Man Overboard (MOB) — Onboard Card
DRAFT — skipper to review and confirm boat-specific details before the race. This card scaffolds the standard offshore MOB sequence so the crew has a shared choreography; it does not replace the crew safety briefing, US Sailing / World Sailing Safety-at-Sea training, or the boat's Safety Equipment. Blanks (
____) need the skipper's input. Drill this before the start.
Immediate — anyone who sees it (first 10 seconds)
- Shout "MAN OVERBOARD" — loud, repeat. Everyone on deck hears it.
- Throw flotation NOW — Lifesling / horseshoe / danbuoy nearest the helm, toward the MOB. Throwing marks the spot even if it doesn't reach.
- Point — one person points continuously at the MOB and does nothing else. Eyes never leave them.
Helm / Nav (first 30 seconds)
- Hit the MOB button — GPS/chartplotter and AIS MOB if fitted. Records time + position. Location of button:
____. - Note time, GPS position, log.
- Slow the boat / initiate recovery turn — recovery method (skipper confirm one):
____(e.g. Quick-Stop, or Lifesling under power with engine on — keep lines clear of the prop).
Crew roles (assign immediately)
| Role | Who (Watch 1) | Who (Watch 2) | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotter | ____ |
____ |
Point at MOB, never look away, call range/bearing |
| Helm | ____ |
____ |
Drive the recovery pattern |
| Recovery / Lifesling | ____ |
____ |
Deploy + work the recovery gear |
| Comms | ____ (Nav) |
____ |
Radio, mark position, ready EPIRB |
| Engine | ____ |
____ |
Start engine on skipper's call; watch lines/prop |
Recovery
- Approach slow, from downwind/down-current, stop with the MOB on the
____(leeward) side. - Make contact — Lifesling / heaving line / boarding gear:
____. - Get a line on them before anything else. Then lift aboard via
____(e.g. halyard + winch, boarding ladder, parbuckle).
Comms / distress
- VHF Ch 16 — DSC distress if unable to recover quickly. PAN-PAN if in control; MAYDAY if life is in danger.
- USCG + nearest vessels (AIS).
- EPIRB — Hex ID
2DDAAF98BA3FDFF(see Boat Specs) — activate if life-threatening and recovery is not imminent. - Personal PLB / AIS-MOB beacon on each crew (strongly recommended) — confirm worn:
____. An activated AIS-MOB beacon shows on the plotter as an AIS target; match its MMSI to a name in the MMSI & AIS-MOB Registry.
Notes
- At night / heavy air the spotter and a throwable light are everything — recovery time triples.
- Confirm: is the engine the primary recovery tool here, or sail-only?
____ - This card is a prompt, not a substitute for the drill. Run the MOB drill at least once before the start and write the boat-specific answers into the blanks above.