Reducing risks in a risky business

by Claire Caffrey, RYA Scotland 14 Feb 2013 19:52 GMT 23-24 February 2013

The RYA Scotland Big Weekend supported by MalinWaters is hosting charity sailor Alan Rankin who will be on hand to talk about his singlehanded trip around the UK and Ireland. Taking place in Largs on 23 – 24 February 2013, the RYA Scotland Big Weekend will offer visitors a wide range of workshops and clinics for people of all interests and experience that they can drop into for only £5 a ticket. There will also be a number of exhibitors, clubs and classes there to promote their services, products, events and activities ahead of the 2013 season.

Setting off from Ullapool in his F27 Trimaran Trade Winds Alan will head clockwise to the Shetland Isles rounding Muckle Flugga and then south to the busy English Channel. From there Alan will sail past the Scilly Isles and on up the West Coast of Ireland before heading out to St Kilda and returning around the northern tip of the Outer Hebrides to Ullapool. The voyage is 2,200 miles in some of the most challenging yet beautiful waters in the world.

Alan plans to stop at; Lerwick, Blyth, Lowestoft, Brighton, Poole, Falmouth, Dingle and Broad Haven before returning to Ullapool. At each of the stops Alan will run a 10k to help fundraising for his charities; Parkinson's UK, Cancer Research UK, MS Society, British Heart Foundation and Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. Donations can be made at www.soloroundbritain/charities

During the voyage Alan will utilise entirely renewable resources of: wind, wave and tidal propulsion along with and solar power and wind turbine generated energy along with food and drink sourced from sustainable producers in the UK. Cairngorm Brewery is title sponsor of the challenge.

A major element of the challenge is to maintain as high a level of safety as possible and at all times mitigate against risks associated with such an adventure. The voyage will involve many long days and nights alone at sea and to offset the risk associated with sailing in open seas and growing fatigue Alan has been working with a number of specialist advisors.

A key issue is managing sleep requirements and balancing that with safety. Alan is working with the eminent Edinburgh based sleep consultant, Dr Chris Idzikowski. Chris who is Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre has been involved in sleep research, sleep medicine and sleep management for many years. He's also worked with a single-handed sailor doing trans-ocean and round the world races. With Alan he'll be using new equipment which measures key indicators such as brainwaves and sleep patterns and therefore help to identify the best times for sleep.

Alan will undertake a regime of grabbing short cat-naps of 15 minutes throughout the day and night. Short 15 minutes napping is ideal as by that time the body and mind have not lapsed into deep sleep that is hard to waken from.

With building fatigue and the very real danger of over sleeping Alan requires a safe and fool-proof method of being woken. Further assistance in managing Alan's sleeping environment is being provided by Ullapool based marine electronics firm Watt Marine that is supplying and fitting a Wattchmate alarm system. The system will be activated when Alan goes for a sleep and after a preset period will sound an alarm. If after a further period Alan has not responded to de-activate the system a louder claxon alarm will sound. If in turn this does not illicit a response from Alan a distress message will be automatically broadcast on the emergency frequency to the coastguard and nearby shipping. The system collects data from the onboard GPS and relays the boats position speed and heading.

Getting accurate weather forecasts is also a major element in reducing risk. Alan has secured the support of Fiona Campbell who has provided forecasting to the GB Olympic team and transatlantic races. Fiona will keep watch on weather systems and advise Alan on weather windows and approaching conditions. Alan said. "Fiona is a highly respected marine forecaster so to have her on the team is such a massive help. Fiona will be watching weather systems developing in the Atlantic predicting wind speed, strength and sea state."

Alan will adopt a procedure of checking in with his shore team every six hours to relay his position speed and heading. Trade Winds will also be fitted with a tracking device supplied by YellowBrick Tracking. The transmitter will relay minute by minute position of Trade Winds to a map on the www.soloroundbritain.com website.

Alan summarised "You can never take out all risks in such an endeavour but I am determined to make the trip as safe as possible. It would be wrong to set off on such a trip without a well thought out passage and safety plan and support team. With specialist advisors and some pretty fancy bits of kit the team is doing everything it can to reduce risk and dangers."

Preparation and updates on Trade Winds Solo Round Britain Challenge can be followed on www.soloroundbritain with links to Facebook and twitter @soloroundbrit

Alan Rankin is an RYA Yachtmaster, four times class winner of the Scottish Islands Three Peaks Race and a RYA Gold member. His home sailing club is Loch Broom SC, Ullapool, having started sailing at the age of 9 at Loch Ard SC in a home built Mirror. Prior to his Farrier 27 Trimaran has sailed; Benteau 50, Bavaria 42, Hunter Delta, Club 19, Albacore, Kestrel and Mirror dinghies.

The RYA Scotland Big Weekend welcomes visitors from all over Scotland and from all different levels of experience and interest to come along and join in the fun. At only £5 for a ticket and kids under 16 going free it is great for all the family. Tickets are available to purchase on the door by cash only.

More information and details of how to get to the RYA Scotland Big Weekend can be found on the RYA Scotland website at www.ryascotland.org.uk.