Sailing without safety cover

During Feb 05, we were 2-boat tuning 505's off Hayling Island with Norman Byrd and Andy Davies.  The wind was Northerly and up around 25 knots as we launched.

A few hours into the session, we decided to turn for home, and being about half way between Bembridge and the lifeboat station, we faced about 25-30 minutes of fast upwind sailing to get to the boat park.

Suddenly we became aware that Hayling Island was vanishing under .....snow.  Yup, we were going to have to sail through it to get home.  The wind increased above 30knots as we tracked upwind.

At no time were we concerned, and neither crew backed off as that would have made us really cold...Dougal commented to me that he really wouldn't have wanted to be out there without another boat.

This set me to thinking about the comment regards rescue cover.

Who actually knows what their kit's limit is - especially in a "home build style of class".

I'll bet that we all fail to genuinely take account of lack of safety cover as an additional risk - because we mostly race with the kit, and view our equipment accordingly.

Is it appropriate that we all risk assess on "best case" basis?

i think that most people who sail the higher performance "home built" classes such as the 14 or cherub tend to be more experienced, better sailors, so the boats that are more likely to break tend to have a better prepared crew who will be able to deal with the problem better than some people in other classes (eg cadet). so realy sailing a "home built" boat without safety cover probably wont cause too many problems because these people know what they are doing.

perhaps people should be encouraged to try to sail their boats as if the top half of the mast has gone missing more often. maybe clubs/RYA could organise jury rigging classes or races perhaps. this would certainly be more entertaining than your normal weekend club race, but only in the correct conditions.

 

PS: ahhh what is happening to me?? im sticking up for cherub sailors

Edited by mike ellis

Originally posted by Prince Buster I frequently sail without safety cover at my club but just tend not to go too far out if it's really windy.  I don't carry a mobile or a knife.  On the odd occassion I have been tempted by the water after school and have been out a few times in just my boxers and no life jacket, yep i know it's naughty but it's just soooo tempting!!!

Yeh, just don't get caught up with any stingrays!!  The more you live on the edge, the more likely you are to fall off. Good luck.

Being able to get yourself home is an improtant aspect to all development class sailors!

In strong force 7 one day we two sail gybed and when I failed to catch the boom just right mid gybe the force snapped the kicker fixings and the mainsheet fixings - one minute we were happy next we were facing a mile or so of upwind sailing with no main or control!

Spending a measly ten mins in the water with a bit of rope sorted us with a very basic kicker and the sail back to the club was completed with me sailing it like a windsurfer by hanging off the boom!!

(btw this was at a regatta and thus getting back to ix it on dry land and gettin back out to the next race were deemed most important! rather than sailing in under jib alone!)

They do happen but they are rare. I recall seeing a French wooden one a little while ago that kinda looked like the swift solo. I'll try and find a picture somewhere.

There is debate that quality of the boats COULD be better if they are home built. Someone with the knowledge to build a boat for themselves, but not constrained by profit margains, compared to someone plugging out a boat to make the most money. I admit that some peoples efforts aren't as good as others but there are some very nice home builds out there.

Gavs Simms for example, owner and builder of mango jam, has built his hull, spars, had huge influence on the sail design, foils, adjustable t-foil etc and I can't remember the last time he had a gear failure.

Very true though... as far as development classes go the 14 and the cherub are about as different as you could get