Health, Safety and Emergencies


OVERBOARD RESCUE All sailors must know how to react quickly to a crew overboard situation. Losing sight of the PIW correlates very highly with loss of life. All of the following recovery methods involve four key elements:


1. Regaining contact. 2. Attaching PIW to the boat. 3. Getting PIW back aboard. 4. Giving aſter care.


3 Quick-Stop Rescue


The hallmark of the Quick-Stop rescue method is the im- mediate reduction of boat speed by turning to windward and thereafter maneuvering at modest speed, remaining near the person in water (PIW). Many consider this method superior to the conventional procedure of reaching off, then either jibing or tacking and returning on a reciprocal course, since the PIW is kept in sight throughout. The Quick-Stop requires a tack and a jibe; and jibing in heavy weather conditions may be difficult for some boats and crews. It is generally regarded as a good method for short-handed sailing. Here are the steps:


1 Shout “Crew Overboard!” and provide immediate flota- tion for the PIW. Throw buoyant objects such as cockpit cushions, life rings and so on as soon as possible. Even if these objects do not come to the aid of the PIW, they will “litter the water” where he or she went overboard and help your spotter to keep the PIW in view. Deployment of the overboard pole and flag (dan-buoy) requires too much time. The pole should be saved to “put on top” of the PIW in case the initial maneuver is unsuccessful.


2 Designate a crew member to spot and point to the PIW. The spotter should NEVER take his or her eyes off the PIW.


3 Bring the boat head-to-wind and beyond, leaving the headsail backed. If the overboard occurred off the wind, trim mainsail and headsail to close-hauled as the boat heads up. Keep turning with the headsail backed to further slow the boat until the wind is slightly abaft the beam. Do not release the sheets.


4 Head on a beam-to-broad reach course (approximately 90 to 120 degrees off the wind) for two or three boat lengths, then change course to nearly dead downwind.


5 Drop or furl the headsail (if possible) while keeping the mainsail centered (or nearly so). If the headsail is dropped, the headsail sheets should be kept tight to keep them and the sail inside the lifelines.


95 1 2 6 8 9 10 7 5 4


6 Jibe when the PIW is abeam or aft of abeam of the boat (timing of jibe depends on the boat’s maneuverability and performance in existing wind and sea conditions).


7 Approach the PIW on a close reach course, adjusting speed with the mainsail; or glide up into the wind as you would when picking up a mooring. The approach will depend on your boat’s maneuverability, position after your jibe, wind and sea conditions and helmsman’s ability.


8 Stop the boat alongside the PIW and establish contact with a heaving line or other device. A rescue throw bag with 50 to 75 feet of light floating line can be thrown into the wind because the line is kept inside the bag and trails out as it sails to the PIW.


9 Attach the PIW to the boat. 10 Bring the PIW on board.


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