There are two recognized maneuvers in the event of a MOB situation. One is called the 'Reach and Reach' method (sometimes called the six second reach or the figure eight), the other is called the 'Quick Stop' method.

Both are very effective and you should practice both because different situations often favor one method over the other. It is also important that your crew and passengers are advised of what to do in the event of a MOB situation – both from being the MOB to being on the boat during a MOB.

Before we discuss the ‘Reach and Reach' and the ‘Quick Stop’, in any MOB situation you should do the following:

1.) Anyone seeing a person go overboard should immediately shout, “Man Overboard”, point and continue to point at the MOB and not take their eyes off the MOB until or unless another spotter is appointed.

2.) Throw the MOB buoyancy. This means anything that will help the MOB stay afloat – life jackets, life rings, boat cushions etc. These items will also help mark the location of the MOB. (Always keep life jackets and other objects of buoyancy close at hand – not below deck.)

3.) The skipper should appoint a spotter – usually the person who initially saw the MOB.

4.) Shout words of encouragement to the MOB. “Don’t worry, we will get to you.” “Stay calm, we are just turning around to come back for you.” etc.

5.) Stay calm on the boat – it is a stressful situation but fueling an already stressful situation by panicking will not help – it will only make matters worse. Do you job, follow the skipper’s instructions and stay calm.

6.) The skipper will give directions as to what maneuver he will be doing.

7.) Once close to the MOB the skipper will give directions to throw the MOB a floatable line. If the line is not attached to a sling, make a large loop in the end using a bowline so that the MOB can place the line around his body and under the arms. (It is wise to have a line specifically dedicated to this purpose before leaving dock so that it is all set – preferably with a sling or life ring attached.)

8.) The skipper will likely direct that all sails be lowered in order to hold the boats position.

9.) Slowly pull the MOB to the boat making sure that the MOB is able to keep his face out of the water. Pulling the MOB too quickly may pull them under.

10.) Once beside the boat, pull the MOB aboard. It is likely that the MOB will be able to offer much assistance as they will be cold, tired and traumatized.

If the MOB is too heavy to pull aboard by crew power alone, here are a few alternative suggestions.If the MOB is able to hold onto the side rail of the boat, run a line from a forward cleat back to a cockpit winch. Dip the line over the side so that the MOB can stand on it. Once the MOB has the line under his feet, winch in the line which will raise the MOB to deck level.

An alternative to the above is to physically push the boom out over the MOB, using a block and tackle system (one that you have stowed on the boat for this specific purpose) attached to the boom, hoist the MOB out of the water and then swing the boom back over the deck to recover the MOB. In heavy seas this method is not advisable as the rocking of the boat makes it maintain control over the boom.

An alternative to the block and tackle system off the boom is to attach the MOB line to the mainsheet halyard and hoist the MOB out of the water using one of the cockpit winches.

11.) Once the MOB is back onboard, check for physical injuries and treat for hypothermia if the MOB is showing any indication of being cold.

The goal of any MOB maneuver is of course to get the MOB back onboard quickly and safely. This means not losing sight of the MOB, getting back to the MOB as quickly and to STOPPING next to the MOB in order to make recovery. Stopping is extremely important as the MOB will not likely have the strength to hang onto a line of a moving boat. Also, dragging the MOB will likely pull the MOB under the water.

Which maneuver you chose to use depends on the maneuverability of the boat and the wind and sea conditions.

Sometimes called the ‘6 second reach’ or the ‘figure eight’, this MOB maneuver is well used in heavy seas and strong wind conditions.

Whenever someone shouts “Man Overboard”, the person at the helm will immediately put the boat into a beam reach (sail straight across the wind). The advantage of doing a beam reach is that if you lose sight of the MOB, you at least know that you can come about (tack back) and retrace your course and regain sight of the MOB. The other important aspect of doing a beam reach you always know that you will be able to sail back on the same course and not find yourself trying to sail against the wind or control your running speed sailing downwind.

