man overboard drill

[random42]

Originally Posted by tweitz

I prefer the quickstop method as well. But one conern i have is that when you turn downwind, it is easy to forget the exact wind direction in the excitement and accidentally jibe.

When I did the US Sailing bare boat class we practiced various MOB pickups
(including at night ;-) I don't think we ever had less than 20knots and with the main (reefed) amidships, and completely ignoring the headsail, we had no problem circling the MOB in a 40'er.

I agree that the key to success, is a cool head. Talk to the crew, tell them what to do calmly, if they _think_ you have things under control, they perform much better.

[chall03]

Originally Posted by random42

When I did the US Sailing bare boat class we practiced various MOB pickups
(including at night ;-) I don't think we ever had less than 20knots and with the main (reefed) amidships, and completely ignoring the headsail, we had no problem circling the MOB in a 40'er.

I agree that the key to success, is a cool head. Talk to the crew, tell them what to do calmly, if they _think_ you have things under control, they perform much better.

Agreed. But I wonder In a real MOB, how calm and under control you and the boat would actually be.

I have only been involved in one real Man Overboard in my life, on Syndey Harbour and in calm conditions a girl mucking around on the cabintop just plain as day fell overboard, clear over the top of the lifelines and into the drink.

We had a experienced, skilled Yachtmaster on the helm, and we immediately turned on the engine, beam reached, flogged the headsail, gybed and then tacked to come up to the girl on the wind.

Even still, it was a tense moment on the boat, and I wonder again and again how a similar situation would go on my boat if I was just out with a bunch of friends.

[Barquito]

I wonder, as Chall03 said, how many skippers would (or have) just fired up the engine? I understand sail training courses teaching various MOB techniques because you can't always count on your engine. And, that there could be some danger in motoring up to your poor MOB. However, in some weather, maybe getting dark, what would you really do?