Staying safe solo
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8960
Printed Date: 24 Nov 25 at 9:52am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Staying safe solo
Posted By: 2547
Subject: Staying safe solo
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 3:09pm
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Ok ... here are some tips for staying safe solo sailing ... 1) Tell someone what you are up to and what time you will be back and that you will confirm your safe return at this time; and tell them if they don't hear from you to raise the alarm 2) Carry some form of communication VHF or mobile 3) Flares (but I don't like this option) 4) Check your kit and carry a few spare bits of rope and a knife 5) Check the forecast and tide 6) Be realistic about the risks, your ability and the what ifs 1) is the most important and no-one regardless of ability should be beyond this. These days you can get an app for your GPS enabled smartphone that will update your current position to a website every 2 minutes ... this means the person you notified in point 1) can just look on-line for your location. These apps are excellent saftey options for any solo outdoor sport and the cost is almost zero. Don't be the next Darwin award case ... use yer noggin ... it's not uncool to be safe ... it is uncool to be dead. |
Replies:
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 3:13pm
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like plus it might also be worth adding to point 6 to be realistic about the type of vessel you are in and the sort of conditions and safety cover that might be a pre-requisite.
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Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 3:24pm
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Even on the lake we have a rule about sailing with a buddy or with safety cover in winter - 2 boats are safer than one - though you still need all the above.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 3:26pm
I killed an iphone with a leaky aquapac, so now when windsurfing at the coast, I usually carry one of these: They're available from ebay for £12.99 on buy it now at the moment here, less bulky than a VHF and 'better than nothing'... http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/220940832846 - http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/220940832846
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Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 4:11pm
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Good shout; I think in most areas a mobile could prove more useful than a VHF. Of course check your mobile coverage on your usual water. I have called out a rescue boat for a scuppered B14 on my mobile before; if I had not been there they could have been on for a long wait. Funny how many people seem happy not to plan for these things ... "it could happen to anyone" ... When I were a lad point 1) was drummed into me big time ... perhaps they don't cover this stuff on the squad training. |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 4:11pm
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I think the simplest answer is don't go solo on the sea at all at this time of year. It is simply too cold. Sail during club racing, or find someone to go out with, be it a windsurfer, a yotter, whatever, just find someone who will share your sailing area and keep an eye on each other. If you really HAVE to go, sail within sight of land where you have a buddy watching.
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 4:54pm
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Make sure you have good numbers stored in the phone, e.g Harbourmaster, coastguard, Club, mates with RIBs etc. You don't want to be doing 118-something to a Mumbai callcentre at that point! Likewise know the VHF channels used locally. The sea temp is 7.3degC today, probably warmer than inland water. The air is not! Brrrrramblemet! It will be colder in April. One point I will make is that a drysuit really comes into its own when something like this happens. Wetsuit might be fine when you are actively sailing, but if you are forced to stop for a while, that's a game-changer. |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:08pm
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my new typhoon max b arrived today.....I have a coastal course next weekend. Wouldn't want to go without it.
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Max McCarthy
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:17pm
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I have never been told to do any of the above, when I was learning to sail, I just picked parts of it up, not all of it. And I think one very important point is to carry a knife with you, if you get caught in the sail, a quick cut, your out, if your on a cat, and get caught in the netting, quick cut and your out. If you got caught on the trapeze, of an old boat, without the option for a quick release, quick cut, and your safe. I certainly think this is one of the most important for inland sailing. When at sea, I would have said all are as important as eachother, my sister and I once sailed in a force 5, part the way around an island, with very thick fog, and hail, and the land disappeared from our sight. Luckily we got the club rescue boats in contact, and managed to get back from sea safely. (it was also a club organised cruise, so the rescue boat wasn't too for away) and they guided us back to land, along with the other boats out with us. ------------- Vintage skol moth 3438 |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:19pm
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a good old fashioned whistle is also essential
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:22pm
It's a good point... I'm fairly negative towards drysuits these days, I guess that's probably come with the luxury of being a short tow away from a hot shower in more recent years. But at coastal clubs being rescued doesn't always mean you're immediately taken back to shore like at a pond, infact now I think about it, some of my coldest sailing experiences have been sitting in rescue boats waiting for the race to finish so my boat and I can hitch a ride ashore after the last boat crossed the line.