Once the helmsman has sufficient space between the boat and the MOB, (note: a crew member who is able to judge boat lengths should be shouting out distance from the MOB in order help the helmsman determine when he has sufficient room to tack about.), the helmsman will tack (not gybe).

When coming out of the tack, head immediately down wind (broad reach) from the MOB. If you are sailing solo, release the jib sheets and let the jib luff to slow the boat speed.

When you are at a Close Reach angel to the MOB, turn up into a Close Reach pointed slightly below the MOB. If you sailed towards the MOB at a Close Hauled point of sail, a wind shift could stall the boat or in strong winds, you will not be able to make much head way. Sailing at a Close Reach point of sail gives you more ‘wiggle’ room.

As you approach the MOB from a downwind position, slow the boat speed by slightly turning up into the wind and then turning down to avoid stalling. Once close and still downwind from the MOB, turn the boat into the wind so that it stalls and comes to a stop beside the MOB. It is important that the crew know which side of the boat the MOB will be on once the boat has stalled.

Once stopped and beside the MOB, through a line to the MOB - see above.

Important Aspects to Remember:

Maintaining sight of the MOB is critical – give yourself enough room to tack about and angle downwind but don’t wait to tack until you have lost sight of the MOB.

If you fail to head downwind coming out of the tack, you will gain too much boat speed heading back to the MOB and will not be able to stall the boat without heading upwind from the MOB.

From a leeward (downwind) position, approach the MOB on a Close Reach point of sail. Get a feel for controlling boat speed by heading up (turning up into the wind) and heading down (turning down wind).

Once the helmsman hears the shout, “Man Overboard”, he will immediately call for a tack.

Unlike a standard tack, the jib sheets will not be touched which means that as the boat comes about, the jib will back on itself.

The mainsail, as the tack is initiated, should be pulled into the centerline position of the boat. This will slow boat speed and the backed jib will help swing the bow down through the turn.

The sheets are not touched and with the rudder turned in the same direction the boat will continue to sail in circles around the MOB until such time as you can pull up to the MOB from a leeward position and stall the boat beside the MOB.

Since you will approaching the MOB from a leeward position, once below the MOB you will need to gybe to head back up to the MOB. Again, the sails are not touched. The mainsail is already secured over the centerline so there will be no swing of the boom.

If you are short of crew, this is an excellent method for recovering a MOB. Nothing has to be done to the jib sheets and only the mainsail needs to be centered.

In heavy winds and seas this method of recovering a MOB presents a few more problems in that the boat will catch a lot of wind at the top of the tack and the bottom of the gybe creating a lot of heeling.

The advantage to this maneuver is that you are always circling the MOB and therefore reduce the chances of losing sight of the MOB.

Although not particularly sanctioned as a MOB method of recovery, in reality it works very well.

As soon as the helmsman hears, “Man Overboard”, he turns the boat straight into the wind and puts the boat ‘in irons’. Depending on the boat (a heavier boat will travel further), it will generally stop within a few boat lengths. The sheets and rudder need to be controlled so that the boat does not turn and catch wind and start sailing away.

Start your motor in order to maintain control of the boat and lower your sails to help hold your position.

Slowly drift or motor back to the MOB. Once within line throwing distance, throw a line to the MOB and slowly pull the MOB to the side of the boat making sure while you are pulling that the MOB’s head does not go under water.

Your motor is running - make sure it is in neutral, or better, turn it off when ready to bring the MOB aboard so that the MOB or a line does not get caught in the propeller.

Practice this maneuver by stalling your boat and holding the stall allowing the boat to drift backwards.

Always be prepared – learning to do a MOB recovering during an actual recovery is not being in the best state of preparedness. Practice MOB’s during recreational sailing time and especially if you are on a different boat from what you are used to. Have all safety gear readily available – life jackets, MOB markers, life rings, throwing lines, boat cushions, block and tackle. Have a plan in place with contingencies. Make sure your crew and passengers are aware of what to do in the event of a MOB situation.