"Dennis Pogson" wrote

Assuming the MOB is not unconscious, I would go for a self-assisted
midships
recovery, using the vang if it is a rope-tackle type,

Things always look different when you consider the specifics. See my
reply about vangs to Gary above.

On my boat, I will probably be the only one strong enough and with
enough experience with the gear and working on deck to be performing
the recovery. The helmsman will probably be a freaked out kid
responding to my frantic "Other way, NO, the other "other" way!"
instructions. Would you want someone clipped to the boom under those
conditions? For the kind of crew it sounds like you have, the vang is
probably a good option.

I would hope to be hove to at this point with just enough jib showing
to hold the position. The thing I like most about the lifesling is
that it secures the **** (Person In Scary Situation) to buy time until
you can stabilize things. However, there are all sorts of things that
could make dealing with something as important to control as the main
and which is subject to big forces a bad idea. Being close to rocks
would be one. I might use the vang but I sure want it to be plan B
instead of plan A.

Waking up this morning, the tackle permanently rigged on the back stay
is looking less good. We have a great boarding ladder. In conditions
where it is safe to do a stern recovery, we will probably be back to
the **** so fast that they will still be able to scramble up. I wore
an old baseball hat all last season. My small brain creates an
unusual cone shaped taper to the top of my head so it blows off
constantly. We went back for it more times than I can count last year
and I still have it. I even picked it up alone several times.

I'm thinking now training and SOP will be as follows:

1) Scream
2) Toss Horseshoe and MOB pole
3) Scream some more
4) Sail to beam reach position
5) Roll up jib to about 25 percent
6) Toss Lifesling
7) Round **** without casting off jib sheet.
8) If **** doesn't latch onto rescue line or sling, bring jib across
and try again.
If **** grabs line, head up to kill way and let boat settle into hove
to attitude.
9) Pull **** to stern if stern recovery appears practical, otherwise
to leeside midships.

I realize now that a hat is a lot easier to retrieve. Even though it
is very small and, being brown, nearly invisible in the water (great
practice for the return part of the maneuver), a grinning kid grabs it
with a boat hook and you are on your way. That boathook on a swimmer
would be ripped right out of his hands. The fun starts with step 9).

I wish I'd thought to make my spinnaker halyard long enough to reach
the big sheet winches. Maybe we do just get the **** lashed alongside
like a whale ready for the cutting, get the main down, and then use
the vang.

The world could use a 250 pound dummy sewed up in old clothes and foul
weather gear to try this stuff out.

--

Roger Long