Man Over Board Recovery

Fortunately, I have never had to pull a victim from the sea except in practice. I have two methods I would use.

The first method involves relatively light seas (not too rough) and a healthy and strong victim. First I would get a line with a large loop on one end around the victim and secure that line to the boat. Then, I have two lines permanently attached at the bow. One line on each side of the boat. The other ends are secured to the stern cleats. I would un cleat the stern end of the line I wanted to use and allow it to sag into the water well below the water line. I would then wrap it around the jib winch. The victim would put a foot on the sagging line and I would slowly winch in the line. As the line becomes tight it would raise the victim out of the water. When the victim is raised high enough, I would go forward and help pull the victim over the side. This ONLY works in light to moderate seas and with a strong and healthy victim.

The second method uses the main sheet as a mechanical advantage. First I would get a line with a large loop on one end around the victim and secure that line to the boat. Drop all sails. My main sheet is attached at both ends with carabineers so I can quickly disconnect it. I would lower a spare halyard to the cockpit and attach one end of the mainsheet to the halyard and hoist it aloft a safe working distance above the deck. Then I would lead the running end of the mainsheet through a jib fair lead and back to a winch. Then I would attach the victims line to the other end of the mainsheet. Then I just have to winch the victim up until they are high enough to clear the rail when I would go forward and pull them into the boat.

Many people have stern ladders or even a walk through transom with swim platform. Those should only be used for MOB recovery in calm to moderate seas. However, most MOB instances happen in rough seas. It is times like that when the stern is a dangerous place to be. The up and down pitching of the boat can cause the stern to rise up above the victim and come crashing down on them. That can kill or seriously injure an otherwise healthy person. If that happens, the only way to get that person back on board might involve having another crew member go in the water to help them.

If you are single handing, DON'T FALL OVER BOARD!
But if you do fall over board, you need to have some lines you can reach from water level. I have a line on each side of the boat running from bow to stern. These lines sag along the side of the hull so they can be reached easily from the water. Hopefully I can grab onto one before the boat gets too far away. From there I can work my way back to another line hanging from the side of the stern rail and use it to pull myself up over the side and into the cockpit. If I can't pull myself on board, I would use that line to secure myself to the boat. Maybe I could stay alive long enough to wait for calmer seas when I could then climb over the outboard using it as a ladder.

The Crew Overboard Recovery Symposium put rescue equipment and maneuvers to the test.
Case Histories of Crew Overboard

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