TiggerToo
Well-known member
.. can you relate here how it happened and what was actually done in the event?
Who has ever cactually experienced a MOB situation?
- Thread starter TiggerToo
- Start date
fireball
New member
Only in dinghies ... interested?
TiggerToo
Well-known member
no I mean the sort of stuff that gets us woprried in big boats. The stuff that results in danbuoys/life rings/complicated recovery procedures being deployed, maydays put out etc.
michael_w
Well-known member
Same, only in dinghies, though I did manage to fall off a Soling in February!
AIDY
Active member
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Thamesbank
New member
I fell off an inner tube, does that count?
Nearly bloody drowned too! The idiots in the boat (a dory) just drove around while I was left in 10 feet of water to fend for myself.
Learned my lesson though: Always wear a life jacket at sea, even on a sunny day in shallow water. I was more than a mile from shore...
Apart from that, I threw someone overboard off the Spanish coast, but lets not talk about that.
Nearly bloody drowned too! The idiots in the boat (a dory) just drove around while I was left in 10 feet of water to fend for myself.
Learned my lesson though: Always wear a life jacket at sea, even on a sunny day in shallow water. I was more than a mile from shore...
Apart from that, I threw someone overboard off the Spanish coast, but lets not talk about that.
alienzdive
New member
Heading on a 100 mile trip from an island to the main land in south east asia. On the particular day several other dive boats were also heading back on roughly the same course in thier own time.
We came across a person bobbing in the water about 50 miles from the nearest land.
He had fallen off one of the earlier dive boats enroute and had not been noticed. We took him on board about 2 hours after falling over.
The other boat which was much faster had arrived in much before, seen his gear on board and assumed he had gone off with someone else. They all locked up and went home, assuming he would possibly be back tomorrow. (pre cellphone days).
We did not alert the boat in front, however we listened on the radio for a missing person call. Which never happened.
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
We came across a person bobbing in the water about 50 miles from the nearest land.
He had fallen off one of the earlier dive boats enroute and had not been noticed. We took him on board about 2 hours after falling over.
The other boat which was much faster had arrived in much before, seen his gear on board and assumed he had gone off with someone else. They all locked up and went home, assuming he would possibly be back tomorrow. (pre cellphone days).
We did not alert the boat in front, however we listened on the radio for a missing person call. Which never happened.
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
fireball
New member
I used to teach RYA dinghy courses - on one of those (November weekend) I had 2 lads in the a Wayfarer, there were 1/2 dozen others out with a couple of safety boats too ... and we were doing MOB practice ... with a big drum which had some water in it... They were getting very good at it, even when I was sat up around the mast and not saying a word....
After an hour of practice I decided it was about time they tried a real life situation ... so instead of throwing the barrel overboard I went over.... it was like I'd just got a couple of new kids in the wayfarer ... they went to pieces - didn't know what to do, got the approach all wrong, didn't stop and failed to pick me up .... 5 attempts later ....
Eventually another wayfarer came along and picked me up, transferred me back to my boat and we started again!
Ok, so it wasn't the most sensible thing to do ... (the senior instructor said to warn him next time!) ... but I was close enough to the shore to swim for it and I was in a drysuit ... and I was young! ... what it did do was teach the lads that they can practice with a drum all they like, but it isn't quite the same as trying to recover your instructor!!
After an hour of practice I decided it was about time they tried a real life situation ... so instead of throwing the barrel overboard I went over.... it was like I'd just got a couple of new kids in the wayfarer ... they went to pieces - didn't know what to do, got the approach all wrong, didn't stop and failed to pick me up .... 5 attempts later ....
Eventually another wayfarer came along and picked me up, transferred me back to my boat and we started again!
Ok, so it wasn't the most sensible thing to do ... (the senior instructor said to warn him next time!) ... but I was close enough to the shore to swim for it and I was in a drysuit ... and I was young! ... what it did do was teach the lads that they can practice with a drum all they like, but it isn't quite the same as trying to recover your instructor!!
phanakapan
Well-known member
April 2006. 5 day course with a sailing school. 36' boat, no boarding ladder.Skipper (experienced trainer),1 man doing day skipper, 1 woman doing comp crew, me along for the ride. We were just circling in Haslar marina, under engine, me on the helm, skipper and day skip on the coach roof taking off sail ties. Running out of room, I said'watch out, I'm going to have to turn'. As I did (gently enough!) the boom swung a tad, Skipper lost their grip and disappeared backwards in slow motion over the rail. Not too hazardous except that it was only April, sea was freezing, and boats were pouring into the marina not expecting to encounter someone taking a swim. Circled round, shouting at other boats to keep clear, found a spinny halyard; stopped near, MOB found it hard to attach halyard to lifejacket because the strong point was obstructed by the inflated bits. Anyway, we got the MOB on board with me winching, and dayskip leaning over helping them, then went straight to the nearest pontoon which was 1 step away from the hot showers.
Observations:
I probably could have stopped the boat the instant I saw them going- but I froze fro a second -or more; by then I needed to turn the stern away from them, and circle round.
Lifejackets. The MOB was too shocked initially to remember to inflate the lifejacket, and was finding it very hard to tread water in all their gear. (Didn't want to kick off their new Dubarries! they joked). The inflation meant that the central ring was hidden; cold fingers meant they found tying the halyard on very difficult; they were in the water far too long as a result.
The MOB was only small, probably weighed about 8 1/2 stone; but it took both me on the winch and a strong man to get them back on board over the rail. The MOB found it difficult to 'get their leg over', as it were.
So, no great drama, BUT if we had been anywhere other than in a Marina with flat calm and 2 minutes away from land the outcome could have been serious.
Oh, and QHM came by in a rib to request that we didn't practise MOB in his harbour!
Observations:
I probably could have stopped the boat the instant I saw them going- but I froze fro a second -or more; by then I needed to turn the stern away from them, and circle round.
Lifejackets. The MOB was too shocked initially to remember to inflate the lifejacket, and was finding it very hard to tread water in all their gear. (Didn't want to kick off their new Dubarries! they joked). The inflation meant that the central ring was hidden; cold fingers meant they found tying the halyard on very difficult; they were in the water far too long as a result.
The MOB was only small, probably weighed about 8 1/2 stone; but it took both me on the winch and a strong man to get them back on board over the rail. The MOB found it difficult to 'get their leg over', as it were.
So, no great drama, BUT if we had been anywhere other than in a Marina with flat calm and 2 minutes away from land the outcome could have been serious.
Oh, and QHM came by in a rib to request that we didn't practise MOB in his harbour!
pappaecho
New member
Bought a boat which had been on the quayside for a number of years. Commissioned it, and with son on board we took it out onto its swinging mooring. Did not have any thought as to the guard rails which were tightened with nylon cord which had perished in the sunlight. Result - base over apex in the drink whilst picking up the mooring.
As was conscious and lifejacketed and can swim well, no problem, but with high freeboard, and no ladder, we drifted down stream with the tide whilst my son made up a knotted rope, so I could climb aboard.
Learnt three things:-
1. Do not use cordage to tighten the guard rail wires - always use bottle screws or similar as they dont rot in the sunshine.
2. Make sure that you have a means to get back on board. On that boat with a stern mounted rudder, we put steps on the rudder . On the present boat we have a long boarding ladder with at least 3 steps below the water line, when deployed.
3. Dont fall over in February as it is bloody cold!
As was conscious and lifejacketed and can swim well, no problem, but with high freeboard, and no ladder, we drifted down stream with the tide whilst my son made up a knotted rope, so I could climb aboard.
Learnt three things:-
1. Do not use cordage to tighten the guard rail wires - always use bottle screws or similar as they dont rot in the sunshine.
2. Make sure that you have a means to get back on board. On that boat with a stern mounted rudder, we put steps on the rudder . On the present boat we have a long boarding ladder with at least 3 steps below the water line, when deployed.
3. Dont fall over in February as it is bloody cold!
Stemar
Well-known member
1. Do not use cordage to tighten the guard rail wires - always use bottle screws or similar as they dont rot in the sunshine.
I've been told that I should use cord, because it can be cut easily and quickly to get a MOB back on board. An annual inspection would solve the problem of rotting. Alternatively, use polyester, which seems to retain its strength until long after SWMBO insistes it's a reproach to the boat and must be changed!
