Hove-To & Hanging On – The Truth About Man Overboard Recovery | The Sailing Podcast

What happens when you mix a lee shore, a dark November night, and a jib sheet wrapped around your propeller? You get one of the many "cock-up" stories featured in this second installment of our Sailing Nerds special.

Hosts Theo Stocker (Editor of Yachting Monthly) and Toby Heppell (Group Digital Editor for Future Publishing's Marine group) sit down at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club to share their most embarrassing maritime mistakes, from RNLI rescues to "slow-motion" marina crashes.

Beyond the blunders, the duo dives deep into the realities of Man Overboard (MOB) recovery for short-handed crews and kicks off a high-stakes round of Fantasy Boat Shopping—this time with a hypothetical £1 million budget. Plus Stick around for a "bright" discussion on the best torches and lanterns to keep in your kit bag.

Brought to You By

This episode is made possible by His Majesty’s Coast Guard. Safety at sea starts with preparation. Before you head out, visit hmcoastguard.uk/checklist to order your free waterproof safety checklist and ensure you're ready for the unexpected.

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00:56 – Introduction: Theo and Toby welcome you to the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.
• 00:05:40 – Confessions of a Sailor: The hosts share their most embarrassing "cock-ups" and RNLI rescue stories.
• 00:30:03 – The Reality of Man Overboard: A deep dive into short-handed MOB recovery and the kit that actually makes a difference.
• 00:47:04 – Fantasy Boat Shopping (£1M Budget): From the sleek Solaris 50 to the high-speed Rapido 50 trimaran.
• 01:03:53 – The Kit Bag: A technical look at torches, searchlights, and the enduring charm of hurricane lanterns.
• 01:15:10 – Closing Remarks: Previewing the next debate: Fin keels vs. Bilge keels.

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