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Boat Forum / Cruising / June 2006modified figure 8 for MOB
I've seen and practiced this a few times with my students, but I was wondering if someone has a reference to the procedure on the web? The basic difference between the standard figure 8 (or quick turn) and the modified version is that instead of immediately going on a beam reach, you immediately go on a broad reach, then tack and head back to the MOB on a close reach. The advantage seems to be that it's a more direct approach with fewer points of sail to negotiate with an inexperienced crew. The slight disadvantage is that you have less time to get it together, although you could continue on the broad reach for a bit longer. We were very successful using this method by taking the tack at about 3 boat lengths from the MOB on the broad reach. That's not very far IMHO. Clearly, if you have experienced crew, the condition warrants it, or there are other factors, a host of other methods are available (e.g., LifeSling, quick stop, while motoring). It also seems to me that this might be a safer technique for ocean recoveries as well, rather than jibing (with the LifeSling). You could still deploy the LS, but not jibe. Comments?  Signature"j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com >I've seen and practiced this a few times with my students, but I was >wondering if someone has a reference to the procedure on the web? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >Comments? Have you tried the Heave-to, Sail-to, Heave-to method? I know of two versions: 1) As soon as the MOB occurs, heave-to instantly and, with the sails still sheeted in, simply sail in circles around the MOB until you can heave-to and recover. 2) Heave to and then sail downwind with the sails still sheeted in until the MOB is off the quarter. Complete the gybe and head back to the MOB on a close reach or close hauled. Depending on the wind strength, leave about two - three boat lengths between yourself and the MOB. When the MOB is off the quarter, heave to and work your way to the MOB using a shroud as an aiming point. In both methods: - The sails remain sheeted in; the is no need to make sail adjustments. - You end up hove-to with the MOB on the leeward side. Advantages: -Can be done by one person. -The boat is always in control. -Having the MOB to leeward means a shorter distance to the water. -With the sails sheeted in, there are no flying clews and sheets to injure crew. -If you miss, you can always keep sailing around the MOB. -The MOB is always in view When I teach CYA courses I must use the fiqure 8. I teach it and then show the heave-to method. I will give your approach a try, the next time I am on a sailboat. (My next couple of courses are on power boats.) Thanks for sharing. Jack _________________________________________ Jack Dale ISPA Yachtmaster Instructor Evaluator Offshore CYA Advanced Cruising Instructor http://www.swiftsuresailing.com _________________________________________ Jack, Thanks, we've all tried heaving-to and cicling. It's used with the lifesling, but using it with the lifesling is IMHO a lot more effective than the one you describe. Yours has a lot of disadvantages (although the advantages you cite can be advantages, depending on your initial heading and the quality of your crew) since you must get the main totally under control before you jibe. If not, you'll do damage and put people on the boat at risk. What you propose is fine if you're on the ocean, when getting out of sight of the MOB is an issue. We had very poor results with any kind of heaving to, due to current issues. Do you teach this method during the offshore cruises? Actually, I'm curious if any one teaches MOBs in offshore conditions? Does anyone try teaching MOBs at night? Now that's a blast. We tried a couple at night to simulate the loosing-sight-of-the-person issue. Attached a light stick to the vest of our dummy. In that case, the lifesling technique (not deploying it of course), worked pretty well, but we had to sail quite a large circle, since it was hard for people to know exactly when I would deploy the dummy. Even with the light, it was tough to see the MOB. Signature"j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com >>I've seen and practiced this a few times with my students, but I was >>wondering if someone has a reference to the procedure on the web? [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] > http://www.swiftsuresailing.com > _________________________________________ >Jack, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >before you jibe. If not, you'll do damage and put people on the boat at >risk. I agree. With a lifesling this works really well. Yes, the main must be under control on the gybe. Since this is used from a close reach or close hauled, that is usually not an issue. From a beam reach or broad reach, we use an upwind MOB that ends with a heave-to. >What you propose is fine if you're