Suddenly in Command: Man Overboard
Published: Thursday, November 26, 2020
By: Robin G. Coles
It was a great day boating and another majestic sunset. Rounding the bend heading for their slip, Captain Murray was thinking about that glass of Chardonnay back at the yacht club. Then a powerboat went speeding by a little too close, which caused a big wake and knocked Crewmember Dave overboard while he was taking down the sails.
“Man overboard! Man overboard!” cried Crewmember Jessica. Fortunately, Capt. Murray had been practicing and knew what to do.
He took a deep breath and shouted out the commands, “Jessica, keep pointing to where Dave fell over. Rich, throw the life sling.” 
Meanwhile, Murray hit the man overboard (MOB) button on his GPS and set course to rescue Dave. He also knew that if he lost sight of Dave, then he would hit the red Distress button on his VHF radio and yell, “Mayday, mayday, mayday!” into the radio and give his coordinates, surroundings, and his boat’s name. For now though, it was time to concentrate on retrieving Dave.
There are two schools of thought as to whether you should do a rescue under sail or power. The concern with being under power is that if you get too close, the propeller could do some serious damage should it touch the MOB. Any lines used could also wrap around the propeller. Again, Capt. Murray had been practicing and knew how to drive the boat. The crew was able to retrieve Dave safely.
Later, as Capt. Murray approached the harbor, there was a cry for help on the radio. Someone had gone overboard and the crewmembers didn’t know how to get the person back on the boat. Unfortunately, they didn’t share vital information and there was no indication about who they were. Were they a powerboat or under sail? Worse yet, the crew had no idea where they were either, except “near one of the islands.” Big help that is! The Great Lakes has lots of islands and peninsulas… Regardless, Murry was too far away to turn back, find them, and help in time. Hopefully there was a boat close by.
As Capt. Murray docked, another boat came over the radio crying the same thing—another MOB. This time, that boat’s captain (Murphy) wasn’t even as “prepared” as the previous MOB call. Murphy had been drinking—first at the yacht club, then on the boat—and while making the wake to tip another sailboat, he had gone just a little too fast, being forced to swerve just in time to get out of the way of a bigger boat. It was in that instant that his friend Roy went overboard. Murphy had no idea what to do next. It was time to sober up; this was serious! Roy’s life depended on him…
Be Prepared
According to the USCG website (https://www.uscgboating.org), in 2019, falls overboard was the fifth primary type of accident for boaters resulting in 299 accidents, 189 deaths, and 122 injuries. Alcohol leads with 282 accidents, 113 deaths, and 221 injuries.
There are all kinds of tools available to help in a MOB situation. However, if you don’t know any of the basics, they won’t help.
“The myth that you are self-reliant out there can get you killed,” says Mario Vittone, blogger for Soundings magazine, “while the idea that everything is your fault is vital to your safety.”
If you were ever a Scout, you likely learned the motto “Be Prepared.” In Boy Scouts, it meant you were ready, willing, and able to do what is necessary in any situation that comes along. In Girl Scouts, the motto “Be Prepared” goes one step further; you must also know how to do the job well, even in an emergency. Somewhere along the line, many of us forget—or never learned—what it takes to be on a boat. Boating is fun. It’s being suddenly in command that becomes difficult once disaster hits, so make sure you are familiar with the tools you’ll need in an emergency.
MOB Maneuvers
If strictly under sail during retrieval of a MOB, the best approach for someone with less-than-optimal sailing skills is to immediately tack the bow of the boat through the wind. Don’t touch the sails; you don’t want too much speed, which could cause you to pass the MOB.
If you’re under power, take the engine out of gear as you approach the MOB; then, shut it off during the actual recovery. This helps reduce fumes and noise and allows people to concentrate on the rescue.
Another maneuver is to put the boat onto a deep beam reach (approximately 110 degrees off bow) at once after the accident, moving a few boat lengths downwind and to one side. This will turn the boat around and help you approach the MOB with better maneuverability.
Emergencies come in different shapes and sizes. Some are man-made, others are acts of nature. MOB situations can also happen for a variety of reasons. The boom could hit someone, a person could slip on the deck or even lean over at the wrong time. A lot of times, it’s the captain that goes over. Regardless, if these emergencies happen at sea, they will need quick action taken.
Education and planning can help you feel more confident. The best way to get this confidence is to take a Boating Safety Course, which you can find by visiting www.uscgboating.org. It would also help to take American Red Cross courses (https://RedCross.org) such as for CPR, First Aid, and AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
Prepare your Passengers
Once on board but before your outing, have your passengers fill out a medical history form. This tells who their physician is, any medications they’re taking, allergies they have, and their emergency contact. Then, gather all the forms and put them all together in one spot where everyone on board can find them. A good place might be the chart table. Ask everyone to enter a name in their cell phone under “ICOE” (in case of emergency). This comes in handy should you need it.
Also before leaving the dock, find out if anyone can start the engine, run the boat, or shut it down, just in case you become incapacitated. This includes reviewing who knows how to work the VHF radio. Don’t rely on a mobile phone as cell reception on the water doesn’t work for everyone. It would be best to have your passengers take turns using the radio.
At sea, if you encounter a medical emergency you’ll need to keep a few basics in mind. First, assess the scene and alert others on board. You’ll also need to quickly check your surroundings to see if you can get back to shore for medical attention, if needed. As soon as possible, start a log* of what happened and the symptoms and treatments you provided.
Remember, the key here is not to panic when you’re suddenly in command. Capt. Murray is your role model, not Murphy. Take action; don’t be blind when towing the line. Be Prepared!
This article first appeared in the Buyer's Guide 2021 (Nov/Dec 2020) of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
