MOB

Man overboard drill successfully executed today. Whilst escorting one of the dogs back from the Astro turf in the bow, my broad-brimmed hat was torn from my head. Our forward motion and the wind caught the brim, slipped the chin strap over my head and twirled the hat into the water.

John turned the boat while I kept an eye on the hat; continually point to its location.

The best recovery method is the Williamson turn: 1.) Place the rudder hard over to the side of the casualty, 2.) deviate 60 degrees from the original course and then place the rudder hard over to the opposite side, 3.) when the heading is approximately 20 degrees short of the reciprocal course, the rudder should be placed amidships and the vessel steadied up, 4.) the engines should be stopped in the water with the person alongside, well forward of the propellers.

It took several pass before I was able to snag my hat with a boat hook. The hat appeared to have no damage other than being soaked and smelling like wet straw.

I was really pleased with how well we executed the drill. Also thrilled to recover my hat. The last time this happened, the hat I had was a “floating” hat from MEC. It disappeared before we turned the boat around.