his Fleet Safety Notice addresses an important lesson in offshore sailing safety: practice matters. The Newport Bermuda Race Safety Regulations (NBRSR) make this explicit — and the BROC is calling on every boat entered in the 2026 race to complete the Practice On Your Own Boat (POYOB) for Skilled Crews exercise program as the most practical and effective way to achieve full compliance.  As an added bonus, all crews who complete and fill out feedback form will be entered to win $100 gift certificate from Landfall Navigation. 

The Requirements

Three specific regulations govern Man Overboard (MOB) training for the race fleet:

•  'Annual Man Overboard Training': Two-thirds of the boat's racing crew shall practice man-overboard procedures, including demonstrating a method of hoisting a crewmember back on deck or other consistent means of reboarding.  (NBRSR 4.2)
•  'Routine Training On Board': Prior to the race start, the Captain and not less than two-thirds of the crew shall participate in onboard training, including man overboard practice (including reboarding).  (NBRSR 5.3)
•  'Safety Demonstration': A boat's crew shall be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the BROC, an ability to return to a man-overboard and to recover the victim aboard. (NBRSR 5.4)

Despite the clear importance of MOB recovery to offshore safety, the NBR inspection process has not previously required validation of NBRSR 4.2, 5.3, and 5.4. Few crews regularly practice the full evolution in real conditions — and particularly the critical final step: reboarding a human-like object onto the boat.

That gap between theory and real-world seamanship is exactly what the POYOB program is designed to close.

What Is Practice On Your Own Boat (POYOB)?

Developed by the Cruising Club of America's Safety and Seamanship Committee, POYOB is a structured, step-by-step exercise program for offshore crews and race boats. It is designed to build real, boat-specific "muscle memory" and is intended as a follow-up to Safety at Sea training courses.

Participants begin by reviewing short reading materials and an introductory video covering key MOB concepts, then move through two phases of hands-on drills with their own crew aboard their race boat:

• Dockside walkthrough: A discussion and step-by-step review of procedures before leaving the dock.
• On-the-water drills: Live practice of the full MOB evolution using a human-like victim.

The program covers:

• Immediate response steps after a crew member goes overboard
• Boat handling techniques for returning to the victim
• Methods for establishing contact using devices like the LifeSling
• Strategies for safely hoisting a crew member back aboard

Achieving Compliance and Sharing What You Learn

All 2026 Newport Bermuda Race crews need to execute MOB practice and be prepared to demonstrate competency. Following the POYOB guidelines gives you a structured framework to meet NBRSR 4.2, 5.3, and 5.4 — and to document your training for the benefit of the fleet.

After completing the exercises, crews are asked to submit a short feedback survey. The survey captures:

• Confidence levels before and after the exercise
• Key lessons learned during dockside and on-the-water practice
• What worked well and what could be improved

Sailors are also encouraged to upload photos and video from their practice sessions. These real-world examples help illustrate how different boats and crews approach MOB recovery. Collecting this feedback will help Safety at Sea instructors refine training materials while building a shared library of knowledge from across the sailing community. Race Organizers will use this feedback to assess fleet safety skill levels and overall compliance with NBRSR 4.2, 5.3, and 5.4.

As an added bonus, Landfall Navigation will be drawing two $100 gift cards among all boats that complete the exercises and submit a feedback form.

Every Boat. Every Crew. Build Your Safety Culture.

Every boat is different. Every crew operates differently. By practicing aboard your own vessel, you gain a deeper understanding of how your boat behaves during a recovery maneuver and what techniques work best for your team. While all 2026 Newport Bermuda Race yachts are strongly encouraged to follow this program, any sailor — racing or cruising — can benefit from this practice ahead of the season.

Get started on the exercise program at bermudarace.com/poyob