A bottle screw that's not been touched for a few years will probbably be too stiff to undo by hand, so you've got to hunt for the right tool then take the time to unscrew it perhaps several minutes - maybe only two, but you're distracted from your MOB during that time which can be a big problem if short handed and will seem like two hours to the poor bugger who's freezing his assets in the water. Cord, on the other hand, takes seconds to cut with the knife most boats have in thier cockpit & most sailors in their pocket.
I ended up in the drink last October in a stupid incident that involved me with hands on the boat and feet on a rubber duck that's rapidly moving away from the boat, Tom & Jerry style.
I learned a valuable lesson: My transom boarding ladder has a fender attached to to it to protect the dinghy, which we tow behind. It was attached with string in such a way that the lowering the ladder isn't possible without undoing it. The knots were tight and, with my oily salopette on, I couldn't easily get my knife from my pocket.
Fortunately, my son was on board, and was able to give me a pull on board, so the only harm done was to my pride, but had I been alone, especially if had been March with really cold water, it could well not have have been anything to laugh about. The fender is now arranged so as not to obstruct the ladder. As a result of telling my story, a couple of club members have revised their methods of keeping a transom ladder folder 'cos if you can't get it down, it might as well not be there if you're on your own with clothes full of water trying to get back on board.
I've been told that I should use cord, because it can be cut easily and quickly to get a MOB back on board. An annual inspection would solve the problem of rotting. Alternatively, use polyester, which seems to retain its strength until long after SWMBO insistes it's a reproach to the boat and must be changed!
A bottle screw that's not been touched for a few years will probbably be too stiff to undo by hand, so you've got to hunt for the right tool then take the time to unscrew it perhaps several minutes - maybe only two, but you're distracted from your MOB during that time which can be a big problem if short handed and will seem like two hours to the poor bugger who's freezing his assets in the water. Cord, on the other hand, takes seconds to cut with the knife most boats have in thier cockpit & most sailors in their pocket.
I ended up in the drink last October in a stupid incident that involved me with hands on the boat and feet on a rubber duck that's rapidly moving away from the boat, Tom & Jerry style.
I learned a valuable lesson: My transom boarding ladder has a fender attached to to it to protect the dinghy, which we tow behind. It was attached with string in such a way that the lowering the ladder isn't possible without undoing it. The knots were tight and, with my oily salopette on, I couldn't easily get my knife from my pocket.
Fortunately, my son was on board, and was able to give me a pull on board, so the only harm done was to my pride, but had I been alone, especially if had been March with really cold water, it could well not have have been anything to laugh about. The fender is now arranged so as not to obstruct the ladder. As a result of telling my story, a couple of club members have revised their methods of keeping a transom ladder folder 'cos if you can't get it down, it might as well not be there if you're on your own with clothes full of water trying to get back on board.
Birdseye
Well-known member
Not my experience but a pal who is aYMI. Doing a course one day with a crew of firemen he decided to illustrate the difficulty of getting a man back ion board by jumping into the water. Everyone was prepared and the boat wasnt moving. Nevertheless the beefy firemen couldnt get him out without his assistance. OK he's a bit beefy himself, but the point was made how difficult it is to lift someone unless there is specialised kit available.
Searush
New member
[ QUOTE ]
1. Do not use cordage to tighten the guard rail wires - always use bottle screws or similar as they dont rot in the sunshine.
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[/ QUOTE ]
Pelican clips are best, don't rot or jam, & easy to release. I trip mine so SWMBO can climb aboard from dinghy on a regular basis which ensures they are in good working order.
1. Do not use cordage to tighten the guard rail wires - always use bottle screws or similar as they dont rot in the sunshine.
(cut)
[/ QUOTE ]
Pelican clips are best, don't rot or jam, & easy to release. I trip mine so SWMBO can climb aboard from dinghy on a regular basis which ensures they are in good working order.
MarkJohnson12345
New member
show us a piccie of a Pelican clip.
MJ
MJ
pvb
Well-known member
More often called a "pelican hook".
William_H
Well-known member
I am a little embarrased to answer this one. I think you could say the answer is 4 times. I sail on the Swan River which has a max distance of about a mile to any shore the water is warm and the boat is tiny. 21ft
We occasionally will jump overboard for a swim if there is no wind and it is very hot.