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Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:29pm
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So the advice has extended to: 1) Tell someone what you are up to and what time you will be back and that you will confirm your safe return at this time; and tell them if they don't hear from you to raise the alarm
2) Carry some form of communication VHF or mobile 3) Flares (but I don't like this option) 4) Check your kit and carry a few spare bits of rope, a knife & a whistle (FOX40 is the nuts) 5) Check the forecast and tide 6) Be realistic about the risks, your ability, your craft and the what ifs - 7) Dress appropriatly; drysuit for the sea in the winter
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Posted By: kurio99
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:44pm
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This is one of those sports where you die in a few minutes or several hours. Most of the things on the original list are good for the latter situation. I might add a paddling device (eg praddle) if there is room. Add duck tape - we once used this wonderful stuff to put a canoe back together that got wrapped around a rock on a wilderness trip.
For the first situation, you are watching for drowning or cold water shock.
1) Yes, carry a knife for entanglements, but keep it on you, not stowed in the locker. I have a dive knife strapped to my vest, ready in an instant.
2) Obviously, a good PFD.
3) Wetsuit or Drysuit suited to your water conditions. Done up at all times, not half unzipped for comfort. Something warm for your head - that's where you can lose the most heat.
4) Keep reasonably close to shore if possible.
5) Plenty of practise in safer conditions. Get used to cold water immersion and its effects. Become proficient in capsize recovery.
Buddies is the way to go, but they can be hard to find. I have this problem, since I tend to be insanely gung ho - once took my kayak to a local river but was disappointed to find it frozen solid.
 Hard to find anyone equally insane. Unfortunately, my club does not have a place for a buddy signup list on their website. |
Posted By: Daniel Holman
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:52pm
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I think that this is a great thread and very pertinent to others at the moment. I'm not a dad (as far as I know) and perhaps my tune will change then, but I think that we are in danger of having a generation of kids for whom it is implausible to go sailing without a 2:1 instructor & RIB ratio. Safety is important and everything, but developing seamanship skills to assess risks & mitigate them, and empowering kids to take responsibility for their own safety is a pretty big deal. I would have lost the majority of my sailing hours if I hadn't gone out alone as a young'un. Similarly with windyboarding. How old is that girl that has gone round the world solo? Shows what is possible as long as the right safety stuff has been put in place. Also puts the onus on people to make sure their kit is in safe order. I would say that #1 thing when sailing solo is to sail upwind of where you have launched. You can drift in a broad reach in one capacity or another in most boats with most breakages. This means you can stay with what remains of your gear which always is a bonus. Secondly, developing an understanding of reasonable risks, their consequenses and mitigations - i.e I ask myself what the worst that could happen in any given weather/tide/location/density of passing boats/temperature scenario would be, and whether you could deal with them alone. If not, assessing likelihood of others being able to help - this includes how you'd attract attention, i.e.anything from waving to EPIRB. How far would I have to swim / drift with a broken bone, for instance. Grim, but needs considering. |
Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 5:58pm
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One thing I have worried about is seperation from the boat both in single handers and 2 person boats when sailing with someone who would not be able to right the boat and come back for you.
In this instance I have a tied the tail of the mainsheet to my PFD.
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 6:01pm
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at this time of year you'd be dead from hypothermia within a very short period, so no need to worry about how far you can swim. is it fair to expect others to help if things go wrong? what risks are you subjecting them to? I wonder how much the recovery of the moth sailor has cost? ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 6:05pm
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The costs of recovering the moth would probably pay the RNLI's advertising bill for less than a day and gives them better publicity. Nobody died, get over it. |
Posted By: Daniel Holman
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 6:31pm
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An implicit part of going afloat, explicit if racing is that you'll help those in trouble if necessary.
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 6:33pm
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Nobody died this time, but remember the guys in the wayfarer last year? And if you want to talk publicity, how much good does this sort of thing do our sport? None whatsoever. Who picks up the flack? Not the guys who go out and sail for fun, but those of us who run underfunded training centres who then get more and more red tape and legislation dumped on us. If we want to avoid regulations that will destroy the sport for good then we ALL need to take responsibility for what we do. Most youth groups now need to wear helmets to sail in, mast head floats are also compulsory, as are devices to hold centreboards down. The nssa won't let you race without quick release hooks. All this stupid, costly legislation has been brought in because of cavalier attitudes to safety and a 'get over it' attitude. Come on guys, show some common sense. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 6:35pm
I didn't ask if people would help if you're in trouble, I asked if it was fair to expect others to carry the can if you get in a mess. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 7:31pm
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Google Dinghy Cruising Association - look at their safety reccomendations. Commonsense. Gordon ------------- Gordon |
Posted By: kurio99
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 8:27pm
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Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 8:47pm
Up tide is more important. The thing that is most likely to destroy your plans is usually the wind dying. Although in the limit, washing up a couple of miles down the coast is sometimes an option, so carrying some money for bus fare home or sustenance until a tow arrives/tide turns is worthwhile. |
Posted By: simonjohn
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 9:50pm
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Always carry an alternative means of propulsion: on the laser this is a paddle tied to the painter between bow eye and mast.
