preventing and handling emergencies 277
Lifesling device, pull the person
alongside. Tie off your end of the
line to a cleat.- Drop lifelines in the recovery
area. Sailing vessels may be able
to recover the person by attaching
the main halyard to the top of
the Lifesling and winching the
person aboard. In any kind of
seaway, however, the person may
swing out and slam back into the
hull. Decide on the best recovery
method to prevent injury.
RECOVERY WITH A
LARGE DOSE OF REALITY
Most crews practice overboard recov-
ery in controlled conditions, such as:
Q Daylight
Q Smooth water and light to moderate winds
Q With a lightweight “victim,” such as a fender
Q With crew on deck and anticipating the exercise
Q Recovery using a boathookImagine lying on your belly and holding onto the boat with one hand. Now, reach
down and pull 150 to 200 pounds up 2 to 3 feet of freeboard and onto the boat. Th row
in a gale-force wind and heavy seas. Th is might be the reality of what you face in a
live overboard recovery.
How about swim grids or ladders? On powerboats, swim platforms can
become sledgehammers as the boat rises and falls in heavy seas. Sailing vessels
with reverse transoms could present the same problem. All vessels should exercise
caution when recovering from the stern with a swim ladder. In all but the calmest
seas, move the swim ladder to a location between the beam and stern quarter to
prevent crushing-type injury.
CROUCH AND GRASP BEFORE YOU MOVE
Th e diffi culties and hazards of recovery demonstrate the need to practice preven-
tive measures in all types of weather. Th ese tips will help keep you and your crew
on board:
- Keep one hand for the boat and one for yourself.
- Grasp a solid, through-bolted object at all times.
How to Heave-to in a Sailboat
Heaving-to stops the forward momen-
tum of a sailboat. Use this to recover
persons in the water, in heavy weather,
or to go below to take a break or make
a meal.- Sail onto a close-hauled course.
- Tack the boat but do not touch any
sheets. Allow the jib to backwind. - Adjust the helm so that the boat
tries to head up into the wind, but
the backed jib pushes the bow
away from the wind.
The boat will lie beam-to the seas
and make a zigzag drift to leeward at
about 1 or 2 knots. This also creates a
slick to windward to calm the seas.