario, the MAYDAY transmission would be the last thing of importance to me.

If I'd lost sight of the casualty, my mind would be too busy calculating its likely position (wind, current, etc).

If I'd lost power, the return to the casualty and its recovery under sail would also be most demanding.

At what point then should the MAYDAY transmission be made?

 

[Angele]

I'm inclined to think only once the MOB is back on board (except it wouldn't be a Mayday then).

My priority would be to do everything I can to get them back on board as quickly as possible, and calling HMCG might get in the way of that.

Crash stop, chuck buoyancy aids. If not able to recover casualty from that position, start engine, furl genoa and return to them. Just possible there would be time to make a call then, but I would hope not (since it would suggest I hadn't stopped quickly enough).

All this assumes I still have casualty in sight. If not, then call goes to top of list.

I don't have a mike for my ship's radio in the cockpit, so would only attempt a call if the handheld is in reach (usually it is).

 

[l'escargot]

I would say as soon as you have thrown the dan buoy and life ring in the water and stopped the boat. The sooner you can get more people searching the better.

 

[Sandy]

On my training in November, the MAYDAY was done by a crew member just after the shout.

They go below while the rest of the crew perform the rescue. I understand the logic is to make sure the GC are aware and starting sorting out a rescue while you recover the MOB. Think Golden Hour.

Two handed, I want the cavalry charging towards me/the family as fast as their little wings, props can go...

 

[dharl]

suggesting hit the MOB button on your GPS if close to hand as well.....

 

[fireball]

With a VHF fistmike by the wheel - complete with panic button - it takes maybe 10 seconds to hit the button. I'd (hopefully) do this at the same time as starting the engine as the controls are in the vicinity.

 

[onesea]

This is our night mare scenario..

Light weight early 80's race machine 30m2 main (no stack pack lazy guys), 20m2 genoa (no roller reefing) very reliant on running back-stays high freeboard and often only 2 up.

My reaction if possible/ sensible crash tack.

If not stuff her up into wind, Maybe bear away first dive below hit the GMDSS distress (this also gives a position if connected to GPS) grab hand held VHF. Start engine.

See where casualty is decide on best cause of action.

If me onboard probably sail to pick them up (quicker).
If SWMBO probably drop some sail then come and pick me up.

A lot depends on the circumstances and the day etc...

Get rope to them rig recovery arrangements.

If (hopefully when) some responds to DSC Call (or when you get chance), brief and to the point Mayday Yacht xxxxxx man overboard single handed, you have my position? Or give geographical approx 3m North of Brighton pier

We have discussed the likely hood of loosing rig in such scenario, I pointed out it would make handy ladder to climb up. Just do not land it on them...

 

[MASH]

I'd have thought that as YOU are the best (and at present only) hope of the guy's survival your ONLY priority is to locate him - even if roughly by means of returning to a dan buoy - and get yourself and the boat back there asap. Only when I'd realised I really couldn't find him there would I risk going below to make radio calls - and I'd be doing a fair bit of looking before I thought that.

Consider the relative risks. Go below straight away and you're all but guaranteed to lose his position. Go below on arrival at his last known position and he's likely to slip down the side unseen. Lose sight of your "survivor" for more than a few seconds and you'll be very lucky to find him again. Quick location is all, even if you can't get him aboard.

Do as I have suggested and the SAR might - just might - be there two minutes later than theoretically possible. Depends where you are of course, but does 32 minutes against 30 really make a significant difference?

Relying on SAR to arrive quickly is a bit of a pipedream in many- most places these days with coverage cut to barely nothing, and their chances of finding someone after 30 mins in the water is not at all good. Lifeboats even less so than helicopters.

I was once told that the average 50 yr old man in foulies and a life jacket has a 50% chance of swimming 50yds in the Solent in summer. That may or may not be accurate but I'll bet its a fair approximation. Speed is of the essence, once minutes have passed and you still can't find the MOB he's on a sticky wicket. And SAR doesn't get there that fast.

 

[PhillM]

This is what I have taught my kids, on the basis that if they are doing it it is ME in the water:

Watch MOB as much as you can - but I know they will have to lose sight to do the next steps so to help keep visual we always all wear LJ's and automatic personal danbouys.
Crash tack but leave jib (i.e go hove to)
Hit VHF MOB button (it is within reach from the cockpit and the idea is that it will both alert and send the position)
Encourage MOB to swim to boat - throw line and try to haul up, use boarding ladder to get on board.


If this fails or casulty is unconcious:

Attend radio and send voice mayday
Get engine going and when it is, drop the jib and haul in the main.
Try to motor to where MOB is...

 

[jerrytug]

Crash heave to,lash tiller in the hove to. Throw lifebuoy etc . DSC alert,then try and get a rope on him. NB manouvreable 24' boat. It is worth 10 secs to send the distress.
Shouting eg "don't worry Nobby we'll soon have you out mate" is a booster for all concerned.
Edited to add,you *must* take the time to check lines clear of the water before starting the engine. Then check again.

 

[Sans Bateau]

If SWMBO goes over the side (crew) I have no fear of being able to get back to pick her up. Incidentally, we have a DSC command mike at the wheel so no worries about calling the cavalry. If I go over the side, I wont be posting on here anymore.

 

[glashen]

You need to keep in contact with the casualty, but recovery will be difficult and having being a potential MOB at the weekend I landed in the boat but it could have easily been off it, I realise the chances of the casualty being undamaged is quite low, you probably won't go in cleanly and even if you do the effect of that sudden immersion will at the very least induce shock. Get the call out as soon as you can.

