Thank you Robert for your excellent summary of safety issues.
I would just add the following:
Make sure all lines are secured and out of the way. A fouled line often
leads to more complications and ultimately you are in the water. If you are
fouled in the line it can keep you under the boat.
I use the McKee rule: you lose 15% of your available energy getting rigged
and off the float (or off the beach, if that is your situation); you lose
another 25% of your energy each time you capsize. Do the math. After three
capsizes, it's time to come in, regardless of what your adrenaline is telling
you.
If you see the boat coming over and you are in the water, make an effort to
get out from under. I've been fortunate enough not to be caught, but I have
a friend who was caught on a 49er and ended up in the hospital with water in
her lungs.
Sail within your limits and under control. It's really a lot like skiing.
And, just like skiing, it's often that last run when you're tired that
results in the big crash!
Most of all, have fun but be safe!
Chris
In a message dated 1/22/2009 10:06:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
rharper@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
One thing I forgot was the discussion on PFD's. It is said that the
primary reason they don't use them on the 18's is because the wings are so
wide and there is rarely air trapped under the boat when it turtles so
they feel safer being able to get under the water and work their way out
from under the boat. I don't think this is a big issue in a Swift but
there also isn't much air under the boat when it turtles. It was said that
it would be a good idea to get one of those manual inflating vests like
Bram uses rather than a standard PFD. That way you can leave it deflated
to get free of the boat and then inflate it later when you need it. I
still use a type II PFD and I'm not sure if I'll be getting an inflatable
soon. I probably will if I get by somewhere that has one on sale that I am
willing to buy.
On Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:23:44 -0700, Paul O'Sullivan
<paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Robert , that was brillant , thank you , I will be changing some things
> in how I dress and will gets multiple knives etc....I am still looking
> for a girl friend to drive a chase boat...until then .....
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Harper [mailto:rharper@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 5:13 PM
> To: swiftsolo.catzooks.com
> Subject: Safety Thoughts
>
> Paul has asked me to sum up some of the safety discussion that took
> place
> on Sailing Anarchy in the Dinghy forum after the recent death of Peter
> McGonigle Wenner, training with Shark on Pegasus.
>
> Aparently Peter had his hook catch in the webbing of one of the racks
> and
> could not get free. Unfortunately they could not get him free in time
> and
> was on life support for a while in the hospital and the family had to
> make
> the tragic choice to remove the life supports and he shortly passed
> away.
>
> Following that event, there have been two long threads in DA over what
> could/should have been done to avoid this in the future.
>
> Sailing in general and maybe especially skiffs is a dangerous sport
> though
> the numbers don't show it. I know in my area, they did a little research
>
> when the legislature was thinking of requiring all boaters to pass
> something like a auto driving course in order to operate any water
> craft.
> In the ten years they looked at, there was one sailing related accident
>
> that was reported to the state. 60% were due to PWC's, and the bulk of
> the
> rest were pleasure boaters not paying attention.
>
> That being said, it would be a very bad thing for me to lose any of my
> sailing friends. So I'll try to summarize what was covered in the Dinghy
>
> Anarchy threads.
>
> First is to make sure you are fit, aware of the conditions, and not
> alone.
> As much as possible, sail with buddies or a chase boat. If you don't
> have
> either as I often don't, cary a waterproof hand held VHF radio with you
> so
> if you get in trouble, you can call for help. Almost every body of water
>
> has someone with a radio. It is almost a required toy these days for
> people who like toys to go with their toys. ALWAYS let someone know
> where
> you are going, how far you intend to go out, and when you plan to
> return.
>
> Check your boat very closely while rigging and make sure that there are
> no
> sharp objects that need to be covered with chafe tape and make sure the
>
> rigging is not worn. I prefer using shackles to hooks. Shackles are
> closed
> and don't easily open and aren't usually prone to catching things. I've
>
> heard of one Swiftie having a hook catch on the back of his PFD and
> trapped him under the boat for a bit. Make sure that what you use for
> rigging cannot catch onto anything. This will not only save your life
> but
> often lenghten the life of you kite. Take the attitude that if it is at
>
> all possible to hook onto something, it will and find a better part.
