abdondon ship practice

[JumbleDuck]

The stepping up into the liferaft philosophy is not always the best option. I have read two articles now where those who abandoned the yacht wished they had abandoned sooner. The stepping up philosophy actually reduced their post abandonment survival probability.

That's interesting, and counters much of what we hear about lessons learned from That Bloody Race[1]. In my own case it's academic[2], as abandoning ship into a liferaft would require a very quick delivery service from the nearest chandlers. However, you've refined my position to "abandon sometime between when you know you will have to and when you know that you now have to". Thanks.

[1] YM drinking game: take a drink every time you read the words "Contessa 32" or "1979 Fastnet Race. Try to stay sober till the adverts.
[2] As an academic I appreciate the fact that the word means "pointless, nugatory, of no practical value"

 

[Deleted member 36384]

There is never a one answer fits all scenarios. In the fastnet race not all boats were sinking that we're abandoned, they were just getting battered about and shipping lots of water, I would not abandon in those situations.

I would abandon on the Firth of Clyde if I was slowly sinking though. I would not invest a significant amount of time trying to stem the flow of water. In the Clyde, prompt rescue is fairly certain. Placing myself and family into the dinghy/liferaft when the yacht was still relatively stable, would be my priority. The yacht is insured, it can sink for all I care. Rescue from a liferaft around the UK Coast will probably be the least risky.

Most of the articles I have read about saving leaking yachts shows that the exercise is likely to be futile. So, after some initial effort e.g. Checking of sea clocks and skin fittings, pumping effort, I will rapidly switch to abandoning in a controlled way. This is my philosophy for the type of coastal sailing that I do.

 

[single]

On the same subject i just spotted these on ebay- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-liferaft-thermal-protective-aids-/201068218557?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item2ed09988bd

 

[prv]

On the same subject i just spotted these on ebay- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ex-liferaft-thermal-protective-aids-/201068218557?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sailing&hash=item2ed09988bd

I bought four of them last year, quite possibly from the same seller. I tend to wear the minimum clothing necessary for the conditions when sailing (ie, if it's not raining heavily I probably won't be wearing oilies) so a little extra protection if we were suddenly pitched into the liferaft seems like a good thing. I have four fluorescent-coloured woolly hats in the bag too

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is never a one answer fits all scenarios. In the fastnet race

Drink!

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Drink!

Slàinte mhòr, JumbleDuck!

On the Contessa 32 one wouldn't have to wait long to step up. Dang! Another drink is required.