[C320-list] Crew Overboard!

[Jeff Hare]

First thing we do is throw out the rings and stuff that floats if you're still close. 

I'd suggest  immediately assigning the "pointer" as the first person to spot the overboard crew. Their job is to point at the victim with full arm so the rest of the crew can always glance at the pointer know where the victim is in relation to the boat. Pointer never takes their eyes off the person in the water and never lowers their arm and does no other job until the rescue is certain.  

For most points of sail we dispense with the figure 8 and execute a hard 180 through the wind (not a gybe) leaving the sails totally alone.  The boat will usually end up in the Heave-To configuration with the jib backwinded and have enough momentum to reach the overboard crew.  You don't typically end up with flapping sails to distract from the task at hand. We aim to the windward side of the victim and then drift down to them.

It's much Faster to execute, and less chance of losing sight of victim. All the tacking of a fig 8 is wasted time and tough to get right unless you're racing or ready to tack twice and have skilled crew.  We never do.  

Others may disagree but toss out a ring and try the quick 180 tack sometime when you're on a reach.   Our sailing instructors used to catch us napping and slip the life ring in the water and go down below and call Man Overboard to us on deck. 

They all taught the fig 8 and when we got that down well, said now here's how its really done. :) 

All that said we've only had to rescue a half dozen hats, floating trash and the occasional cushion so far. 
 
My opinions, of course. 
-Jeff Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Vermeire <dean at vermeire.us>
Sender: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:31:10 
To: Catalina 320 List<C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Reply-To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Crew Overboard!

  Hi All,

Everybody is fine, so no need to panic.  We had a dog, followed by the 
first mate, go overboard this weekend.  I thought I'd describe what 
happened and how we executed the rescue, just so some can learn from 
what I did right and what I did wrong.  I could also learn from your 
comments.

I've told our two beagles, Holly and Noel, to always go up the windward 
side, but Noel must not have been paying attention.  As we were sailing 
on a broad reach in about 12 knots of breeze on beautiful Perry Lake, 
here in Kansas, Noel decided to go up to the foredeck.  When she was 
just past the genoa car, the jib sheet, which had been slack, went 
taught.  The jib sheet pushed the dog overboard.  Actually, she had her 
hind legs on the deck just long enough for me to run up there, but not 
quite long enough for me to grab her.

I immediately ran back to the helm with the intention of diving in after 
the dog.  However, my lovely bride was already jumping in by that 
point.  I grabbed the throwable life ring and handed it to my 
20-year-old daughter.  She threw the life ring to my wife as I turned 
the boat to begin a figure eight to retrieve my wife and dog.  I also 
handed my daughter the throwing bag / heaving line.  She pulled a bunch 
of line out of the pouch, thinking that she was to hang on to the pouch 
and throw the line.  I had her pull the line back in from the water, 
since it was likely to foul the rudder and prop.

By this time, my wife had the life ring and the dog.  I began 
maneuvering to pick them up.  My daughter grabbed the boat hook, and I 
released the jib sheet.  Another sailboat, a Venture 22 with an outboard 
motor, started sailing towards my wife.  I don't know why he thought he, 
sailing single-handed, would have a better chance of retrieving my wife 
and dog then we would, with a two aboard and a walk-through transom.  
None the less, he was in the way, and I yelled at him to clear out.  
This messed up our approach.  So, I fired up the engine and motored 
upwind to my wife.  Just as we came alongside, I killed the engine, 
jumped back on the transom, and grabbed my wife's hand.  She then 
grabbed the ladder, and I grabbed the dog.  I helped my wife onto the 
boat and then grabbed the wheel.  Successful rescue.

I'm glad we were sailing on a lake in Kansas.  Even though there was a 
pretty good breeze with occasional white caps, the waves were fairly small.

Although things went pretty well with the rescue, there are some big 
mistakes made and some changes I will make.

Mistakes:
1.  The dogs did not have their life jackets on.
2.  The humans did not have life jackets or automatic inflatable jackets on.
3.  The dogs were able to go up to the foredeck.
4.  We were not paying close attention, since we were leisurely sailing 
downwind.
5.  My daughter had not been instructed on how to use the heaving line.
6.  My wife did not take the life ring with her as she jumped in to save 
her dog.
7.  I did not have a secondary throwable close at hand.  I should have 
thrown life jackets, etc.
8.  It took me too long to think about grabbing the boat hook.  It was 
just inside the cabin, standing vertical by the companionway stairs, 
within easy reach of the cockpit.
9.  Sail handling was not good.  Getting at the jibsheet and mainsheet 
was cumbersome.  Dropping the main would have been difficult and time 
consuming.
10.  I should probably have started the engine sooner.  If my wife had 
not been able to get both the lifering and the dog, things could have 
been worse.

Things that went right:
1.  We saved the dog and the wife without any injury.
2.  I knew what to do.
3.  We had the proper equipment.

Things I will change:
1.  I will make the lifering easier to deploy.
2.  I will instruct the crew better on the use of the life ring and the 
heaving line.
3.  I will add another throwable with a connecting line, such as a life 
sling, within reach of the crew.
4.  I will keep the boat hook within reach of the helm.
5.  I will put netting from a stanchion to the cabin top to prevent dogs 
from going up to the foredeck!!!
6.  I will put a laminated overboard procedures card in the cockpit for 
guests to read.

I'm sure I have already learned more lessons from this, but feel free to 
contribute.

Dean Vermeire
Moonstruck II (#847)