Rescuing someone fallen overboard from a boat:
To start, steady your course in a straight line away from man overboard
- Put the helm hard over in the direction the man fell overboard (port or stbd) and wait until the boat has turned 90 degrees.
- Put the helm hard over the other way, and wait until the boat has turned 270 degrees. Be careful to keep the victim in sight during this second turn. Do not change speed.
- The boat should now be heading directly towards the victim
If a compass is available, the course change may be made based on compass heading. If not, pick a mark on the horizon off the boats beam (on land, or a distinctive cloud, or just use a best guess), and steer until the boat is heading for it. Then turn the other way until the boat is heading for the victim.
It doesn't matter how fast the boat is going, or how sharp the turn is. All that matters is that the speed is consistent and the turns are of equal radius.
Bring the vessel upwind of the person, stop the vessel in the water with the person alongside, well forward of the propellers.
Try to get the person out of the water without someone else having to get in the water also....you don't want 2 men overboard to worry about if you don't have too.