Capsize Recovery Procedures

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