Yachting Monthly (March) MoB article.

[lustyd]

when did any of the posters last practise MoB drill?

A MOB drill is only a MOB drill when it's a MOB drill, if you get my drift. Any dinghy sailor can get the boat alongside a casualty without doing such a drill. An alert helmsman will spot the MOB and report it. Getting the casualty back on board is a collection of experience and skills that drills don't really make up for and sort of accumulate over time. It's not necessary to explicitely do drills all the time, but practice and understanding are both needed on the various components of the drill.

 

[westhinder]

But more importantly, when did any of the posters last practise MoB drill? Its at least 10 years for me.

you are right. Fortunately my hat is blown overboard at least once a season, so we get to retrieve it, but that is only the easy part of the manoeuvre. We did retrieve a man fallen into the marina on two occasions last season, one of which turned out to be drunk and totally passive and it made a huge difference.

 

[thinwater]

Yes, that works. One can discuss the 'bruising' when safe at home.

Far, far better is the Lifesling device ( several variants ) which is padded for that very reason. It is also closely similar to the lifting device used by our own Coastguard Search and Rescue crews, and before them for decades on RAF S&R helicopters. This is the 'NATO Rescue Sling'.

Here's one of several commercial examples:

A conscious MOB casualty can get into this and close the sliding 'woggle'. Alternatively, a rescuer in the water can slip this over a casualty, and close the 'woggle'. There are techniques taught to S&R crews which make this fast and foolproof. No bruising.

The sling should be attached to a substantial/adequate line so the casualty is securely re-attached to the vessel ( helo? ) and can be drawn in and recovered.

You will see a Lifesling on most US yachts, at least around here. You still have to get them in it. Hoisting is easy with any forethought, but you do need to test the system.

A Japanese coastguard officer came up with this DIY version for poor fishermen. It is very secure and can be made from scraps. Yes, I have tested it. I would love to see further development.

• The loops make it easy to hold onto, even if the boat pulls it away from you. They lock over the wrist.
• If you are wearing a harness, you can clip the carabiner. For concious MOBs wearing a harness, there should always be a carabiner on the sling. Once clipped, you've got them.
• Adjustable size.
• You can open to slip it around the MOB.

 

[Bathdave]

I got mine in the post this morning.

Me too ..all the way to Jersey too!

 

[Poey50]

I just read the article. I was expecting them to test the Catch and Lift which, if it works without bringing the rig down, looks about the most straightforward way of getting a conscious casualty back on board. It is the only device that I think has any prospect of my wife recovering me, so we bought one. Three steps and remembering to only circle clockwise (as the attachment is on the starboard shroud).

CATCH and LIFT MOB Rescue System

 

[Hermit]

I didn't think I was going to like it when I started to watch the video but actually think it is quite clever using the drogue to lift the casualty. Only concern is the effect of dragging the casualty through the water to reach the boat which is probably quite uncomfortable.

I just read the article. I was expecting them to test the Catch and Lift which, if it works without bringing the rig down, looks about the most straightforward way of getting a conscious casualty back on board. It is the only device that I think has any prospect of my wife recovering me, so we bought one. Three steps and remembering to only circle clockwise (as the attachment is on the starboard shroud).

CATCH and LIFT MOB Rescue System

 

[Poey50]

I didn't think I was going to like it when I started to watch the video but actually think it is quite clever using the drogue to lift the casualty. Only concern is the effect of dragging the casualty through the water to reach the boat which is probably quite uncomfortable.

There's various things that could go wrong - turning anti-clockwise with two ropes in the water would be one. But towing is at 2:1 ratio so I don't think that is likely to be a big problem unless the helm takes things up to hull speed.

 

[thinwater]

a. Winching a person up is not that hard. Here is my 5' daughter winching me up, and she was not even working hard.
b. The "Catch" systems seem terrifying if the helms cannot accurately control boat speed.

 

[thinwater]

There is also this June 2020 Yachting Monthly article.

