To
a large extent, enjoying being out on a boat comes through feeling safe
and confident. Whether you're racing, cruising or just out for the day
on your 20-footer, you need to feel secure that you and your vessel
will perform satisfactorily. Over the years, sailors of all kinds have
amassed a wealth of knowledge that makes sailing generally better and
safer. The sailing community also has a tradition of sharing information
and most of what you'll read below I learned from others along the way.
While I don't plan to offer a detailed
cruising/sailing handbook, the following 10 concepts have stood me in
good stead over the years. Add these to your own cruising/sailing guidelines
and hopefully they'll make your days afloat all the richer. They're
not listed in order of importance because each has equal considerable
merit.
1) "Shipshape
and in Bristol Fashion"
This old term is as important today as
it was long ago. Perhaps of all the advice I've had over the years the
most helpful has been this: make sure your vessel is fit for her intended
use. It's pretty broad advice, covering everything from the keel to
the top of the mast, but whether you sail a soling or a square-rigger
the same applies: your vessel should be in good working order when you
put to sea. There could be dozens of headings that apply to your particular
situation but here's a few to start you off:
- Seacocks are free and operational.
- Hose clamps are sound.
- Standing rigging is sound, without terminal cracks or parted strands.
- Running rigging is serviceable.
- Hull is sound and watertight, or if you own a wooden boat be happy
that she's leaking the normal amount.
- Hatches and portlights are secure with good gaskets.
- You have adequate ground tackle.
- Spars and sails are serviceable.
- Navigational equipment and radios are in proper working order.
- Lifejackets and safety equipment are up-to-date.
- The captain and crew should be up to the task.
Start
you own onboard checklist, beginning with these and add as you go. The
bottom line is this: when you see the breakwater disappearing astern,
you should feel confident that your vessel is ready for whatever comes
along.
2) Picking Your
Shipmates
There are lots of great shipmates out
there so choose whom you sail with. If you're a guest on someone else's
boat, satisfy yourself that you're going to feel safe and comfortable
aboard. Is the skipper careful and reasonably experienced? Are you happy
with the route and cruising itinerary he or she has chosen? Consider
how you will feel and react if the skipper starts screaming at you for
some reason.
If you are inviting guests aboard to
make an offshore passage, a two-week cruise of the islands or even a
weekend in a nearby cove, choose carefully. Unless you own a very large
yacht, it's usually difficult to find privacy, and even nice people
act differently at close quarters. There is no physiological profile
for the ideal shipmate. Those with an easygoing nature ashore should
be the same at sea, but there are no guarantees. The next-door neighbour
who seemed so friendly on terra firma could be the shipmate from hell.
The same goes for hired hands. Ideally, don't pick crew off the dock.
Take the time to go through an accredited crew agency or at least ask
for references and then check them. Stay away from booze cruisers. Apart
from getting in trouble with the law, it's just plain dangerous to sail
while inebriated.
3) Knowledge
of Local Weather
A good understanding of local weather
patterns and the ability to receive and understand marine weather forecasts
can often mean the difference between a good, fun cruise and a bad one.
Find out about the general weather patterns of the area you are going
to cruise for that particular time of year. Across the world, there
are weather phenomena peculiar to each area. The Northers of the Bahamas,
Meltemi and Scirrocos in the Mediterranean, Mexican Tehuantapec storms,
and gales of the Gulf of Lyon are just a few examples. Understanding
the tropical hurricane season is a must if you plan to cruise areas
prone to tropical cyclonic storms.
As with most things associated with sailing,
understanding and awareness of possible weather problems puts you in
a good position to avoid or deal with them in a timely fashion. With
today's technology, it's easy to get up-to-date weather information
and forecasts. The Internet provides up-to-date marine bulletins on
your local weather site. There are often phone numbers you can dial
to get the daily talking marine weather; check you local marina office
or cruising guides for numbers. There are SSB forecasts available as
well. Find out the frequency and times and tune in. Local VHF stations
often provide local weather as well. Once again, check your local marina
office. The final analysis on weather is this: if you know what to expect,
you're ahead of the game.
It's
always a good idea to let someone on the shore know where you're going
and how long you plan to be away,
so take the time to file a float plan.
4) A Safe Ship
Prudence and caution are the watchwords
of those who take little ships to sea. The Coast Guard and other marine
authorities have set guidelines for basic marine safety that are available
through a number of channels, including your local Coast Guard office
and the Internet. Marine safety publications are also available at most
marine stores. You should read up on these and follow their leads.
