Crew Overboard - A walk through

Here is a description of the activities of each person during the crew overboard drill. The actors in this drill are:

• Pointer: The person responsible for pointing to the crew overboard. This person must keep the overboard crew member in view at all times.
• Crew: This is one or two additional people. The crew are responsible for managing the sails.
• Helm: The helmsman is responsible for driving the boat.

This is a walk-through of the triangular method of crew overboard recovery, as described by Gillian West in Basic Cruising Skills (provided as part of your Basic Cruising course material).


Crew falls overboard

• Pointer: Yells crew overboard and points to the overboard crew member (COB). Pointer shouts: "Are you OK?"
  
• Crew: Throws a buoyant object (life jacket, kisbey ring, etc) at the COB.
• Helm: Immediate turn the boat to a beam reach, without tacking or gybing. This means either bearing away (if you are close hauled or close reaching -- shout: bearing away to a beam reach) or heading up (if you are broad reaching or running -- shout: heading up to a beam reach). It is important that the helmsman drives the boat is a straight line. The helmsman should NOT look at the COB, as that will cause the helm to turn.
  
• Crew: Adjust the sails appropriately. Prepares the jib for a tack (knowing this is coming later).
  
• Pointer: Call out the number of boat-lengths the COB is (for example: 4 boat-lengths, 5 boat-lengths).
  

At 6-8 boat lengths
When the COB is 6-8 boat lengths away, the boat must be tacked. The distance is determined by the type of boat. Some boats are OK at 6, others really need the 8 to ensure they have enough time to slow down. When in doubt error on the side of too far.

• Helm: Shouts - "Prepare to come about"
• Crew: If the jib is not prepared, the crew prepares the jib. The main is left as is (set for beam reach). The tack will be from a beam reach, to a beam reach, so there is no need to bring in the main. Shouts - Ready.
  
• Pointer: Keeps pointing at the COB and positions themselves to permit pointing during the tack. Shouts - Ready.
• Helm: Shouts - Helms-a-lee and sharply turns the boat (helm all the way over). You want to perform the tack as quickly as possible, so as not to loose any speed. The boat is tacked from a beam reach to a beam reach. Once the tack is complete (the sails are on the other side), the helm shouts - Bearing away to a broad reach. The helm continues turning until the boat is at a broad reach. This entire 235 degree turn should be performed in one smooth motion.
  
• Crew: Adjust the jib for the tack (that is, bring it to the other side). Do not bring it in too tight, as you will be bearing away immediately. Adjust the main sail for a broad reach (let it out), and re-adjust the jib for a broad reach (let it out).
  

On the broad reach

• Helm: Ensure you are driving the boat in a straight line on a broad reach (not a run or a beam reach). Avoid the temptation to look at the COB.
• Pointer: Provide a warning as the COB approaches perpendicular (directly abeam).
  

When the COB is perpendicular

• Pointer: Shout - COB is perpendicular (or COB is abeam).
• Helm: Shout - Heading up. Point the boat at the COB. Let the pointer know you have the COB in view.
  
• Crew: Adjust the sails for close reach (adjust the main first, then the jib).
• Pointer: For the drill, once the helm has seen the COB, you should prepare the boat hook to pick-up the COB. In real life, you would remain pointer unless the boat is short on crew. In which case, once the helm has the COB in view, the pointer can prepare the reboarding device.
  

When the COB is 1-3 boat lengths from the boat
You will need to lose speed in order to pick up the COB. When you start losing speed, depends upon your boat speed and the strength of the wind.

• Helm: Keep pointing directly at the COB. You will alter course when the COB is about 1/2 a boat-length away to bring the COB onto your windward side.
• Helm: When the boat is 1-3 boat lengths, start losing speed. First let loose the jib: shout - Blow the jib (or release the jib).
• Crew: Upon the command release the jib sheets. Let the jib luff.
• Helm: When ready, let loose the main. Note that the main is your "engine". It is what will control your speed the most. Shout - Blow the main (or release the main).
• Crew: Release the main sheets. Let the main luff.
• Helm: Steer the boat such that the COB is on the windward side for pickup.
• Pointer: Recover the COB.
  

Crew Overboard Procedure

CYA Basic Cruising standard requires that students learn the triangle method of crew overboard recovery procedures.

The general procedure is as follows:

1. Raise the alert "Crew Overboard". Typically, the person who notices the COB becomes the pointer.
   
2. Pointer - Points to the COB (remains in this role throughout the procedure).
3. A crew member throws a buoyant object at the COB (we don't do this during drills, but in real life this is an important step not to forget).
4. Helm - Immediately heads up or bears away to a beam reach.
5. After 6-8 boat lengths, helm tacks and immediately bears away to a broad reach. This is a 225 degree turn!
   
6. When the COB is perpendicular to the boat, helm heads up and points the boat at the COB (close reach).
7. The COB is retrieved from the windward side of the boat.

Notes on the procedure:

• Helmsman needs to concentrate on steering the boat (don't worry about the sails). Steering the course is a priority over sail trim.
• The distance to go away depends on the boat. You will want to go further away in a heavier boat, as you'll need more time/distance to slow down when you approach the COB.

For a flash based picture, click here.

