| A well-prepared yacht with a prudent skipper would | | | | ride than motoring without a steadying sail. |
| have avoided the accident at sea described below. | | | | Skippers delivering yachts usually underpower them by |
| Read the scenario, based on a true story, and think | | | | having a reef permanently in the main and by using a |
| about what should have been done differently. | | | | headsail smaller than the conditions normally would call |
| While traveling under motor at night, the yacht's engine | | | | for. That way the boat is ready for any sudden |
| failed. Efforts to restart it failed. The skipper and crew | | | | increase in wind or the failure of the engine. |
| of two were unable to raise a sail before the yacht | | | | In any case - if you don't want to rig a headsail - one |
| struck rocks of an island. Fortunately, they were able | | | | should be ready for use in an emergency. If not on a |
| to get ashore safely, apart from the skipper injuring his | | | | furler, it should be rigged with its sheets and halyard |
| ankle. | | | | attached and tied down on the foredeck. |
| What happened next? They were unable to make an | | | | A VHF radio and EPIRB should have been part of the |
| emergency call until next morning, when one of the | | | | yacht's basic communication and safety equipment. |
| crew climbed up the island and found mobile phone | | | | The skipper would then make a 'Mayday' call and set |
| coverage. After the call was made, a helicopter was | | | | off the EPIRB. Rescuers would have been notified that |
| dispatched to rescue the trio. | | | | evening, i.e. 13 hours earlier than was the case. |
| What can we learn from this? | | | | While they were fortunate to have a mobile phone to |
| When motoring at night the skipper should allow extra | | | | make contact, one wonders how long it would have |
| sea room around obstacles to avoid the risk of running | | | | been before they were found if there had been no |
| aground. | | | | mobile coverage on that island. |
| As a matter of practice except in very heavy | | | | The most disturbing thing about the whole report is the |
| conditions, the main should be hoisted although not | | | | apparent lack of any attempt to equip the yacht with |
| necessarily to its full height. Most experienced skippers | | | | even the most basic safety gear for going to sea. |
| would agree that this leads to a far more comfortable | | | | |