The first to relate was some years back when a crew not so young and fit went forward to gybe the spinnacker (pole change) When the mainsail gybed he was standing on the wrong side clutching the side stay when the boat broached to the point of mast in the water him under water so he let go.
The biggest problem was regaining control of the boat as it raced off under spin which was difficult to retieve. The brace and sheets had been let go in the process and when the halyard was let go the spin went straight up. Anyway poor dave was in the water for 20 mins or so without a lifejacket and was picked up and delivered by a passing Mobo. The second involved my younger son who was steering at the time again a spin broach where he sort of got washed over as the gunwhale went under but he managed to float back over the side before the boat righted. Not really MOB.
The next involved older son no spin this time but a gybe which took him by surprise as he was sitting abeam the main sheet traveller and was shoved over the side. This time without a spin we had the boat tacked and back to him quick enough to get him over the side while losing only 100 metres of the lead. We have a step on the transom and he is pretty agile.
The last most recent was another foriend another spin gybe in wild weather. He was sitting in the cockpit actually up on the gunwhale when the gybe led to a broach and again he sort of went under water as the gunwhale went under. I was holding the pushpit while steering so manged to stay on board.
The following chaos of trying to get spin off and again having it fly up on the end of halyards and sheets while I tried to steer the boat up into the wind saw us aground with MOB about 60 metres away.
I yelled to couple of competitors to pick up my MOB but they either didn't understand or didn't wan to stop. Even though it was close to shore I was quite upset cos he is not young. Fortunately our club rescue boat cam along in heading to haul us off the bank they happened upon my man. He had a bright spray jacket but no life jacket. They delivered him to my boat damaging the gunwhale at the same time and hauled us off the bank. (so blowing the race)
John was embarrased at going over but otherwise not upset.
We got just as wet as him on the beat back home in 30knot winds.
I don't have life lines around the boat because being so tender it requires crew on the gunwhale and leaning out to hold the boat up in any real wind. We are using lifejackets more now in blowy weather. I really must try to remember to pull the spin in with discipline and care when in an emergency and avoid just letting the seets go loose.
It is still horrible to lose someone over the side when you realise it is your fault as skipper. Fortunately cold water is not a problem nor is getting back on the boat just difficult managing the damn boat.
However just prior to the last MOB a guy did drown not many 100s of metres from that spot after falling off while learning spin gybe so that certainly made me more concerned when John went over.
Stay on the boat .......... olewill The madness will continue next season I hope.
We occasionally will jump overboard for a swim if there is no wind and it is very hot.
The first to relate was some years back when a crew not so young and fit went forward to gybe the spinnacker (pole change) When the mainsail gybed he was standing on the wrong side clutching the side stay when the boat broached to the point of mast in the water him under water so he let go.
The biggest problem was regaining control of the boat as it raced off under spin which was difficult to retieve. The brace and sheets had been let go in the process and when the halyard was let go the spin went straight up. Anyway poor dave was in the water for 20 mins or so without a lifejacket and was picked up and delivered by a passing Mobo. The second involved my younger son who was steering at the time again a spin broach where he sort of got washed over as the gunwhale went under but he managed to float back over the side before the boat righted. Not really MOB.
The next involved older son no spin this time but a gybe which took him by surprise as he was sitting abeam the main sheet traveller and was shoved over the side. This time without a spin we had the boat tacked and back to him quick enough to get him over the side while losing only 100 metres of the lead. We have a step on the transom and he is pretty agile.
The last most recent was another foriend another spin gybe in wild weather. He was sitting in the cockpit actually up on the gunwhale when the gybe led to a broach and again he sort of went under water as the gunwhale went under. I was holding the pushpit while steering so manged to stay on board.
The following chaos of trying to get spin off and again having it fly up on the end of halyards and sheets while I tried to steer the boat up into the wind saw us aground with MOB about 60 metres away.
I yelled to couple of competitors to pick up my MOB but they either didn't understand or didn't wan to stop. Even though it was close to shore I was quite upset cos he is not young. Fortunately our club rescue boat cam along in heading to haul us off the bank they happened upon my man. He had a bright spray jacket but no life jacket. They delivered him to my boat damaging the gunwhale at the same time and hauled us off the bank. (so blowing the race)
John was embarrased at going over but otherwise not upset.
