Start Sailing Right - Overboard Recovery

One of the worst things that can happen while sailing is having a person fall overboard. At sea, the statistics for recovery are miserable...even with newer, open transom designs, recovery percentages are in the low teens...worse if you aren't wearing a PFD.

Dinghy sailing is a little different. Usually we're sailing in protected waters and recovery is is easier. It is a lot like docking, but without the visual reference to the dock. Here are the steps...

1) Shout "Crew Overboard!" and throw the person a PFD.
2) Turn onto a beam reach.
3) Tack back onto a beam reach.
4) Luff your Jib (if you have one). Approach the victim SLOWLY as if approaching a dock.
5) Come below your victim and turn into the wind, luffing your main.
6) Attache the victim to the boat with a line and then get them back on board.

If you think of it like docking it will help when you are approaching your victim. We'll see a video in class and then we will practice this with dummies on the lake.

See you on the water!
Capt Rob