I disagree with some of it, but the one clear point is that the methods has to work for your crew and your boat, and you have to practice it. I also believe that any method that takes more than 1 person is only for racers; even cruisers with more crew most often have only one other person awake or able.

 

[Capt Popeye]

yea well , saving a life by getting some one up and out of the water ; I have had experience and training of retrieving emergences , aboard a Police Launch with moderate side heights , ribs wth next to nothing in height and a boat fitted with removable side , the easiest by far was the Boat with removable side , it had Deck Scuppers so that any water taken 'on board' just washed away quickly ; the retrieved Fella just lay there really exausted , muttering , 'thank you' 'thank you' 'thank you' repeatedly ;my guess is that if we were in a Boat with high sides we might not have been able to retrieve him in time ; in a Rib we probably could have retrieved him , but with great difficulty plus taken longer ;

Seems to me that Boats ought to be fitted with a sort of platform , on the stern , oft refered to as a Swim platform , or Getting Aboard Platform , these platforms can be very close to the water line of a Boat so lifting up someone out of the water much easier and they can be lifted onto the platform without the risk of causing Heart failures as they are never in an upright possition ;

Also in the Video I thought that the Skipper did not turn the boat into the wind soon enough , so as to lessen the distance travelled from the victim ; which I guess will cause unnecessary stress to the overboard victim , just seeing the (his) boat and rescue travelling away from them ?

Just hope that I never ever get into the sittuation where we (I) have another MoB

 

[thinwater]

yea well , saving a life by getting some one up and out of the water ; I have had experience and training of retrieving emergences , aboard a Police Launch with moderate side heights , ribs wth next to nothing in height and a boat fitted with removable side , the easiest by far was the Boat with removable side , it had Deck Scuppers so that any water taken 'on board' just washed away quickly ; the retrieved Fella just lay there really exausted , muttering , 'thank you' 'thank you' 'thank you' repeatedly ;my guess is that if we were in a Boat with high sides we might not have been able to retrieve him in time ; in a Rib we probably could have retrieved him , but with great difficulty plus taken longer ;

Seems to me that Boats ought to be fitted with a sort of platform , on the stern , oft refered to as a Swim platform , or Getting Aboard Platform , these platforms can be very close to the water line of a Boat so lifting up someone out of the water much easier and they can be lifted onto the platform without the risk of causing Heart failures as they are never in an upright possition ;

Also in the Video I thought that the Skipper did not turn the boat into the wind soon enough , so as to lessen the distance travelled from the victim ; which I guess will cause unnecessary stress to the overboard victim , just seeing the (his) boat and rescue travelling away from them ?

Just hope that I never ever get into the situation where we (I) have another MoB

If you have ever tried to get back on board a dive boat when a swell comes up, you would understand that ladders and boarding platforms are for fair weather and fit swimmers. In waves they are dangerous and in fact, can be an obstacle.

 

[Stemar]

I think my preferred way of getting someone out of the water in anything less than ideal conditions would involve the boom, the mainsheet and the topping lift led to a winch. I'd pull on the TL rather than the MS as it should be easier to keep the boom where I want it.

I'd still get a mayday out first; I can always cancel if I do manage, but if I don't I'm going to want the cavalry PDQ

 

[zoidberg]

I'm thinking of the inflatable dinghy, often carried half-inflated on the foredeck. This slipped over the side, but on a strong bow/tow line, could provide a more easily-negotiable 'halfway' for a MOB to be dragged onto.

 

[Sandy]

I just read the article. I was expecting them to test the Catch and Lift which, if it works without bringing the rig down, looks about the most straightforward way of getting a conscious casualty back on board. It is the only device that I think has any prospect of my wife recovering me, so we bought one. Three steps and remembering to only circle clockwise (as the attachment is on the starboard shroud).

CATCH and LIFT MOB Rescue System

Why is it that the sea state is always calm when these sales videos are shot and not four metre breaking waves when you are more likely to need the device?

