Man Over Board recovery
Back to Day Skipper Syllabus

It may never happen to you, but if your helmsman or crew did fall over the side, you would have to sail the boat back and pick him up on your own. Quite apart from the practical need for a man overboard drill, the maneuver does represent the conclusion of basic boat handling techniques, as it shows that you can sail back to a certain spot in the water and stop.

Whatever point of sailing you are on:
1. Come onto a beam reach and sail a safe distance away, or until you have control of the boat

2. Keep your man in sight all the time.

3. Go about or gybe and return to your man, sailing slightly downwind of him so that your final approach is on a close reach, letting your sails flap or draw as necessary to control your speed.

4. Aim to stop with the man at the weather shroud. You will then be able to walk forward to the shroud and help him into the boat, with the yacht in a stable position and the boom and mainsail out of the way.

5. Don't try to pull him in over the stem of the boat, or you'll probably find yourself sailing away from him. When he's on board, remember that he'll be cold, wet and probably shocked and it's probably time to return ashore.