Rig loading during MOB
 

The Quick Stop, one of the responses to crew overboard, turns through the wind and circles back to the overboard person without adjusting sail. I don't intend to start a thread on appropriate responses to a man overboard.

My question is if the response begins when going downwind, are the loads on the rig excessive (to the point of potentially causing the rig to fail, making an already bad situation that much worse) for each of the following three conditions:

1. Asymmetric cruising spinnaker flying off bowsprit with main prevented
2. Symmetric spinnaker flying off pole with main prevented
3. Twin headsails, windward jib poled out, no main

Specifically, in each of the three scenarios, if the helmsman does not touch any sail controls but just attempts to steer back to the MOB, are the loads on the rig likely to cause it to fail?

NO !

A properly designed and tuned rig will be stong enough for the boat to take a full knockdown at speed without failure.


You'll probably never get upwind though, even with an inverted spinakker.

That's what I thought, but somehow a lot of people in the cruising community are convinced it would bring down the rig.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of boats in the cruising community (not a slam against cruisers, I am one myself) in which it probably would.

g On the Floor Laughing !

I guess I am fortunate to be involved in a community of sailors who expect their boats to be ready at any time for any conditions that might be met. I get guys once in a while that say something like " if its gonna blow more than 15kts, sails are coming down" and all you can do is shake your head, give written reports of your findings for liability protection, then wish them luck.

I think the problem is that so many glassfiber glossboxes are super dangerous to sail on in any decent weather, so a lot of folks get scared, then don't think they need to spend money on their boats cause the don't really get used anyway. Look at the conditions most of these contraptions are being advertising in for a real good laugh.

The problem with that mentality (of neglect) is that eventually something will fail, perhaps a large motorboat wake ( they are all going really fast because its so calm) will pitch the boat and snap that 'slightly corroded' turnbuckle clean off.

Sailing in a decent sea state is the best cause there are no wakes to cause problems, or their energy is at least dull compared to the prevailing motion. Oh, and the boat is going great guns and there is salt everywhere too ! Umm.

Any other input?

Your best bet, when flying the spins...and I am assuming that the pilot is now the only soul on board and has to deal with the quick stop and turn on his/her own...is to let loose the halyards on the spins. Sure, they will shrimp, which will also aid in slowing the boat.

My question was with respect to rig loads under the assumption that no sail changes are made -- a Quick Stop response while downwind sails are flying.

There is more opinion than data about responding to crew overboard. Quite properly there is a lot of judgment required of those left in command aboard. Repeated practice educates that judgment. I have read as many case studies of crew overboard situations as I can find. For what it is worth, I have concluded that spending time and attention on sail changes (even trimming) and putting the transmission in gear are the two most likely actions to cause a crew overboard situation to go from bad to worse. The simplest and most telling collection of case studies is found here.

So all that said, my next set of crew overboard drills (when it gets warmer and starting in lighter winds) will include Quick Stops under spinnaker.

I know the thread was not intended to discuss the quick stop in detail, but if you practice, try casting off the guy as you round up. The halyard is likely more out of reach and a chute flapping from guy and sheet is not much of a problem.

Every boat is a bit different so practice a lot.

G'luck

bye bye spin pole

... or worse the forestay. This goes to the discussion on the VIC-Maui report about making things worse. Having the pole bounce around is not a good thing. This why I asked the original question. I want to be able to maintain a response protocol that is limited to steering back to the MOB without sail adjustment. If my stupidity puts me over the side I want my girl friend to be able to get back to me and fish me out, not be stuck hundreds of feet away with a line wrapped around the prop and sails flogging.

Ian did point out that as long as the guy is completly free to run, an released immediately and entirely, the pole should be moving under only its own weight by the time it hits the stay.

Just don't be shy getting into dumping the guy !

If you do this you might not destroy the spinakker, pole or anything else- and be able to get the sail down quickly , which is better than getting it under the boat, or worse stuck and tore up aloft.

I know of no crash stop protocol that gets you back to the casualty without some sail trim sometime, depending on wind and boat. The closest might be with a sloop with a smallish jib close hauled. Then one might tack at once, not touch the jib and let that help haul you around to gybe, come up a little and tack gently into a heave-to (backed jib) to pick the causualty up on the lee side. However, most modern boats have such large jibs that this will not work.

Anyone sailing with crew that really cannot perform a rescue should make plans similar to single-handing - that the boat will be stopped within swimming distance - and hope that whatever caused one to go overboard has left one conscious.

Or perhaps jacklines and tethers as a matter or routine. Why fall off when you can stay aboard?