In addition to the above here are a few
ideas that have worked for me over the years. Have a written or mental
note of your trip/route/duration and a redundancy plan in mind beforehand.
If you're sailing to the nearby islands for the weekend, then choose
a safe haven along your route if possible in case you have to duck in
for some reason. If you're offshore then you should be prepared. (See
Tip #7, Preparation/Prevention/Practice, in Part II next month).
It's always a good idea to let someone
on the shore know where you're going and how long you plan to be away,
so take the time to file a float plan. More and more coastal cruisers
carry a cell phone. As long as you're in range they provide an excellent
safety and communications link with the shore.
Whatever the size of your boat, have
a fire and man over-board drill. Your fire drill doesn't have to be
an elaborate cruise-ship-style affair. On a 35-footer, it might be as
simple as sitting down with your family and/or guests and telling them
where the fire safety equipment is located and when and how it should
be used. Everyone aboard should know where the fire extinguishers and
main electrical power switches are. I found that a chat with my local
fire station about fighting various kinds of fires was very helpful.
If you use propane or alcohol stoves, be aware of their possible hazards
and have some rules about their use before leaving the dock. I usually
shut the propane off at the bottle on deck before going below for the
night and I have never had a problem. Have a smoking policy-one New
Year's Eve I watched a 125-foot wooden motoryacht burn to the waterline
and sink due to a tiny cigarette butt. Stow your outboard gasoline in
a safe place, and ditto for any flammables you might carry aboard like
paint thinners or charcoal lighter fluid. A small, plastic deck box
with ventilation holes in the bottom is a good, easy solution. I never
stow propane or other potentially dangerous materials below deck.
Over
the years, sailors of all kinds have amassed a wealth of knowledge that
makes sailing generally better and safer.
Your man-overboard drill presents a slightly trickier situation. Depending
on the particular circumstances of your vessel and crew, the methods
will vary, but two basic objectives apply to one and all: locate and
retrieve. To carry out a drill, choose your location and retrieval methods
before leaving the dock and have the concepts clear in mind. There are
a number of approved locator systems, but my own choice is the simple,
reciprocal course retrieval. In practice, this involves turning tightly
and returning along your reciprocal course. Have a practice run in smooth,
calm water under both sail and power. A good, easy drill involves tossing
a fender overboard to see how well you and your crew maneuver to pick
it up. You may be surprised.
Lifting your "man overboard"
out of the water can be problematic. Depending on crew number, weather
conditions and how your boat is set-up, solutions might include dragging
the person over the rail, or using a ladder, halyard or boom sling.
Decide on your plan and practice it. No sense trying to rig the bosun
chair in extremis then finding that the shackle you thought would fit
the becket on the end of the boom doesn't.
As always, prevention is better than
a cure: Don't fall overboard. Instruct your crew and or guests not to
put themselves in positions where they could go for an unwanted swim.
No wandering about the deck at night unless necessary. Have enough safety
harnesses aboard for each crewmember and passenger. Nobody will think
you're a wimp if you feel like wearing it all the time, but don't forget
to clip on. I was intrigued to see a sailing friend who wore a harness
most of the time but never hooked it to anything! For deep-sea sailors,
man overboard lights and daytime locator masts/flags are a must. Coastal
day sailors should have an easy toss rig or life rings at the ready
as per local coast guard regulations.
Two good ideas in the event of a man
overboard: quickly appoint one of your crew to stand and keep an eye
on the person in the water. Continuously pointing with an outstretched
arm helps the helmsman/skipper to go about the retrieval. Immediately
throw overboard anything that floats. Cockpit cushions are a good but
remember they will drift quite quickly in windy weather. There have
been successful retrievals due only to finding the flotsam and jetsam
that was tossed over at the moment of the incident.
Every boat should have some kind of medical
kit. There are numerous brands of ready-packed ones or you can make
up you own. Once again, the scope of your voyaging will govern your
choice. A basic kit should include adhesive bandages, aspirin, gauze
dressings, disinfectant and a good pair of scissors and tweezers. If
you are on any kind of medication, you should make sure that you have
enough on hand for the trip and then some extra. I have found over the
years that trying to fill prescriptions overseas can be difficult. If
you are planning a world cruise, then I would advise taking a medical
safety course from the Red Cross or equivalent. I did and I felt all
the more confident for it.
Next month: Personal comforts, anchoring and docking, and more helpful
tips. 
