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The best link I could find is the New Zealand Coastguard page:
http://www.boatingsafety.com/nzcg/pleasure.html  This has advice for power and sail boats.

MOB is a difficult subject which needs constant practice to ensure you are ready for it.  Some organisations (eg the RAFSA) insist that a crew performs an MOB practice EVERY TIME a cruise is started.

Getting back to the MOB is just the start.  Recovery will be more straightforward with a strong crew; with a single person left on the boat it will need special gear and more practice.  (See links above for suggestions).

Remember this can happen at night and in poor conditions.  Prevention is best - clip on to a strong point with your safety harness.

WITH AN ENGINE

The RYA method is:
  1. When the MOB happens TACK IMMEDIATELY.  Do not release the foresail sheet. This is called a 'crash tack'.  It is surprisingly effective in stopping the boat close to the casualty, and the boat will drift down close to  the MOB. 
  2. Throw flotation items like horseshoe buoys, cushions, or whatever is to hand.  Also put overboard the dan buoy (floating pole with a flag and light to assist you in locating the MOB). 
  3. Send a MAYDAY message
  4. Call to the MOB to reassure him.  Ensure a crew member is nominated to point at the MOB while recovery takes place.  It is frighteningly easy to lose an MOB in waves or poor visibility.
  5. Throw a heaving line to the MOB to start recovery.
  6. If the crash tack does not work, roll or lower the headsail, centralise the main boom with the sheet, ensure there are no lines overboard and start the engine.
  7. Motor downwind and approach the MOB upwind, stopping with the MOB near the bow.  Ensure engine is in neutral to avoid injury from the propeller.  Cut the guard rail tie lines to assist recovery.

WITHOUT AN ENGINE

A simple way to recover is:
  1. Sail on to an "apparent" beam reach (burgee across the boat). Allow yourself some sea room to manoeuvre and get yourself organized to recover the person from the water.
  2. Tack and sail on the opposite beam reach (person in water now on weather bow).
  3. Approach on a close reach easing the sheets in the final stages.  You could furl the foresail to avoid injury from flapping sails and sheets, and sail under mainsail alone.  Leeway will increase as you slow down - allow for this.
  4. Ease sheets completely to stop the boat, coming into wind to slow down, but avoid stopping head to wind as you lose control.
  5. In a larger boat it is easier to come alongside to windward of the person in the water and make the recovery over the leeward (lower) side.
  6. In a dinghy, come alongside to the leeward of the person in the water and make the recovery by he weather shroud.

Recovery up the stern ladder is OK in  calm seas.

Posted Thursday 5th November 2009