Question 1

You are circling back to the skipper. When do you transmit the VHF call — and what type?

Accepted Answer

Transmit PAN PAN on Ch 16 as soon as you can do so without losing sight of the casualty — give position, vessel name, 1 POB in water, your description. Upgrade to MAYDAY if casualty is injured or incapacitated MOB is initially a PAN PAN (urgent, person in water — but life not yet lost). Call immediately — Coastguard can vector the nearest vessel while you attempt recovery. A solo sailor cannot recover a casualty and sail simultaneously in Force 5 at night — you need help coming. If the casualty is injured, unconscious, or the situation deteriorates: upgrade to Mayday.

Question 2

It is 0200 hrs. You are alone on watch, Beaufort 5, 2m swell. You hear a splash and the tether clip sounds behind you. The skipper is no longer at the helm. What is your FIRST action?

Accepted Answer

Shout "MAN OVERBOARD!", throw the horseshoe lifebuoy and danbuoy overboard immediately, and press the GPS MOB button The first 30 seconds are critical. Throw the lifebuoy to the casualty AND mark the position (GPS MOB) simultaneously. Then shout to wake the rest of the crew. In Force 5 at night you will lose a person in the water in under 60 seconds visually — equipment in the water first, radio later. The fatal error here is going below first.

Question 3

You have thrown the lifebuoy. You can just see the skipper's lifejacket light in the water. The danbuoy has not inflated. What do you do while manoeuvring?

Accepted Answer

Fix your eyes on the casualty's light and do NOT look away — point one arm at them continuously, even as you steer The pointer role is the single most important action after the initial response. Once you look away you will very likely lose the person in the dark and swell. The GPS MOB marks where they went in, NOT where the current has taken them. Visual contact takes absolute priority — even at the cost of sail trim.