Watching the video gave me the worrying feeling that 'your eyes were in the boat' for far too long and would suggest to any crew to chuck a fender and bucket, usually know as Bob, into the sea especially a big one, then everybody bar one look away for 30 seconds then find Bob.

 

[Neeves]

It was mentioned early on in the piece.

Focus on keeping crew on board.

If you are sailing 'offshore', short handed and go over the side your chances of recovery, at all, are very low and recover alive - not much higher.

I had a crew member over the side in benign weather - crew of 7 - we retrieved her - but I know how lucky I was to not be a statistic, big breaking swells, blue skies - I (and she) were lucky.

Girl, regular crew member went over the side, husband , regular crew member, went over after her (that's what husbands do). I'm left on the bow (I'm teaching spinnaker to neophyte) and have 2 reliable crew left and another 'extra'. Extra tasked with keeping 2 MOBs in sight whilst we douse spinnaker (which when we dropped it - went straight under the bow) and turn yacht round. Extra is being violently seasick. None off this comes up in videos.

In your real world the water will be freezing - ours was like a comfortable bath.

It was one of those heart chilling experiences - different outcome - I would not be sailing now.


We now have transoms 'steps' that are 1.5m long and are only 30mm above sea level - long and low enough to land a decent sized tuna (and are great - if you judge it correctly to swim onto, or land a tuna). Sugar scoops are too short.


Good jack stays, good hard points, everyone wears a harness, double life lines, don't go forward unless monitored, torch, knife.........personal EPIRB ..... all much better than retrieving a body


I still know I am lucky - I got away with it.

Get the priorities right - focus on staying on board

If your worry is damaging ribs - you have done well.

Jonathan

 

[Roberto]

Girl, regular crew member went over the side, husband , regular crew member, went over after her (that's what husbands do).

Sometimes it happens with young kids: child falls in the water, the terrorized mother immediately jumps in. Father (if not in the water already too) has to recover two instead of one.

 

[chrishscorp]

I have a fair amount of experience in driving a RIB used as a patrol boat for club dinghy racing and have had a number of occasions when were pressed into action, the worst being a large dinghy sailor 16 stone in the water, fractured ribs, dislocated shoulder and concussion, myself and another fit bloke must have taken 10 minutes to get him in the RIB with low soft rubbery sides he was compliant and wanted to help. The difficulty of dragging a casualty out of the water and into a yacht cockpit should not be underestimated and I would agree that a lightly crewed yacht ie a couple this is going to be a herculean task.

 

[thinwater]

I think my preferred way of getting someone out of the water in anything less than ideal conditions would involve the boom, the mainsheet and the topping lift led to a winch. I'd pull on the TL rather than the MS as it should be easier to keep the boom where I want it.

I'd still get a mayday out first; I can always cancel if I do manage, but if I don't I'm going to want the cavalry PDQ

Sort of.

If you have a chute (which you had to either take down or were not using) feed the sheet through a snatch block at the end of the boom and use one of the cockpit winches. Very efficient and can be rigged in 20 seconds. I have done this a number of times. I keep a rescue pulley, a few climbing slings, and a few wire gate climbing carabiners at hand for assorted work arounds... and this.

I disagree with the "mayday first" school. Punch the MOB button, get the boat under control, take your time, and make your first pass a good one. If the water is cold or the swimmer not wearing a PFD, they will likely be dead long before help arrives. If you are short handed or the only person on board (couples) there are things you need to be doing other than talking on the radio. Make the mayday call either while returning to the MOB, after every thing is rigged (Life sling is in the water), or after the first pass fails.

I've done lots of drills, some in not so nice weather, and the methods that works best for me (couples, which means I am single handed) is to hold EXACT course for about 1-2 minutes, and then make an exact 180. I cannot watch the MOB, so by holding course I know where they are. If I try to maintain constant eye contact and fool with sailing, I will get turned around (I do look frequently, just to confirm). I return just to leeward, and then tack/heave to on top of them. I've found that trying to slow a multihull by easing sails, with no one at the wheel, is not relable. You can't let the main all the way out because of the shrouds, so you keep moving too fast for a reliable pickup.