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Posted By: Ginge
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 9:52pm
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Or a hand a failing that, I've seen many lay on the bow and paddle them self in when the wind has failed them ------------- Laser |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 31 Jan 12 at 10:40pm
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Yep and with a Laser it doesn't tend to get demasted as such- you blow out a top section and there's a lot of clutter up there, but you can still limp home with a bust top section.
I think some classes also make safety and knowledge sharing around this a priority- take the MPS as an example, you are always advised to carry a spare tiller extension up the boom. I learnt this from Paul M when I bought mine, he ran through a few other tips as well, checked I had rescue cover for my furst outings and set some on the strings up to make sure I wouldn't get in a pickle with the kit- a very responsible handover. |
Posted By: kfz
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 7:42am
Not exactly quick and easy and to get hold of if you need it in a rush, better than nothing I suppose. How about a telescopic one on a lanyard in the cockpit. Been a while since I sailed a laser or such.
Plus you may need/want to take an anchor??? Have you tried one of those plastic mushroom shaped ones, I think desiged for rubber ducks and jetski's.
I would count my anchor as number 1 safety item even with saftey cover I dont think id be happy without a good pick and 30m of warp. ------------- GP14 Fleet Captain Liverpool Sailing Club http://www.liverpoolsailingclub.org/ - Liverpool SC |
Posted By: yorkie
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 7:48am
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The gp is better suited for caring things such as an anchor or paddle etc. Or even a small outboard But some classes like the moth or an mps don't really have the room for such things ------------- Laser 180945 Hill Head SC |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 9:13am
Absolutely the right answer, that sea chimp has clearly never sailed on the sea or she would know better than to even talk about sailing solo this time of year. I'm desperate to get my new craft going, but it would be criminal lunacy to go to sea in this weather, not just for my safety but for the poor b**tards in the rescue services that might have to get despatched to collect my sad & sorry corpse.
Another like mind wing wang I've been waiting for these to come in, I shall ring the store again today now I'm back. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 9:31am
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You might find the sea chimp agrees with you grumpf... that's kind of the point of this thread, a follow up to the moth sailor who was pulled out of the solent by the RNLI earlier this week. btw- chimps are not monkeys, monkeys have tails, chimps do not. You clearly need to gem up on your Haplorhine vs Strepsirrhine anthropology.
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Posted By: Morewindplease
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 9:50am
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The guy in the moth was lucky he had a white hull. Had he been in the usual black colour, i doubt he'd have been spotted.
Maybe illuminous foils would help, particularly on the black ones (if they don't already)
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Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 10:07am
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I hadn't spotted that foiling idiot thread when I read this, I just assumed the sea chimp was being herself, never underestimate the predictability of stupidity. As to the foil idiot, my description stands, criminal insanity, he should be fined heavily for endangering others, then taken to the side of the road and shot. Had that been a windsurfer or kitesurfer who frankly would have been in slightly less danger because they have better self rescue options, there would have been a furore of derision from the yottie community but because it's a 'sailor' the crime isn't presented in the same light. It should be at least a hanging offence.
------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 10:12am
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oh now come on Graeme... we've already been advised that jury by forum is not acceptable, therefore I don't think execution by forum is either ;-) perhaps you should post that in the foiler moth rescued thread...
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 10:18am
Has anyone ever seen Clarkson and grumpf in the same room? ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 10:24am
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Isn't Clarkson 6' 5"?
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 10:43am
NOOO .... Clarkson + Small man syndrome = GRP
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Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 1:07pm
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Clarkson + Small man syndrome = GRP
Is it possible to have a worse case of small man syndrome than Clarkson? ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 01 Feb 12 at 1:11pm
Yes  ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |