STAY ON THE BOAT !!!

Part of the Intermediate Cruising standard is to complete a couple of different crew overboard procedures. The main focus of the COB is manouvering the vessel back to with victim and stopping it beside them. We practice, practice and practice. However there is no provision in the standard to actually recover the victim and get them back on the boat. Sure we discuss the various ways, but what about real senarios.
So last wednesday morning, the bleary eyed crew was waking up to the coffee prepared for them, when I announced that I would be jumping overboard in exactly 45 minutes and they needed to recover me. Oh ya, and I will be unconcious and unable to help myself.
You could see that the crew were taking it very seriously as they scambled to come up with a recovery method. At 0815 I put on my lifejacket and jumped in the water. Apparently, they still hadn't figured out how they were going to get me back on board. They continued to play with the halyard, trying to make some sort of sling, as my body slowly drifted away from the boat. We were at anchor, but there was still a small current. I had to call out "I am drifting away". Their response was "but we are not ready yet". "READY, are you guys crazy? I am dying and drifting into oblivion. Do something".
Number one thing you need to do once returning to the victim - ATTACH THEM TO THE BOAT. Then try to get them aboard.
So the boat hook comes out and they tug me over to the hull. However, twenty minutes later I am still in the water. A make shift sling didn't work and the spare halyard was binding on other rigging making the lift impossible. So the recovery was not a success, but making the overall point was a total success.
You must have a strategy for recovery in place with the proper equipment and try out the system to make sure it works.
However, the bigger point here is - DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STAY ON THE BOAT.
Check out the previous blog that has a link to you tube showing how easy a crew overboard can happen.