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Any person overboard is a big problem. And while in your imagination it may not seem dangerous, a man overboard situation can be a big deal in calm water in a harbor, especially if the injury is involved. To have your skipper go over is a problem. A big one.
While very uncommon, it is always beneficial to practice these procedures in calm conditions to familiarize yourself with the process and ensure that you can execute them quickly and effectively in an emergency situation. When we say ‘practice’ that never means a real human in the water. That would equal an emergency situation. Don’t do that! Instead, use a fender or a buoy and try and maneuver the boat to it. This exercise will get you familiar with the boat, and the steps to take should your skipper be one to go over. If you go over, hold on tight, your skipper is on their way (hopefully) 😮
If you are a crew member on a boat and the captain falls overboard, it is important to take immediate action to mitigate risk and rescue the captain.
Suggested Emergency Steps
- Alert other crew members and passengers on board. Make sure everyone is aware of the situation and knows the location of the person in the water.
- Locate a life ring or buoy and throw it to the person. This will provide them with something to hold on to and make it easier for them to stay afloat.
- Assign a spotter or spotters to always point with their arm at the person NEVER taking their eyes off them. This let’s the helmsman do their job of steering the boat.
- Assign a helmsman: Many confuse the one who drives the boat to be the skipper. They might be, but at the very least they are a helmsman. Someone MUST step up to this task. Take action or find someone who will.
- If the boat has a radio, call for help. Contact the coast guard or other nearby boats to request assistance. Unless instructed otherwise, use channel 16.
- Prepare to take down the sails: The first step is to release the main sheet or the jib sheet to drop the sails. If you are using a sloop rig, release both sheets. If you are using a cutter rig, release the jib sheet. This will allow the sails to drop and prevent the boat from moving forward.
- Start the engine: With the sails down, the boat should be able to maneuver in the water. Start the engine to move the boat closer to the person in the water.
- Maneuver the boat close to the person in the water: Once the boat is close enough, use a life raft or other flotation device to reach the person in the water. It is best to try and stop windward of them (meaning the boat is between them and the wind) to protect them from the waves and wind.
- Check for injury: Once the person is back on board, check for injuries and administer first aid if necessary.
If a crew member falls overboard and is unable to get back on the boat on their own, there are several emergency options and techniques that can be used to rescue them.
These include:
- Life ring or buoy: Throwing a life ring or buoy to the person in the water will provide them with something to hold on to and make it easier for them to stay afloat.
- Life raft: If the person in the water is unable to reach the boat or the life ring, a life raft can be deployed to reach them. The raft can be paddled or rowed to the person in the water and they can be pulled on board.
- Life sling: A life sling is a buoyant device that can be thrown to a person in the water and then used to pull them back to the boat.
- Jackstay: A jackstay is a rope or cable that runs along the side of the boat and can be used to pull a person back on board.
- Rescue ladder: A ladder that can be lowered over the side of the boat to make it easier for the person in the water to climb back on board.
- Towing: If the person in the water is unable to climb back on board, the boat can be maneuvered close to them and they can be towed back to the boat using a rope or line.
- Professional help: If the person in the water is injured or unable to be rescued by the crew, it is important to call for the professional help from the coast guard or other rescue services.
It’s important to note that in some of these methods, the person in the water should wear a life jacket to ensure their safety and also to make it easier for the crew to pull them back on board. In addition, it’s always important to have emergency gear and a plan in place ahead of time, in case of such incidents. A well-prepared crew member should have knowledge about the emergency procedures, a man overboard procedure, the location of emergency gears, and how to use them.
More Articles On What To Expect In The British Virgin Islands
These articles aim to help control customer expectations when chartering on the British Virgin Islands. The pretty pictures of light blue water and tan attractive people don't always tell the full story. Here are some of the other things to expect. These are written from first-hand accounts. We've tried to identify the major things that have led to people having a negative experience. These articles are not meant to dissuade you from enjoying the British Virgin Islands. On the contrary. Instead, they are intended to arm you with the right information to maximize your excellent vacation time! They are organized by title, not by priority.
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Food
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