on the ocean, when getting out of sight >of the MOB is an issue. We had very poor results with any kind of heaving >to, due to current issues. I find that most fin keel boats will maintain some headway when hove -to. Current has not presented any issues, and we sail in areas with serious cuurent problems. What current issues have you encountered? >Do you teach this method during the offshore cruises? Actually, I'm curious >if any one teaches MOBs in offshore conditions? Does anyone try teaching >MOBs at night? Now that's a blast. I taught this approach returning from Honolulu when I was a watch captain on a Vic-Maui return. The skipper had used other approaches. After the heave was used (with a lifesling) that became the standard. >We tried a couple at night to simulate the loosing-sight-of-the-person >issue. Attached a light stick to the vest of our dummy. In that case, the >lifesling technique (not deploying it of course), worked pretty well, but we >had to sail quite a large circle, since it was hard for people to know >exactly when I would deploy the dummy. Even with the light, it was tough to >see the MOB. I am a huge believer in prevention. My crews are required to use tethers and strobes when offshore and at night. No one allowed out of the companionway without being hooked in. I have used light sticks at night under sail and under power. Strobes are easier to see, so I attach one to a MOB pole (Dan buoy) for practice. In case someone does go over, our life ring has a self-lighting strobe attached. Jack >>Jack, >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > or close hauled, that is usually not an issue. From a beam reach or > broad reach, we use an upwind MOB that ends with a heave-to. We've found that unless you really trim for close haul, main all in, things have a tendency to break. We try not to practice in wind over 25kts, but we were out last Saturday, and it was blowing 30. Too high to be safe with the boat, so we gave up pretty quickly. The wind machine on the SF bay kicks in after about 3pm. >>What you propose is fine if you're on the ocean, when getting out of sight >>of the MOB is an issue. We had very poor results with any kind of heaving [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -to. Current has not presented any issues, and we sail in areas with > serious cuurent problems. What current issues have you encountered? The currents in the bay can be quite strong, but the real issue is room and traffic combined with current. We had a real MOB near the Gate, and the skipper tried heaving to. It didn't work. Part of the problem was distance to one of the bridge stantions, the other 6 foot waves. This made it very difficult to get to the MOB, although losing sight of him wasn't an issue. He finally had to use a combination of sail and outboard to recover him. >>Do you teach this method during the offshore cruises? Actually, I'm >>curious [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > attach one to a MOB pole (Dan buoy) for practice. In case someone > does go over, our life ring has a self-lighting strobe attached. Yeah, same here. I require the same when offshore at night, and tethers during the day if conditions warrant it. Not like the last time I was out there, however: http://www.sailnow.photosite.com/out-the-gate6-25-2006/ The swells were at least 1 foot. :-) Very uncommon. Two of the crew took anti-nausia stuff and all they wanted to do was sleep it off. Signature"j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com >>>Jack, >>> [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] > The swells were at least 1 foot. :-) Very uncommon. Two of the crew took > anti-nausia stuff and all they wanted to do was sleep it off. One foot swells? If that's all you get, you're lucky. >>>>Jack, >>>> [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] > > One foot swells? If that's all you get, you're lucky. I know. I've been there many times. :-) Of course, I was exaggerating. They were more like 1/2' swells. :-) Signature"j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com >>Jack, >> [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > Jack Jack, Are you part of the group that does charter bookings? I've got my charter plans set for January, but I've always wanted to sail up north of here. Signature"j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com >Jack, > >Are you part of the group that does charter bookings? I've got my charter >plans set for January, but I've always wanted to sail up north of here. Our company is partnered with Island Cruising in Sidney and Comox BC. We can make bookings or you could contact them directly on their web site: http://www.islandcruising.com/ Feel free to say Jack sent you. ;-) This area has the most spectacular topography I have seen. I just completed a two week circumnavigation of Vancouver Island with 6 students: whales, porpoise, eagles, bears. It was great. Jack |
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