If the first pickup pass fails, stay near, take in all sail, and use the motor. I've seen pro crews bungle multiple approaches under sail in waves. It either works the first time or it may not work at all. Cut your losses.

If you have any uncertainty (have not practiced!) in your abilities to make a pick up under sail, just drop the sails and use the motor. But don't do it in a panic and make sure ALL the lines are in before the prop is engaged. You can rely on panicked people to make mistakes, so slow down and get it the first time.

And never miss an opportunity to pick up a hat. It's all practice.

 

[Capt Popeye]

Sort of.

If you have a chute (which you had to either take down or were not using) feed the sheet through a snatch block at the end of the boom and use one of the cockpit winches. Very efficient and can be rigged in 20 seconds. I have done this a number of times. I keep a rescue pulley, a few climbing slings, and a few wire gate climbing carabiners at hand for assorted work arounds... and this.

I disagree with the "mayday first" school. Punch the MOB button, get the boat under control, take your time, and make your first pass a good one. If the water is cold or the swimmer not wearing a PFD, they will likely be dead long before help arrives. If you are short handed or the only person on board (couples) there are things you need to be doing other than talking on the radio. Make the mayday call either while returning to the MOB, after every thing is rigged (Life sling is in the water), or after the first pass fails.

I've done lots of drills, some in not so nice weather, and the methods that works best for me (couples, which means I am single handed) is to hold EXACT course for about 1-2 minutes, and then make an exact 180. I cannot watch the MOB, so by holding course I know where they are. If I try to maintain constant eye contact and fool with sailing, I will get turned around (I do look frequently, just to confirm). I return just to leeward, and then tack/heave to on top of them. I've found that trying to slow a multihull by easing sails, with no one at the wheel, is not relable. You can't let the main all the way out because of the shrouds, so you keep moving too fast for a reliable pickup.

If the first pickup pass fails, stay near, take in all sail, and use the motor. I've seen pro crews bungle multiple approaches under sail in waves. It either works the first time or it may not work at all. Cut your losses.

If you have any uncertainty (have not practiced!) in your abilities to make a pick up under sail, just drop the sails and use the motor. But don't do it in a panic and make sure ALL the lines are in before the prop is engaged. You can rely on panicked people to make mistakes, so slow down and get it the first time.

And never miss an opportunity to pick up a hat. It's all practice.

Yes well , i understand that making the Distress call pronto , before real recovery operations take place , is a safety action , as the On Board person just might get into difficulties themselves , so requiring help , so making a Distress call First is surely the best action to take ; in the circumstances it might be the ONLY time to make such a call , when the Crew are all OK and able to make THE call

 

[thinwater]

Yes well , i understand that making the Distress call pronto , before real recovery operations take place , is a safety action , as the On Board person just might get into difficulties themselves , so requiring help , so making a Distress call First is surely the best action to take ; in the circumstances it might be the ONLY time to make such a call , when the Crew are all OK and able to make THE call

You bring up a good point. Don't become a casualty. For example, the first rule of confined space rescue (inside fuel and chemical tanks) is that the attendant NEVER goes in the tank to help the downed worker. Most of the time, far more than half, he becomes a second casualty. Last year my company had a double fatality with that cause. FYI, the toxic agent in the tank was nitrogen. It had been purged and there was simply no oxygen. They knew better. They had meters and a ventilator hose 10 feet away. They just took a short cut. Never underestimate a confined space, including unventilated bilges.

The first action the attendant is to perform is to summon help. In principle, the second act is to winch the worker out (in the prior case the attendant paniced and could not operate the cable winch, which was in perfect working condition).

The other point is not to panic or rush. Taking 20 seconds to clear your head is nearly always smart. Had the attendant taken 20 seconds to read the instructions on the winch, the worker would likely have had nothing more than a pounding headache.