>
> It was recommended to tape a knife to the tiller, gantry, or for us the
>
> cross bar. This is in addition to carying a knife on your person. There
>
> are knives that are specially made that make it very hard to stab
> yourself
> but very easy to hook a line or webbing and cut yourself free. I often
> cary a knife in my wetsuit at my chest with a lanyard that will allow me
>
> to get the knife out to arm's length. I know Ron takes a knife with him
> at
> all times, I've sharpenned it several times and seen where it ends up
> when
> I'm done. Some harnesses come with a knife and sheeth built in.
>
> Now for the gear you wear. It was recommened to always wear a wetsuit or
>
> something similar to protect against the inevitable cut. When it is hot,
>
> I've started to wear a very thick pair of running tights but usually
> wear
> a wetsuit. I remember being chastized by some friends while having a
> beer
> break and was handed a great oportunity to say see that's why when a
> woman
> came off a Hobie with a six inch gash in her thigh. I also have some war
>
> wounds and ugly scars from times I've gone out without a wetsuit myself.
>
> Stitches and a trip to the ER are much more costly than a good wetsuit.
>
> Gloves are a very good thing to have and I've gotten so I prefer those
> $3
> work gloves that are cottong coated with the blue or red rubber. They
> last
> longer than the regular sailing gloves and at $3, you can go through a
> lot
> of them for the price of a good pair from Ronstan though I do love their
>
> gloves. I've had the work gloves last a season before. Just dry them
> well
> at the end of the day. Cut the tip off the index finger and the thumb
> and
> there you are.
>
> It was also recommended that people wear a rash guard top over
> everything,
> EXCEPT the harness. The reason for not wearing it over the harness is
> that
> it makes it very hard to get out of your harness with a rash guard over
>
> it. With the harness on the outside, all you have to do is cut some of
> the
> straps around the hook to get free of the harness. Make sure your
> harness
> fits well and doesn't have any hanging loops that can catch on the
> rigging
> or other gear on the boat.
>
> To me, the quick releasing harnesses are a red herring as there is a
> small
> handful of people that would need one and though the loss of any life is
>
> tragic, I don't think legislating them is the answer. I feel that with
> proper planning and training, we can avoid almost all of the conditions
>
> where they would be needed. For me, this is a personal choice and if you
>
> find one that works well for you and you like, I'll be the last to
> harass
> you for it.
>
> Bram has built a lot of safety into the Swift because he feels it is
> important in a single handed boat for that boat to be safe first. Often
>
> people have said a Swift would be faster if.... but then it wouldn't be
> a
> safe boat either. Another thing that Bram has always preached is that
> you
> should stay within your limits. Start in lighter winds probably between
> 6
> and 8 knots. Unless you are Mark, you won't be trapping but you also
> won't
> get into too much trouble either. Then work your way up the wind range
> as
> you become comfortable with the boat. Get to the point that you can
> easily
> tack, set the kite, gybe, and dowse at will and without capsizing before
>
> moving up to the next range. Unless you have a good support crew ready
> and
> waiting to help you, it is better to play it safe and live to sail
> another
> day. It will be far easier on you and the boat if you do. If you want to
>
> push yourself, do so at the clinic but let the chase boat know so that
> they can shadow you closely. We'll have experienced sailors there to
> help.
>
> Ask questions of fellow Swifties/Musto sailors. There are no stupid
> questions. Many of us have had the same ideas and wondered the same
> thing.
> I haven't seen any of us that look down on new sailors. Quite the
> oposite,
> we are very glad to see more people joining in the fun and one thing
> you'll find, is that we love to talk about our boats and sailing. The
> hard
> part is to get us to shut up once you get us started.
>
> I'm sure there's more but I'm already up to almost a book for e-mail so
>
> before I lose too many, I'll end here. I feel this pretty much
> summarizes
> the topics covered on Sailing Anarchy. Some of you will have differing
> points and preferences and that is fine with me. Feel free to share them
>
> with the rest of us. More information is better than none and I'll be
> happy to learn more.
>
> Sail safe, sail fast, love your sailing, and keep the stick in the air.
> I
> hope to see you all very soon!
>
--
Live large, love lots, and sail fast!
The mark of who you are is determined by what you do when you don't have
to do it.
USA 050 Fugu
77959 Wasabi
Robert Harper
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