Yachtmaster MOB Method?

[goeasy123]

How pedantic are Yachtmaster examiners about the method used for MOB.

Me and my wife prefer the drift-on method, but I hear examiners want to see another method that just won't work for us. It involves too much unnecessary F.... A... with sails for my wife to single hand if I go in. Also, any method that involves sailing up to a MOB is prone to risk as, on our boat, neither of us can see the MOB over the high bow. Drift-up solves this problem and it's typically much faster than other methods.

 

[LittleSister]

I can't answer for examiners, but on my Coastal Skipper practical we were encouraged to have knowledge of, and practise/demonstrate, a range of techniques - there are none that suit all circumstances - and choose one that fits the current challenge and be able to justify our choice.

p.s. To directly address what you have written: our instructor would have said 'And what would you do if/when the engine fails?'.

 

[Aurai]

I think you have to be clear that a) it is a test of your ability to rescue under sail and b) know that 9/10 times you would be able to use your engine. When for real. Thanks

 

[William_H]

Sadly you must use the method described in the documentation for Yacht Master to be sure to gain a pass. My experience regarding method of gybing a main sail as dictated by Yachting Australia is difficult to do on my boat but examiners are pedantic about following the book. Of course when sailing I do it my way on my boat. In reality you should use the method best suited to you as found by lots of practice picking up a float. ol'will

 

[Newboy6458]

What Ol Will says. Similar things happen in other technical sports where you train for the exam and not real life as it happens to you.
Is it worth while doing a brush up course and taking the exam on a school boat where the mandated technique is more feasible?

 

[Spanjaard]

Kick the examiner overboard and perform MOB the way you want. As long as you rescue him = pass

 

[Tamar]

Why bother with the exam if you are already confidant of your abilities.
It's just a piece of paper.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Sadly you must use the method described in the documentation for Yacht Master to be sure to gain a pass. My experience regarding method of gybing a main sail as dictated by Yachting Australia is difficult to do on my boat but examiners are pedantic about following the book. Of course when sailing I do it my way on my boat. In reality you should use the method best suited to you as found by lots of practice picking up a float. ol'will

As an examiner, I can comment that Will’s statement is simply not true. Boats behave differently and there’s no prescribed way. Picking a MOB under sail tells me a lot about a candidates wind awareness and sailing ability though!

Having said that, quick hove to and then reach tack close reach is repeatable and controlled and works for most boats/situations.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

In my test I started by doing it under sail. Examiner stopped me and said how are you going to tell coroner if victim drowned due to you not using engine. So i got sails down and used engine but just before pickup examiner turned engine off with the words “rope on prop”. So i got sails up and managed it in one to my surprise. So I will never forget best practise but know I can manage traditional

 

[capnsensible]

Sadly you must use the method described in the documentation for Yacht Master to be sure to gain a pass. My experience regarding method of gybing a main sail as dictated by Yachting Australia is difficult to do on my boat but examiners are pedantic about following the book. Of course when sailing I do it my way on my boat. In reality you should use the method best suited to you as found by lots of practice picking up a float. ol'will

Perhaps Yachting Australia needs to catch up with the RYA?

As an instructor, I've practised this literally thousands of times on many types of yacht. It doesn't take long for the average student to see the several ways that work and further experience and practice shows how to go about mob in different circumstances. The key to figuring it out is how quickly the helm stops the boat. Or doesn't!

 

[Graham_Wright]

Then getting them back on board is another issue especially if unconscious.

 

[capnsensible]

Then getting them back on board is another issue especially if unconscious.

Indeed. Long thread about that on Scuttlebutt.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The skills used in the standard RYA 'MOB Under Sail' method will also be used for many other manouvers under sail, where precise control of speed and direction are required, e.g. coming alongside a buoy, boat, pontoon or quay, or for picking up your hat before it sinks, when it has blown overboard.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Indeed hat overboard or fender untied has given us plentiful manouvering practice. Doesnt need a block and tackle to get onboard however

 

[capnsensible]

Indeed hat overboard or fender untied has given us plentiful manouvering practice. Doesnt need a block and tackle to get onboard however

My friend has a large blue round fender on his yacht. Its now known as Douglas Bader because its got no legs and tried to escape.

 

[penberth3]

Then getting them back on board is another issue especially if unconscious.

If that was part of the assessment there wouldn't be many "passes".

 

[Graham_Wright]

For a two man crew, it seems to be the best chance of rescue lies with he/she left on board. A PLB that allows that is my vote.
ACR AISLink MOB Personal Beacon | Force 4 Chandlery

 

[RobF]

My experience of doing a couple of YMs was that the examiner was interested in a few things.

• good boat control
• good crew communication
• boat manoeuvred safely to the location of the MOB (for YM offshore, the engine never seemed to work)
• boat stopped alongside the MOB

There are some techniques which are better at achieving this objective than others, but there was no set technique.

 

[goeasy123]

If that was part of the assessment there wouldn't be many "passes".

Good point. So.... question for the instructors.

What's the point of testing prospective YM's on their ability to swing the boat in challenging circumstances if you don't test their ability to get a person out of the water?

 

[Praxinoscope]

Good point. So.... question for the instructors.

What's the point of testing prospective YM's on their ability to swing the boat in challenging circumstances if you don't test their ability to get a person out of the water?

H&S probably precludes the adoption of a genuine MOB, and to haul aboard a 12stone ‘dummy’ equivalent would be expensive to use and a bit of a problem to manhandle overboard, so really the only practical option is the cushion or other floating item to enable the candidate to show ability to handle the boat in close quarters during an emergency MOB, the examiner discussed with me the various methods of getting a MOB aboard during my exam whilst I retrieved the rather sodden cockpit cushion that represented he MOB.