Although this does not happen that often it is worth being prepared for this just in case. The MOB and the boat are both equally affected by the tide so you do not have to take this into consideration when completing the manoeuvre.
1: As soon as someone falls out of the boat, regain control of it. Check that they are OK and reassure them that you are coming back. Keep an eye on them throughout the manoeuvre as it is easy to lose sight of them especially in swell.
Release the jib and turn on to a beam reach - you can use the jib as an indicator of where the wind is coming from as it should be flapping at about 90 degrees to the boat. You can also look at the main sail with it out so that boom is just off the shrouds it should be half filling and half flapping.
2: Sail away a safe distance, approximately 8 to 10 boat lengths so that on return you have the ability to slow the boat down. In light winds this distance will be less than in strong winds.
3: Tack the boat around - do not gybe as this is a slower and more controlled way and you are less likely to capsize on.
4: After your tack the boat back towards the person in the water, ask yourself the question: will the boat stop with the sail fully out? If the sail is not fully flapping then the answer is no so bear away onto a broad reach and sail slightly down wind.
5: Repeat step 4 every few meters until you can point the boat at the person in the water and both the main and the jib flaps. If it is half in, half out of the boat then you have found a close reach.
If the jib flaps down the centreline of the boat, you have sailed too far down wind and are now head to wind. If this is the case head onto a beam reach sail away again and repeat steps 3, 4 and 5.
6: Control the speed of the boat by playing the mainsheet in and out to control the power. You are aiming to pick the person up on the windward side and have stopped with the MOB at the windward shroud.
7: Ideally the boat should stop about an arms length away from the MOB. When the boat has stopped and the person is alongside gently push the tiller away from you and then let go so that you can lean over the side and help them back in by their buoyancy aid. This stops the boat inadvertently bearing away. The boat should never go head to wind to stop otherwise you may inadvertently tack on top of the person in the water.
Tip: with fully battened main sails you may have to use other techniques to slow your boat down and work out which point of sailing you are on as the sails will not flap in the same way.
