Person Overboard Recovery: Skills Workshop
This 3.5 hour workshop is ideal for the competent crew member looking to learn to execute a Person Overboard Recovery (a required skill for the DSC Skipper Checkout).
You will learn the procedure for the Quick Stop Person Overboard crew recovery and will practice it multiple times. This course will include a discussion of the safety equipment available on DSC keelboats that is useful in a crew overboard situation and a discussion of how to help the crew back onboard the boat. You will also discuss procedures for making an emergency call over the VHF radio.
The workshop will begin on land with a chalk talk outlining the process, and you will spend the majority of the time on the water practicing. You’ll receive a handout diagramming the maneuver for future reference.
Finally, you will also be exposed to the Figure 8 Person Overboard method, a second way of returning to the person in the water under sail.
Prior to attending this workshop, you should feel comfortable with the below skills as this is not a beginner course:
- Tacking
- Jibing
- Basic Helm Skills and ability to steer and trim for each of the points of sail
- Wind awareness
- Rigging and Derigging a small keelboat
- Vocabulary - parts of the boat
You’ll learn the following skills:
- What to do in the event someone falls overboard
- What safety equipment is available and useful for the rescue
- How to execute a Quick-Stop recovery
- What to do if your approach is too fast or too slow
- How to help the crew in the water back onto the boat
Please note that there is a firm administrative course change/cancellation fee of $35 per course for switching dates or cancelling. Full cancellation policy is on the FAQ page, located here - please read carefully as refunds are not guaranteed for cancellation within 14 days of class start date.
Details:
This is an Adult Education course, and all participants must be at least 16 years of age. To enquire about family-based sailing education options, contact us (email info@downtownsailing.org).
The course is 3.5 hours in length without a meal break. You must be available for the full timeframe as the boats will spend the majority of the session on the water.
This course is taught aboard the DSC’s keelboats, and you’ll sail on either a J/22 or a Sonar. Both have a heavy keel to provide stability and will not tip over during your sail!
Parking is available on site in the gravel lot of the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Classes meet behind the BMI pavilion, near the gate to the Downtown Sailing Center main dock. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to orient yourself and meet your instructor.
Life jackets are required to be worn and will be provided. Please wear close-toed shoes for safety. We recommend dressing for the weather (it can feel cooler on the water than on land!) and bringing a full water bottle, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and a great attitude.
Please see our Adult Ed FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy.
The on-site bathroom is a port-a-potty.
If the event is full, you may add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up or we are able to add more boats.
Payment is due at the time of registration to reserve your spot - space is limited so don't delay!
