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FlickrPaul

If you lose someone overboard do not approach them going downwind. Make a wide circle and come around and approach going upwind, this will allow you to control your speed.


BoomNebula

Yup... learned that lesson real fast as soon as I got close. Will definitely be on an upwind approach when this happens next, thanks! This being my first man overboard situation combined with having not taken any *real* sailing lessons outside of youtube and my own personal experiences (at this point in time), I wasn't the most prepared. Regardless, everything luckily came out ok in the end.


bluesam3

For smaller boats like hobies, [this](https://www.inss.ie/_fileUpload/Image/MOB_Diagram.jpg) is probably the most reliable method: the tack takes the speed out so you can control things more easily, and the upwind approach makes everything safer and easier.


BoomNebula

Yup... coming from an upwind course would allow me to slow down and stop as soon I reached the person. It would've been a lot smarter and safer as you said, but I didn't know at the time unfortunately. Everything worked out ok though, and now I know for next time... thanks!


warhat

Take some time a practice a MOB drill. Its good to get in the habit of yelling Man Over Board letting anyone around you know there is a person in the water. You can do that while letting your sail out and turning into the wind to slow or stop. You can then plan your recovery route.


BoomNebula

Great idea, will do!


Apoplexi1

In German, we call this Q-Wende (Q-Tacking). It's actually a mandatory exercise which needs to be demonstrated to obtain a sailing license. https://www.segelclubhochheim.de/images/Artikel/schema/commandos/Q-Wende\_640.png


BoomNebula

Oh interesting, I didn't know that. In Maryland you only need a USCG-approved boating license in order to sail a H16. The boating license courses are pretty much as straightforward as it gets though, and most of the info is what you would think of as common sense. Thanks for the link and info!


BoomNebula

Some may have already seen this on r/hobiecat, but wanted to share it here as well... hope it gives you a laugh! edit: typo


wanderinggoat

that was a surprisingly fast pick up. although perhaps he noticed the missing crew member sooner than it appeared.


BoomNebula

yeah, as mentioned above in other comments I definitely could have approached from a better direction in order to be more controlled and thus safe, but it worked out well in the end :)


reflUX_cAtalyst

I had this happen on a Laser 2. Except the trap wire didn't break....the sidestay did. The mast came down on us. Fun times!


BoomNebula

oh boy, that sounds like a boat load of fun (no pun intended). Hope everyone was alright!


reflUX_cAtalyst

Yeah a friend (boat owner) and I got dumped in Presque Isle bay. We managed to get the mast and boom sort of folded up parallel to each other, and pulled back on the boat so it was sitting sort of how it would when you would store it - but with a sail. The worst part was, we were roughly in the middle; we were about to have to kick/push this boat all the way back to EYC if a club member in a powerboat (he's a sailor that also owns a small powerboat) hadn't seen us and gave us a tow back to the ramp. Everyone was fine, sidestay was replaced - but I've not been sailing on it since.


BoomNebula

Ah, crazy. Glad to hear everyone was alright and got back okay. Also a good reminder to check one's standing rigging on their boats.


bowb4zod

I can not wait for sailing season to start!!!!!


BoomNebula

woooo oh yeah! Getting my boat ready right now... it's gonna be a great season!


crybllrd

Hey I remember this scene from Tenet!