Man Overboard

According to Wikipedia, 'Man overboard!' is the traditional emergency exclamation given aboard a vessel to indicate that a crew member or passenger has fallen into the water. In modern seamanship, the acronym MOB refers both to the verbal alarm call and the tactical sequence executed to locate and retrieve the victim. Upon sighting a casualty, the observer must shout the alarm, maintain continuous physical pointing at the person, launch a lifebuoy with a drogue, and instantly press the MOB button on the helm chartplotter. This action saves the precise GPS coordinates (WGS-84) to assist tactical maneuvering. Understanding how GPS works and pairing it with personal AIS beacons significantly increases rescue probability in rough seas.

Recovery maneuvers vary by propulsion type and sea state. Sailing vessels usually perform a Quick Stop or Figure Eight maneuver to keep the yacht within a 50–100 meter radius of the casualty. Power vessels in open waters often execute the Williamson turn—turning hard toward the fallen side until 60 degrees off course, then hard over opposite—to align with the original track line. Time is critical: at a water temperature of 10°C (50°F), hypothermia and loss of consciousness can occur in 30 to 60 minutes. While ancient sailing superstitions viewed falling overboard as a fateful omen, contemporary safety relies on safety harnesses, jacklines, and drilled recovery maneuvers.