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MOB
Rolex Swan Cup Porto Cervo 2012 “Walidada” Swan S & S 47 Hull 019 1977. MOB
Man Overboard (MOB)
Training courses often suffer from overkill in the early stages of MOB training. It is rare to experience an MOB live, and therefore it is interesting to convey the maximum learned information to others. As a result of this action Walidada has changed drills, protocols, and equipment.
The circumstance
Walidada and crew were sailing in the second race of this Rolex series off Porto Cervo . (Sardinia) in the Classic Division. The start line was off Porto Cervo with a beat to north from with about 15 kts breeze. We rounded the first mark to Port around the Monaci Rocks into an easy reach towards Isolotto Peccora and then with a slight course change bearing away to Punta Rossa and the beginning of the channel towards a Cardinal buoy near Cala Capra.
Contrary to forecast the wind was increasing at the time of the MOB, leading to some uncertainty over sail changes. It continued to increase throughout the race and as we rounded the Cardinal point outside Cala Capra after the MOB it was a full 30 kts. Finally after this beat back around Capo Ferro, we had the final reach down towards the Nibani rocks with winds gusting 43 and choppy seas.
The event
Rounding the Monaci Rocks into an open reach we prepared the spinnaker but delayed the hoist through doubt about the wind and wind changes, consequently whether we could use the Spinnaker all the way around the leg, tightening up for the final stretch down to the Cardinal buoy. Basically three changes in direction on the same leg. The Spinnaker was ready at the turn but was not used on the leg.
We were still Spinnaker ready but we were pointing too close to the Rocks, Thus late in the piece the Spinnaker plan was abandoned. Because of the approaching Rocks, the call was made to take down the Spinnaker gear and Jibe with Genoa. We were followed by two other boats (Sehkraft Swan S&S 43 and Sims Swan Holland 39). Sims followed us around and decided to hoist the Spinnaker on the rising wind. In the process she broke the boom and abandoned. Sehkraft lifted her Jennaker after rounding the mark and starting the course successfully. She did the right call allowing her to Jibe the whole leg in two rather acute jibes.
Calling late the abandonment of the spinnaker plan led to two things: There was no emergency jibe called, and the foredeck was only trained for the full set up and set down. In practice if the spinnaker is ready to go up, and an emergency jibe is called, it is important to call the emergency Jibe clearly, and the foredeck simply removes the topping lift on the spinnaker pole and gets aft, or alternatively lies down on the deck to let it all happen. After all, the sail just needs to come across, it doesn’t need to be perfect if you are calling an emergency jibe.
For this reason the Bowman (Jamie Habershom) was just too late in getting back and was clipped by the Genoa sheet and tipped off. Any resistence to this would have led to a bad injury on the life lines.
The de-Brief
On de-brief were learned that nearly every MOB is the result of mechanical action. No sailor in Porto Cervo could remember anyone just falling off! An interesting lesson. Secondly Jamie was not hooked on, if he had a harness, the accident would have become more than serious and pulled his head across the lifelines. As it happened, he was simply popped overboard.
Like many keen sailors in the Med he was not wearing a life vest. It seems a macho guideline for “tough”, not to wear a vest. The Med is very different and often more forgiving than the Channel or the Ocean, and the ending could have been very different with more clothing than a tee shirt.
Jamie was in the water. We had an exteremely experienced sailor (Simon Owens), at the wheel who immediately took charge. Turned smartly into a 90 degree reach with fortunately enough sea room in the channel.
Meanwhile Jamie was in the water, a good swimmer and conscious. Conscious of his shoes as well. To start with he watched the buoy and heaving line as well as the rocks estimating that he could reach either. Wearing light mesh sail shoes would make it easier for the MOB to swim and manoevre.
The life ring went over probably much too late. Like many boats it sits there, often for years, and when it comes time to throw, always a surprise, it is not ready. So an immediate lesson in the stern before embarking on any race or cruise. Test it so you can throw it immediately with the heaving line attached.
On deck, while everyone had done MOB drill multiple times, the first issues were role choices. Do I point? Do I make sure the boat sails properly? Where do I go? Which part of the drill do I do?
This important lesson on de-brief gives Walidada a standard departure drill. Crew get allocated three roles for MOB. Pointing, Manning, and getting the MOB on board. The latter means preparation with sheets or any lines available to lift. In this case two large Crew (Tom Cox, Ramsey Refaie) saw the need for strength and were ready simply to lift Jamie on board. But Walidada will definitely be equipped with a life sling shortly.
Our conclusion was that you need at least three watching and pointing, In a boat of this size and complexity it also needs at least three to ensure that it can manoevre who are tuned in to the helmsman. Experience counts in this and Simon Owens, the most experienced, quickly took command. This accident was filled with good fortune and everyone fitted into an obvious role in the end.
There is also a point when the sails come down and the engine takes you, when that is called is circumstance., but an open question. Two opposite reaches in opposite directions is a quick solution, but would need to be abandoned if the MOB is not quickly aboard.
So some cardinal lessons were learned.
• Only wear a harness in very difficult sea conditions.
• Wear a life vest especially on the foredeck if racing in the Med even under the easiest conditions of coastal racing. MOB in the vast majority of cases will be due to a mechanical foul up or a misunderstood order.
• Allocate roles in the case of MOB
• Ensure that your primary gear, life rings, heaving line, and sling are truly workable in one second. The rings (U) and heaving line had been inspected the day before by the Race Committee.
• Before an emergency manoevre, ensure the foredeck crew is in a safe place.
• The MOB should wave, or splash and time it on a regular.
• Detail a strong swimmer with a waistcoat vest and line ready to get in the water if the MOB is injured.
A final observation. Life collars do not seem to have kept pace with technology. The Harken ocean collar goes the closest. But why are they not also equipped with a dye for marking the MOB? Why is in not possible to launch a luminescent balloon to mark the spot? They have resolved problem number one, that of holding the MOB afloat, but they haven’t resolved the problem of how to find the MOB without resorting to GPS . (Impractical and too difficult to manage by Homo Erectus)
Multiple lessons were learned with a happy ending in very friendly waters. Wearing heavy gear only multiplies these problems and increases the need to be newly aware of the MOB possibility, with practical day to day preparations for every sailor on the seas.
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