 

[onesea]

If SWMBO goes over the side (crew) I have no fear of being able to get back to pick her up. Incidentally, we have a DSC command mike at the wheel so no worries about calling the cavalry. If I go over the side, I wont be posting on here anymore.

i always make clear to my crew if they go over the side its 50/50, I do not know what it would be but I do see this as reducing the chances of finding out....

Agree about if I go over the side, but I can live with that.

Its like after early start SWMBO came on watch at dawn, I made her wear L/J Harness and clip on. She grumbled I had not.

I pointed out if if she came on watch and found no one there people would say I should of known better, if I came on watch and found she was not there. People would say I should of taught her better, that I could not live with. Now I have to wear L/J and clip on tooo...

As for loosing sight of casualty, single handed on boat a doing 5-6+ knots it is going to happen the trick is make sure that you will find them again...

Does not help I will not practice crash tacks in any proper weather, it would cost to much in sails and batterns.

 

[Angele]

If SWMBO goes over the side (crew) I have no fear of being able to get back to pick her up. Incidentally, we have a DSC command mike at the wheel so no worries about calling the cavalry. If I go over the side, I wont be posting on here anymore.

... better make sure it is her then.

 

[LadyInBed]

I would hit the MOB button on the chart plotter and crash tack the autohelm, this can both be done at the same time on my boat.
Locating the MOB is the next job.
Starting the engine takes time, I have to put the heaters on for about 20 secs before starting, and the switch is low in the cockpit, so I have to put my head down to do it.
As for informing the CG, I would only do that if I can't locate the MOB in the first couple of mins. If I can locate and get the MOB back onboard and he's not hypothermic or injured, I can see no reason to involve them!

 

[puddock]

Encourage MOB to swim to boat - throw line and try to haul up, use boarding ladder to get on board.

North Sea - Summertime ... I had the misfortune to be present on a drilling rig during anchor handling operations, one summer in the North Sea about 20 years ago. Absolutely gorgeous day, hardly any wind, glorious sunshine and only the slightest hint of swell (you don't get many of them out there !).
During the operation to lower an anchor handling pennant to the supply boat/ tug, the pennant got hung up. A well meaning and fairly experienced Roustabout (deck crew) stood on the first rung of the hand rail, gave the wire a wiggle just at the moment it came free - catapulting him about 20 metres out from the rig to the sea (a drop of around 80ft) The lad was treading water as liferings were thrown and the tug crew and standby vessel both rushed to launch their fast rescue craft. At one point he was @ 10 metres from the lifering before he seemed to "give up" and sink below. I'd say, from hitting the water to sinking would have lasted around 1 minute 30 secs max.


Moral of the story? GET TO THE PERSON IN THE WATER ASAP !!! FIRST PRIORITY is to locate and be in a position to assist...

 

[doris]

We are often 2 handed. A crash stop is our first rule, with or without spimnnaker. Every sail in tight and continue to circle. Life sling over the stern immediately, we practiced this two weeks ago and are now even more convinced about this point. The casualty should be able to grab the rope, with a bit of judicious helming. While doing this the helm start the engine, in neutral, and soon as the casualty has the lifesling rope, heaves too using the engine to stop if necessary.

Then the helm can send out a mayday, the casualty knows that what the helm is doing, not just putting the kettle on.

Then the MOB recovery starts, applying whatever the particular system is applicable the boat. Once casualty is back on board the decision can be made as to whether the Mayday should be cancelled. With secondary drowning, hypothermia and the like possible a mayday may still be appropriate.

When we practiced two weeks ago, we were all convinced once again of the essentialiality of a life sling. Modern boats do not easily stop dead in the water and getting alongside a casualty is very difficult. Being able to get that line to them, then stop the boat before hauling them in is a life saver.

 

[jwilson]

Singlehanded the last thing I would do is go below to the radio. By the time you are back on deck you will probably have lost sight of the MOB. In light winds I'd gybe and be back to him fast. Stronger winds I'd crash tack, chuck lifebuoy/danbuoy, furl genoa and let go main halliard. Then start engine looking very carefully that the 30 odd feet of yellow line attached to buoys is not under hull.

I have spent several full days both practicing and teaching MOB drills in a variety of boats. Getting back to him is easy if you can handle your boat instinctively. The problem is the retrieval. With a fit conscious MOB it's not too difficult. With an inert body in the water it's a nightmare, and possibly in some circumstances near impossible, at which point the radio is your best hope.

Freeboard is your enemy in MOB terms.

And a radio or command mic in the cockpit changes things, but it still would not be the very first thing I'd do....

 

[PhillM]

Singlehanded the last thing I would do is go below to the radio. By the time you are back on deck you will probably have lost sight of the MOB.

That is the one reason that I put our radio on the inside of the coachroof right by the hatch. You can easily reach in and press the mob button and even operate the radio from the cockpit. It not as nice to look at as a built in unit at the chart table, but I figured that quick access from the cockpit was more important. In non emergency situations you can also sit on the compainion way steps and hold a conversation while still keeping lookout. But I guess these are all advantages of a fairly small boat - the movement from cockpit to cabin is only three steps.

 

[pvb]

Shouldn't everyone simply wear a harness when conditions warrant it? When I'm singlehanding, that's what I do (as the alternatives are unthinkable).