We got just as wet as him on the beat back home in 30knot winds.
I don't have life lines around the boat because being so tender it requires crew on the gunwhale and leaning out to hold the boat up in any real wind. We are using lifejackets more now in blowy weather. I really must try to remember to pull the spin in with discipline and care when in an emergency and avoid just letting the seets go loose.
It is still horrible to lose someone over the side when you realise it is your fault as skipper. Fortunately cold water is not a problem nor is getting back on the boat just difficult managing the damn boat.
However just prior to the last MOB a guy did drown not many 100s of metres from that spot after falling off while learning spin gybe so that certainly made me more concerned when John went over.
Stay on the boat .......... olewill The madness will continue next season I hope.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Re: Who has ever actually experienced a MOB situation?
Once was on one of several boats trying to pick up crew from a yacht that was rammed and sunk in the overfalls near St Catherine's Point (this was during a RTI).
To cut a long story short, to have even got near them would have put them in very serious danger as our boat (and all the others) were slamming up and down in the waves and could easily have cracked skulls of the MOBs. As I recall one was picked up by a much smaller yacht, and one by a photographer's mobo. The rest were recovered by winch from an ASR helo.
One lesson I learned - never try and throw a horseshoe buoy upwind. It pretty well boomeranged straight back at us.
Next thing, a MOB is an immediate Mayday shout. You can always cancel the taxi if you do recover them, but if you dick around for too long trying this, that and the other before dialing 999, you might just have condemned someone to death.
Once was on one of several boats trying to pick up crew from a yacht that was rammed and sunk in the overfalls near St Catherine's Point (this was during a RTI).
To cut a long story short, to have even got near them would have put them in very serious danger as our boat (and all the others) were slamming up and down in the waves and could easily have cracked skulls of the MOBs. As I recall one was picked up by a much smaller yacht, and one by a photographer's mobo. The rest were recovered by winch from an ASR helo.
One lesson I learned - never try and throw a horseshoe buoy upwind. It pretty well boomeranged straight back at us.
Next thing, a MOB is an immediate Mayday shout. You can always cancel the taxi if you do recover them, but if you dick around for too long trying this, that and the other before dialing 999, you might just have condemned someone to death.
paulwitney
New member
Have but in a race situation in inshore waters. One crew member eager to keep boat more upright in about 20knts on port tack was hanging off spinnaker halyard on port side... as he said "is it cleated?" it came free. Both he and halyard went over the side! A quick tack and gibe and he was hauled back on board though it wasn't easy! A gibe first would have probably been easier and quicker in hindsite.
Very embarressing with the rest of the fleet dodging us and crew member in the water.
Must point out that it was only through bringing boat up to an almost stop beside MOB and some young and strong crew hanging over the rails that made it possible to get MOB back on board quickly. Even got halyard back! ( Very considerate MOB held on to it throughout the ordeal!)
Point to note... he was young strong and a good swimmer but not wearing a life jacket and was fully clothed. Even though the whole episode took less than three minutes MOB was exhausted by the time he was back on board!!!!!
Very embarressing with the rest of the fleet dodging us and crew member in the water.
Must point out that it was only through bringing boat up to an almost stop beside MOB and some young and strong crew hanging over the rails that made it possible to get MOB back on board quickly. Even got halyard back! ( Very considerate MOB held on to it throughout the ordeal!)
Point to note... he was young strong and a good swimmer but not wearing a life jacket and was fully clothed. Even though the whole episode took less than three minutes MOB was exhausted by the time he was back on board!!!!!
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Mmmm - race rules usually state that crew members should remain inside the guard rails, so your enthusiast not only fell-off, but probably would have got you dsq if anyone had protested.
Gunfleet
New member
Re: Who has ever actually experienced a MOB situation?
I fell in the drink on my own in what turned out to be a fast moving ebb in a creek once. I had a lifejacket but climbing the bank out of it was murder and getting back to my moored boat against the tide would have been impossible. It was quite a lesson. The speed with which I became exhausted amazed me.
I fell in the drink on my own in what turned out to be a fast moving ebb in a creek once. I had a lifejacket but climbing the bank out of it was murder and getting back to my moored boat against the tide would have been impossible. It was quite a lesson. The speed with which I became exhausted amazed me.
