Man Overboard RecoveryPractice on EliseExpress 27Photos: Ultimate Yachtshots

Man Overboard Recovery SequencePerson falls overboard crew shouts Man Overboard, throws flotation/location device and skipper appoints a spotter

Nat walks forward to help the jib out

Nat becomes a human pole

Oh no, Nat falls overboard!!!

Figure Eight RecoverySail on a reach away from MOB~ 4 boatlenghts away, tackSail down (broad reach) until you are below the MOBBlow the jibPoint head to wind and stop boat by the victimWorks in all cases (including heavy seas and winds)

Quick StopTack immediately and do no touch the jib sheets (back jib)Pull mainsail into centerline position

Keep turning around the MOB until you can pull up MOB from a leeward position and stall boat next to the victimOnce below the MOB, gybe to head back up to the MOBDo not touch the sail (mainsail is still secure in center position)

Reduces chances of losing sight of the MOB. Great in light winds and short-handed

Quick Stall (with inboard engine)Turn your boat into the wind (stops the boat)Start the engineLower the sailsGo to MOB under enginePut engine in neutral when close to the person

When you get close to MOBIn a keelboat, have the MOB to LEEWARD Let jib floats freely (it will do nothing)Let the main go and put the rudder in the opposite direction. If you have a tiller, push the tiller toward the victim and secure it

Recover to leeward, over the sideStanding

Two crew members pull Nat out

Quick Stop Method

Time back to victim: 30 seconds

Haul back time: 10 seconds

Recovery to leewardrolling over the lifeline

Oh no! Nat falls overboard again! To windward this time

Driver keeps boat straight until clear of MOB (so stern does not knock victim out)

Driver then drives to a beam reach

Nat keeps arms close to body to stay warm

Crew tells Nat shes too heavy (!)

Crew grabs Nats leg (and instructs Nat)

Nat rolls over the lifeline (which could be lowered)

Figure Eight Recovery MethodTime back to victim: 45 seconds

Haul out time: 15 seconds (including 5 seconds to convince Nat that she really was too heavy)

Recovery from the stern

If the boat has a lot of freeboard and a swimming ladder or platform, recovery from the stern may be a good idea

Oh No! Nathan now falls overboard!

Nathan makes sure we see him

Jib is blown, boat testing no go zone and has plenty of space to try again if need be

Nathan is brought to swimming area. Note tiller is locked to leeward to keep boat in irons

Figure Eight Recovery 1 extra try

Boat did one extra test for the no go zone, (if you are not sure that the boat will be headed into the wind, you can test by coming up and head down if too early) Time to reaching victim: 50 secondsHaul out time: 15 seconds (including taking victim back to stern)

Recovery to windwardOver lifeline standing

(this is particularly helpful with dinghies as a leeward recovery may cause the dinghy to capsize)

Oh no!

Nathan falls overboard again!!!

What a clumsy crew on Elise!!

Horse shoe ready to be sent to Nathan

Nat is happy to have Rogers help

Phew! Nathan is back on board

Quick Stop Recovery MethodTime back to victim: 25 secondsHaul back time: 10 seconds (Nathan helped himself A LOT)

Nathan held the fetal position while in the water to limit heat loss. This works by limiting the amount of skin/body area that is in contact with cold water

Aided Haul Out

How terrible! Nathan falls again!

Nathan is too heavy. Nat reaches for the jib halyard

The jib halyard could have hoisted Nathan back, had he been wearing a harness, or had the horseshoe/life sling been available.

Nat makes a harness with the jib sheet and ties the jib sheet to the halyard

One arm through the loop

Two arms through the loop Nathan is ready to be hoisted up onto the boat

Nat checks that lines are clear

Roger is ready to grind Nathan up

Haul out time: 60 seconds

The End!Thanks to Nathan, Roger, Nicolas for the great team work

Thank you Elise for hosting the event

Thank you Ultimate Yachtshots for the great photo coveragehttp://ultimate-yachtshots.smugmug.com/

As well as Go Sailing for the MOB approach diagrams

http://www.gosailing.info/Man%20Overboard.htm