Abstract: A method of rescuing a person who has fallen overboard from a boat, including the following steps. As a first step, promptly after the person has fallen overboard, stopping the boat and deploying into the water a flotation sling on a floating tether line secured to the boat. As a second step, maneuvering the boat in order to progressively circle the person in the water so that the tether line and then the flotation sling are in reach of or contact the person, whereupon the person can place the flotation sling under his arms, and does so. As a third step, essentially stopping the boat. As a fourth step, hauling in the tether line so that the person in the flotation sling is drawn alongside the boat. And, as a fifth step, hoisting the flotation sling and person supported therein out of the water and onboard the boat to complete the rescue.