Question 1

The skipper is back on deck after 18 minutes in 12°C water. They are shivering, confused, and can't grip your hand. What is your priority assessment?

Accepted Answer

ABCDE: airway (clear?), breathing (present?), circulation (pulse?), then assess for hypothermia and injuries from the water entry — remove wet clothing, insulate, do NOT give alcohol 18 minutes in 12°C water = significant hypothermia risk (core temp may be ~33-34°C). ABCDE assessment first. Remove wet clothing gently — do not rub limbs (cold blood flushing from extremities to heart can trigger arrhythmia). No alcohol (vasodilator causes further heat loss). Insulate. Divert to port. Transmit status update on Ch 16. Even a "walking" casualty may deteriorate.

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.