What turn should you employ if the man overboard is not visible?

When dealing with a man overboard situation where the person is not visible, the Williamson turn is the recommended maneuver. This turn is specifically designed to quickly return to the approximate point where the person fell overboard.

The key feature of the Williamson turn is that it consists of a wide turn away from the individual, followed by a 180-degree turn to bring the vessel back towards the person. This allows the captain to account for the drift of the person in the water due to wind and current, enabling a more effective recovery.

Utilizing this technique increases the chances of locating the person quickly, which is critical in such emergencies. The design of the Williamson turn takes into effect the time it takes to execute the turn and the distance that the individual might drift, making it a standard practice in man overboard scenarios.

Other options may not provide the efficiency or effectiveness needed in this situation, as the racetrack turn involves a longer, possibly less direct route back to the person, while maneuvering turns may not account for drift adequately. A return turn, while it might resemble the Williamson in that it leads back to the general area, would lack the strategic drift consideration of the Williamson turn.