Lessons Learned--Man Overboard

On a beautifully calm fall day (with water temps in the 70s), we ventured out for a sailing lesson with our instructor, Will Flannery.  As Will reviewed many basics for Gay's benefit, we again recited the steps and procedures involved if someone goes overboard.  We proceeded through the lessons and ran through numerous systems and checks.  After several hours of sailing, Will ducked below (presumably to use the head).  When he came back to the cockpit, Gay made a mental note that he was shoeless, but just concluded that it was such a beautiful day that barefoot was the way to go.  Will said he wanted to check the leech line and ducked out of the cockpit.  Ken was at the helm and Gay was in the cockpit reviewing a chart.  The next thing we heard was a gigantic splash and Will yelling, "Man overboard."  After several seconds of stunned silence, the training kicked in.   Gay pointed at Will with her right hand while grabbing things that might float to throw overboard.  Recent canvas modifications had left the lifesling below decks (won't happen again), so Gay started tossing loose fenders from the aft lazerette.  Ken spent several long seconds trying to comprehend what had happened and ruled out that Will was actually injured or incapcitated.  Ken tried to engage the man-overboard function on the electronic charts and then started to bring the boat around.  He came close enough that Gay was able to toss a line to Will on the starboard side of the boat.   Although Will could have climbed back aboard using the sugar scoop, he mandated that we use the stays'l halyard--which was on the port side of the boat.  Between Ken's maneuvers and Will's swimming, Will was finally in position to be hoisted aboard.  One problem, Will did not have on a life jacket and without the lifesling, there was nothing to fasten to the halyard.  Will told Gay to toss her life jacket to him, so she did.  Will did not realize it was an autoinflate, so when it hit the water it deployed.  Will had to work to get it in place as the inflated jacket wanted to do nothing more than stay completely on top of the water.  Once on, the halyard was fully deployed and we could see that Will was not close enough to the boat to hook in.  Once he was close enough, we saw that the clasp was not easy to use.  Once he was hooked in, the electric winch did its job and Will was aboard.  Once he dried off and the fenders retrieved, it was time to review all the questions and procedures and determine what modifications might be necessary.

Lessons Learned:
1.  Don't trust Will--Just Kidding.  This was probably the most important drill of our training.  A real person, floating in the real water!!  Although he was not incapcitated and the water was very warm, we learned quickly the real risks and difficulties of a man overboard rescue.  In colder water, even with all the advantages we had (including calm seas), we might not have been able to get Will out in time to save him.
2.  Never leave the slip without the LifeSling in its proper place and appropriately secured.
3. We were fortunate to have two people on board to conduct the rescue--after we went through the issues raised in this rescue, we discussed what would have happened had it been either Ken or Gay in the water with only the other on the boat.
4.  Our Mustang Auto-Inflatable Jackets should be worn anytime we are the only two in the boat.  This would give the person on the boat a little additional time to effect a rescue.  Even if the person overboard were unconsious.  The jackets are minimally intrusive compared to the potential benefit.
5.  We need to increase the length of the halyard as the rescuee must be very close to the boat to hook in at the current length.  We also need to put on a clip that is easier to use.  In rough conditions, these could be the difference in completing a rescue.
6.  We discussed whether it would ever be wiser to launch the dinghy to effect a rescue.  There would be circumstances where that could be useful, but not if the key and other necessary items are stowed below.  When you leave the dock, even with the dink on davits, you should have all items in the dink that you might need so you could launch quickly.
7.  We need a sturdy knife lashed somewhere in the cockpit so that we could cut lines if necessary in order to get floating things in the water, including perhaps the dink.
8.  In even moderately challenging conditions (or in cool water), keep people in the cockpit to decrease the risk of going overboard.
9.  All parties on the boat should know how to operate the man overboard function on the electronic charts.  Gay needs to practice close-in manuevering so she is prepared should Ken be the person in the water.
10.  Head for warmer waters when the water temps in Oriental start to drop:)