Man Overboard: What to Do Step by Step

Few situations at sea demand faster, clearer thinking than a person falling overboard. Cold water, wind, waves and a moving boat all work against you, and the first seconds decide much of the outcome. The good news is that man overboard (MOB) recovery follows a predictable sequence. If you know that sequence and have practised it, you can act instead of freezing.

This guide walks through what to do from the moment someone goes over the side to the moment they are safely back on deck. It applies to sailing yachts and motorboats alike, with notes on where the two differ.

The First Seconds: Shout, Throw, Point

The instant you realise someone is in the water, do three things at once, ideally split between the crew:

• Shout. Call “Man overboard!” loudly so the whole crew knows and can respond. Everyone on board now has a job.
• Throw. Immediately throw buoyant equipment towards the casualty: a lifebuoy, danbuoy, floating cushion, anything that floats and marks the spot. Even if it lands short, it helps mark the position and gives the person something to aim for.
• Point. Assign one crew member to do nothing but point continuously at the person in the water and keep their eyes on them. This “spotter” role is the single most important task, because a head in the waves disappears astonishingly quickly.

If your boat has a GPS with an MOB button, press it now. It stores the position so you can navigate back even if you lose sight of the casualty.

Keep Visual Contact at All Costs

A person’s head is small, dark and low in the water, and swell of even half a metre can hide them completely. Once you lose sight of a casualty, finding them again is difficult and sometimes impossible.

That is why the spotter’s only job is to watch and point. They should not touch lines, steer, or help with recovery. If you have several crew, appoint a second spotter as backup. The helmsman and spotter should communicate constantly so the boat is always turning towards the person, not away.

At night or in poor visibility, shine a light on the casualty and deploy anything that floats and shows a light, such as a danbuoy with a flag and light attached.

Turning the Boat Back

How you return depends on your vessel and the conditions. The goal is always the same: approach the casualty slowly, under control, and stop with them alongside on the leeward side where the hull gives some shelter, but with the propeller clear of the person.

• Motorboats can often turn back directly. A tight turn brings you round quickly; approach into the wind or waves so the boat is easy to hold stationary. Take the engine out of gear well before you reach the person so the propeller is not turning near them.
• Sailing yachts commonly use a controlled manoeuvre such as a figure-of-eight or a quick-stop turn. The aim is to slow the boat, keep the casualty in view, and arrive alongside with little way on. Under sail you will usually approach on a close reach so you can spill wind to control speed.

Whichever method you use, approach slowly. A fast approach risks injuring the person or overshooting so you have to circle again, wasting precious time.

Getting the Casualty Back on Board

Reaching the person is only half the job. Lifting a wet, cold, possibly exhausted or injured adult out of the water is genuinely hard, and many recoveries fail at this stage.

• Make contact first. Get a line, a throwing sling, or a boathook to the person and secure them alongside so they cannot drift away again.
• Use a recovery aid. A boarding ladder, recovery sling, or lifting strop makes a huge difference. On larger yachts, a halyard on a winch can hoist a person aboard. A bathing platform on a motorboat is often the easiest exit.
• Keep them horizontal if you can. After time in cold water, lifting someone vertically can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Where possible, recover them in a horizontal position and lay them down.
• Treat for cold. Even a short immersion chills the body. Get the person into shelter, remove wet clothing, and warm them gradually. Watch for hypothermia and shock.

If you cannot recover the person yourself, or they are injured or unconscious, send a distress call by VHF radio without delay. It is far better to call for help early and stand it down later than to wait until the situation is desperate.

Prevention: The Best Recovery Is the One You Never Need

Most MOB incidents are preventable. Reducing the chance of anyone going over the side is far easier than getting them back:

• Wear a lifejacket, and clip on with a safety harness and tether in rough weather, at night, or when working on deck alone.
• Keep one hand for yourself and one for the boat when moving around.
• Rig jackstays so crew can clip on and move fore and aft while staying attached.
• Reduce the risk of falls by keeping the deck tidy and moving in a low, stable position.

Practise MOB recovery in calm conditions with a fender or cushion as the “casualty” so the whole crew knows their role. A drill done a dozen times becomes an instinct you can rely on under pressure. If you want a structured way to build these habits alongside the theory you need for your licence, the boatingexamine course covers safety procedures and drills in a clear, exam-ready format.

FAQ

Should I stop the engine when approaching someone in the water? Take the engine out of gear before the propeller is anywhere near the person, and stop it entirely once they are alongside. A turning propeller is one of the biggest dangers during recovery.

What if I am sailing single-handed? Prevention becomes critical: always wear a lifejacket and stay clipped on with a tether, because self-recovery from the water is extremely difficult. Rig a way to get back aboard, such as a trailing line with loops or a boarding ladder you can reach and deploy from the water.

How quickly does someone become hard to see in the water? Very quickly, often within seconds in any swell. This is why assigning a dedicated spotter who does nothing but watch and point is the most important first action after shouting and throwing a buoyant aid.