The man overboard drill is perhaps the most important skill you should know as a sailor. What’s the second most important skill? Teaching your crew the man overboard drill so that if you should fall overboard, they can get you back in the boat!
The figure below illustrates the procedure for rescuing a man overboard (MOB). Essentially the idea is to steer onto a beam reach, tack around to the opposite broad reach, and come up downwind of the MOB.
If someone should fall overboard, the first step is to let everyone on board know about it by shouting out “Man Overboard.” This should be done by the first person to notice that someone’s fallen in the water. It’s important not to lose sight of the MOB (which can be surprisingly difficult, particularly in rough weather). Ideally, one or more crewmembers can be assigned to do nothing but keep sight of the victim. If none are available, note the position of the MOB and maintain visual contact as continuously as possible.
As soon as possible after the MOB touches the water, throw him personal flotation device (PFD). If you’ve followed the pre-sail checklist, one will be readily available, with a long line connecting a throwable PFD to the boat’s stern. If you’re lucky, the MOB can get hold of the PFD and you can heave to while you pull him in. If not, you’ll need to continue with the rest of the rescue procedure. At this point, you should either throw a second PFD that’s not tied to the boat, or untie the rope connecting the PFD that’s already in the water.
If the MOB cannot be rescued immediately using the throw line, the next step is to steer onto a beam reach while uncleating the jib. Letting the jib free does two things: It reduces boat speed, and it eliminates the complication of dealing with the jib sheet during the tacking and turning coming next. Note that it is not important which beam reach (90° or 270° to the wind) you steer to. Whichever is more convenient will work.
You may have to adjust the mainsheet, but the benefit of the beam reach is that the adjustment will be small no matter what point of sail you were on when the MOB fell into the water. In many cases, you won’t have to adjust the mainsheet at all. Remember, the goal here is not to set the sail at its most efficient trim, just to control the boat and get the MOB back on deck. If you were on a close hauled tack, you’ll probably want to let the main out a bid to prevent the wind from knocking you sideways, but otherwise, you may not need to adjust the main at all.
Continue on a beam reach until you are 2 to 3 boat lengths from the MOB, always maintaining visual contact. Then tack – yes TACK – into the wind, all the way around onto the opposite beam reach. Then you will fall off a bit onto a broad reach. The first instinct of many sailors here is to gybe since that would be the usual way to get from a beam reach to the opposite broad reach. Do not attempt to gybe! Tacking here eliminates issues like boom swing and the jib wrapping around the forestay. Again, the goal here is not speed. It is safety and simplicity – particularly because you may be alone at the helm if your only crew is in the water.
Man Overboard Procedure
Now, heading on a broad reach to a spot below the MOB, you can slowly turn up with the goal of being fully into the wind by the time you hit the MOB. The key element of this maneuver is that you don’t have to adjust the sails. Turning up into the wind will naturally cause the sails to luff. You should have enough momentum to get to the MOB just as you are fully parallel with the wind.
As you approach, aim directly for the MOB, trying get as close as possible with the MOB on the side of the boat opposite the boom. On a larger boat, you may lose sight of the MOB as you get closer. When the bow passes the MOB, turn slightly away from the MOB, causing the stern of the boat to move towards the MOB.
It may be easiest to pull the MOB over the side (gunwale) of the boat on smaller boats. On larger boats you may need to use a boat hook or line to grab the MOB, at which point you can bring the MOB around to the stern to use the ladder.