Maneauving under power

Theory

Reference: Chapter 13 pages 80 - 83

• P-Effect
• Majority of boats will turn towards port because they have right hand propellers
• Port - Right (clockwise)
• Starboard - Left (counter clockwise)
• Right - pushes stern out right, causing boat to go left
• negligible with small outboard, notices more with inboard engines
  

• Wake
• Make note of your wake at various speeds
• why?
• so you are not causing damage to other boats when going into/out of harbour
• so when you pass canoes / kayaks you don't swamp them
• You are responsible for your wake!
  
  

• Discuss effects of wind and current
  

Activity

• Two complete circles port and starboard, forward and reverse (low speed, tiller only)
• Make note of wakes
• Make note of turning radius (both forward and reverse)
• Make note of which way to turn the tiller (banana theory)
• Notice which circle is tighter (clockwise indicates left)
• Try forward circles at full speed, notice greater diameter an heel
  
  
• Stopping distance, get boat to full speed then stop engine
• Note how long it takes for boat to come to a complete stop
• How can we make the boat stop faster (try using reverse to stop boat)
  
  
• Reverse in straight line
  
  
• Approaching mark - approach mark with no speed when mark is abeam
• safe way to practice coming along side
  

Safe boating acts

The safe boating acts refers to the various legal regulations in place to help ensure safer boating practices. Knowledge of the safe boating acts is required for your pleasure craft operator card test.

The Acts

1. Canada Shipping Act
2. Contravention Act
3. Boating Restriction Regulations
4. Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations
5. Collision Regulations
6. Small Vessel Regulations
7. Criminal Code of Canada

Canada Shipping Act

• every pleasure craft operator must render assistance in so far as they are able safely, to every person on the water who is in danger

Contravention Act

• allows for on-the-spot ticketing of boating offences (for example, fines for not having safety equipment)
• payment of fine means a guilty plea and removes the need to appear in court
  

Boating Restriction Regulations

• impose speed limits
• shoreline speed zones
• horsepower limits and other operating restrictions on specified waterways
  

Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations

• all operators must have on board the latest edition of the largest scale chart (vessel under 100 tons may be exempt)
  

Collision Regulations

• specify right-of-way
• require:
• every operator of a vessel to proceed at a safe speed
• maintaining a constant lookout
• using every available means to avoid a collision
• defines sailing vessel and power driven vessel
  

Small Vessel Regulations

Outlines:

• the minimum safety equipment required to be carried on a boat
• safety precautions to follow before and while boating
• construction standards for building a recreational boat

• all safety equipment is required to be well maintained

• defines requirements for licensing of pleasure craft and defines how the vessel licence number must be presented

• defines requirement for load capacity plate
  

Criminal Code of Canada

• the following are criminal offences
• operating a vessel dangerously (for example, unsafe speed)
• operating a vessel when impaired (note, you can loose your drivers licence and have your boat impounded)
• towing water skiers improperly
• failing to stop at the scene of an accident
• operating an unseaworthy vessel

The Basic Cruising Standard

The 28-hour Basic Cruise course offered by the Ottawa Sailing School provides you with the instruction necessary to achieve the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) Basic Cruising Standard. If you are not comfortable taking on the role of skipper, you may chose to complete the Compentent Crew Standard, rather than the Basic Cruising Standard.

Both of the standards are described on the CYA website.

DOT Requirements for our boats

The safety items listed are required by law. The skipper of the vessel can be fined for each offense, so fines add up quickly. A $200.00 fine per offense, can be issued by city or provincial police.

The boats used by the Ottawa Sailing School for Basic Cruising are either 23' Sonars, 22' Tanzers, or 24' Sharks. In all cases, they qualify as "Pleasure craft greater than 6 m in length but no greater than 8 m in length".

There are 10 items requires for our boats. I've listed them using an mnemonic to help you remember the 10 items (FFFLLLARES, pronounced flares):

F - Flares - 6 Canadian approved flares that have not expired! Must be type A, B, or C. Not required when

F - Flash light - 1 Flash light that works.

F - Fire extinguisher - Type 5BC fire extinguisher must be carried if you have an engine. In addition, if you have a fuel burning appliance (stove, heater, BBQ, etc), you must carry a second 5BC fire extinguisher.

L - Life jackets - One approved life jacket for each person. This life jacket must be in good condition and must fit!

L - Line - 15 m of bouyant heaving line.

L - Lights - Navigation lights if the boat is to be opperated between dusk and dawn.

A - Anchor - An anchor with at least 15 m of cable or rope, or a manual propelling device (paddle)

R - Reboarding device

E - Extract - A device to extract water -- that is, a bailer, a bucket, or water pump.

S - Sound signal - A device to make a sound signal.

Another way to remember the list is based upon types of things that could go wrong.

ACK, we're sinking

• Lifejacket
• Flares

ACK, someone fell overboard:

• Bouyant heaving line
• Reboarding device

Boy it's foggy out:

• Flashlight
• Sound signal
• Navigation lights

Fire, fire, fire:

• fire extinguisher

My engine stopped and the rapids are fast approaching:

• Anchor or paddle
  

Note: For the test you need to both list the items and DESCRIBE them. For example, you can not just say lifejackets. You must also say that the lifejackets must be APPROVED, must FIT, and there must be ONE FOR EACH PERSON on board.