18ft skiff / skiff safety

Originally posted by tickler Did some poor chap not die  in a RS 400 at Abersoch last year because the mainsheet wrapped round his neck? Perhaps  all eventualities cannot be catered for.

Laser 4000 at the Nationals. Was the hook getting caught on the lowers if I remember correctly.

High risk? Higher risk cirtainly, but not high risk. I would bet that more people die playing football each year then they do sailing.

As safety boat crew our current brief is to get the boat up asap, not to spend time trying to free those under the hull.  The rational behind this is that the person trapped has a better chance of survival and is easier to free if the boat has been brought upright.

My concern with the spare air being carried by the safety boat is that as well as losing time by putting it to use, there could also be a danger in supplying the air to the trapped person.  If that person should panic whilst under the boat and try to snatch at the person supplying the air then you could have just doubled your problem.

If you bring the boat upright asap you get a much clearer view of what is happening, may well have freed the trapped person anyway and have also not risked anyone else.

In the case of a boat sailing on its own, if the crew are confident they can utilise the cannister effectively and are aware of not putting themselves in danger air , then I think it is an excellent idea.

(Who remembers when doing lifesaving at the swimming pool, being taught how to kick the panicking person away if they snatch at you so you don't get into trouble too?)

Yes good points. Although an 18 isn't easy* to get upright even with a safety boat.
*(read fast enough to avert a situation, especially when someone is hooked up). And when you include rescue boat response time, situation assessment and getting along side (getting to the forestay) anyone hooked up is going to need air just about when the rescue boat arrives. So I take your point but I think I might prefer to risk the panic of the trapped crew member and try and provide 'spare air' if I had it.

The current rescue boat advice is correct because, to my knowledge, no club rescue crews have anything on board like 'spare air'. It's just possible that advice might be different if something like this was available.

Interestingly in powerboat racing there is often a dive boat team. Although I'm not suggesting that. It does seem a logical bit of kit to have on offer.


Edited by Jack Sparrow

Originally posted by winging it I think I would add to that Jack that although I've righted most sorts of craft, I would not necessarily know the best way to right an 18 ft skiff and I suspect that would apply to a lot of safety crew.  Certainly the RYA syllabus doesn't really cover it. I suppose that points the way to an extra level of training for crews expecting to cover such boats and could also include ways of supporting a person who might be trapped.

I think thats a very VALID point - despite being what I would consider to be a reasonable experienced rescue boat crew/driver - I wouldn't have a clue about 18 specific issues, and I'm sure the same would apply w.r.t. to most boat crews at events where 18s are sailed in this country.

The other issue is size of boat - with any of the youth boats an adult rescue boat crew should basically pretty much be able to get it up on there own - again I would imagine this is difficult with an 18..