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October 5th, 2009Make sure there’s an EPIRB in your grab bag
January 25th, 2010Another recommendation from the Flinders Islet yacht race incident preliminary report* was that yachts should have “a ‘mini grab bag’ that is easily accessible from the cockpit of the yacht containing at least a VHF handheld radio, 2 flares and, if possible, an EPIRB.”
Personally, I don’t think the EPIRB should be optional. I’d be much happier knowing that there was one in the grab bag if I needed to abandon ship.
If you do plan to get one, it needs to be a manually operated EPIRB so that you can activate it when necessary. And preferably with GPS, which can update rescue authorities with details of your position – particularly important when being blown along in a liferaft.
* You can read our report on the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) Board’s recommendations in our Newsletter Archive.
Spotlight vs floating torch
January 22nd, 2010The recently released preliminary report* into the Flinders Islet yacht race incident recommended that:
A handheld portable spotlight be carried on board in a readily accessible position, as it has been demonstrated that the standard floating torch or equivalent does not have sufficient candle power to illuminate objects at a distance from the yacht, particularly in a search and rescue situation.
I must say that I appreciated the usefulness of such a spotlight when arriving in Southport, Tasmania long after dark. We were one of six boats sailing from Hobart to Port Davey, in the South West Heritage Wilderness. One of our fellow voyagers, Charlie, had arrived and anchored earlier. As we approached, we talked on the radio and he said he’d go out on deck and shine his spotlight to show us where he was. He also illuminated other boats, moored or at anchor in the bay. As a result we were able to find a safe place to anchor nearby.
A floating torch would certainly not have provided sufficient light to help us.
As a result I would certainly want to have a handheld portable spotlight on board any yacht I was going sail at night and recommend that other skippers do likewise.
* You can read our report on the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) Board’s recommendations in our Newsletter Archive.
Carry your own torch
January 20th, 2010I remember one of the Christmas presents I received on the eve of my first Sydney-Hobart yacht race in 1987. It was a small, black Maglite torch, with a lanyard attached – my personal light to be used when working on deck at night. It was also very useful down below at change of watch when searching for my sheepskin hat or sailing gloves or other ‘missing’ piece of clothing or equipment. It meant that I did not have to switch lights on to find my way around, disturbing other crew members in the process.
After the recent loss of two crew members from the yacht, Shockwave, at Flinders Islet, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) set up an internal inquiry. The fourth of the six recommendations made by the Board of the CYCA recognised the importance of providing illumination below decks, stating that it “may be achieved by providing each crew member with a small portable torch for use in the event of complete electrical failure on the yacht or any other emergencies”.
Lucky for me that Jim had years earlier provided me with this safeguard.
Read our full report on the Board’s recommendations in our Newsletter Archive.
Beneteau 40 wins the Sydney-Hobart yacht race
January 11th, 2010I was pleased that the overall handicap winner of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race, Two True, is not one of the motor boat brigade. In fact, she’s a brand new Farr-designed Beneteau 40, that doesn’t have a canting keel, water ballast or button-controlled winches. In other words, the crew have to use their muscle power to work the boat. The engine is only used to replenish the batteries and keep the navigation and other lighting powered up and the refrigeration down.
It’s probably just as well that conditions did not deteriorate to match those in the 1993 or 1998 race. The Beneteau I sailed on in 1993, also designed by Bruce Farr, took such a pounding that all the furniture in the forward cabin came free. Luckily, no one wanted to sleep there, forward of the mast, as the boat’s motion was far too uncomfortable but we did have to tie the fittings down so that no further damage occurred.
As the picture shows, we slept on the floor and, just for the records, we made it to Hobart.
Alcohol and boating don’t mix
December 11th, 2009Approaching the Christmas and New Year holiday period is a good time to remind ourselves that alcohol and boating don’t mix.
Every skipper should be aware of the legal limit for drinking where you sail or go boating and ensure you don’t exceed it. A better alternative is to say no to drinking alcohol while you’re on the water and wait until you’re safely back ashore.
When you are in charge of a yacht, motor boat or dinghy you need to be fully alert. Dangerous situations develop quickly, particularly when there are large numbers of occasional skippers out on their boats celebrating New Year’s Eve.
It’s not just a matter of breaking the law, you could kill or seriously injure someone. And that someone could be you.
A safety harness is useless unless its tether is attached to a strong point
November 27th, 2009It may surprise you that coming on deck to start a watch and going below at its end are the two occasions when you’re most likely to go overboard. Why? Because you undo the tether of your harness from its strong point before you descend the companionway steps.
This may seem obvious but it’s amazing how many skippers and watch captains allow crew members to come on deck unattached and/or unfasten their tethers before going below. This was illustrated in one of our recent Newsletters – An accident that should not have happened.
Whenever I’ve skippered a yacht offshore I’ve insisted that my crew follow this basic safety rule.
Today’s blog is a milestone! It’s my 100th post.
