Safety Boat Capsize Recovery Procedure Step by Step
by John Richter and recorded by Bob Childers
Capsized sailboat:
Stand-off to see is sailor is giving OK sign
Give encouragement to get sailboat head to wind
Hold position until sailboat is up and sailor is back aboard
Hold until sailor has sheet and tiller and is on a tack
Capsized sailboat:
Stand-off to see if sailor is OK - see that sailor is not OK
Navigate toward sailor, shut off engine
Carefully bring sailor aboard safety boat
Radio to call 911 for ambulance, make for shore
Radio that sailboat requires pick-up
Capsized sailboat:
Stand-off to see sailor is giving OK sign
Give encouragement to get sailboat head to wind
Hold position - sailor makes attempts to right sailboat - no success
Move in on sail, as distances closes, shut off engine
Crewman moves, hand over hand down leach of sail
Sailboat is up, sailor attempts to re-board
After several attempts - no success
Move up wind of sailor in water - as distances closes, shut off engine
Help sailor to board safety boat by lifting on pfd - safely seat sailor
Start engine and move up wind sailboat - as distance closes
bring safety boat beside sailboat, crew holds bow of sailboat
shut off engine and transfer sailor back to sailboat
Sailor is back in sailboat, is taking control of sheet and tiller, restart engine
Safety boat crewman holds on to bow of sailboat - boats bow to bow
move slowly in reverse, backing safety boat into wind
when sailor has control of sailboat, crewman lets sailboat go, move off slowly
when backing into wind, be alert to water coming over transom
Sailboat requiring towing:
In addition to checking safety boat for plugs in, engine trim working, and marine radio: that towing line and swim ladder are both ready for use if need
Approach sailboat from up wind, as distances closes, shut off engine
Safety boat crew holds sailboat and instructs sailor to makes 2 raps of line on mast near deck of sailboat
sailor holds end of line, crew other end - both ready for easy release - no knots
Move off slowly, start engine, crew plays out towing line, tow to shore
sailor steers sailboat so to hold position behind safety boat
Near shore, sailor lets line go, safety boat bears off and retrieves tow line