Another death on the Clipper race

[Spyro]

This raises an interesting question, on my boat I set the rules, if somebody chooses to do something different they will be put ashore and never set foot on board again. However, on the Clipper race the crew have paid for their places, what sanction does the skipper have if someone decides to do their own thing? I've never heard of anyone being thrown off the race.

What no keel hauling or lashing?

 

[horatio_nelson]

Comrade Red nailed it

RIP Sarah

 

[Robert Wilson]

I had an interview some years back (won't say which RTW company) for a skipper position. I was given a theoretical scenario & asked what I would do.
The scenario was, " a crew member comes up on deck, obviously the worse for wear due to alcohol, what action would you take"? My reply was, " at the crew briefing, all would have been made aware, that this is a dryboat. Anyone contravening that rule, puts themselves & other crew members at risk. Initially I would send the crew member below & off the deck, then rummage & confiscate any remaining alcohol. Finally, at next port of call, throw the crew member off the boat". I didn't get the job. In the feedback, I was told that the crew were fee paying customers & my action was seen as too harsh! Having previously done some work on Chay's fleet & aware of his rigorous discipline, I thought my response was reasonable.

A bit (lot) unfair of them to omit to tell you they would be fee-paying crew.
Anyway, you still said the correct thing, and I'll bet you're glad, in a way, that they chose some other person to deal with the idiot miscreants.

 

[Gerry]

An insightful article from the Telegraph by an ex-Clipper crew member.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sailing/...od-that-the-clipper-race-is-the-adventure-of/

 

[steve yates]

[QUOTE\

As I've said before the skipper has a duty of care to the crew whitch you don't seem to believe is written in Nautical law, it's here: http://thechartroom.co/2014/06/23/skippers-duty-of-care/

>> Whilst one must applaud you for insisting that all your crew are always clipped on whilst on your boat could you tell us what you would do if you found one of them not clipped on? Throw them off the boat? Make them walk the plank?

Very funny but it wouldn't happpen.[/QUOTE]

One... what is this nautical law? is it something distinct from normal law as in one enacted by an act of parliament? A duty of care does not mean that one is solely responsible for aanything and everything that another does.

Two.... it wouldn't happen? what a ridiculous statement. Is that because you only sail with jane? You sail for a hobby, you are not god, nor the master of an 18th century clipper; you can advise crew on what you want, you cannot actually enforce it. Where does that leave you if someone does not comply?

In court according to your own logic.

 

[mjcoon]

I had an interview some years back (won't say which RTW company) for a skipper position. I was given a theoretical scenario & asked what I would do.
The scenario was, " a crew member comes up on deck, obviously the worse for wear due to alcohol, what action would you take"? My reply was, " at the crew briefing, all would have been made aware, that this is a dryboat. Anyone contravening that rule, puts themselves & other crew members at risk. Initially I would send the crew member below & off the deck, then rummage & confiscate any remaining alcohol. Finally, at next port of call, throw the crew member off the boat". I didn't get the job. In the feedback, I was told that the crew were fee paying customers & my action was seen as too harsh! Having previously done some work on Chay's fleet & aware of his rigorous discipline, I thought my response was reasonable.

I thought that one accidental advantage of the total lack of privacy (as I understand it) on these race boats is that there would be no opportunity to get drunk on your own!

Mike.

 

[alant]

I thought that one accidental advantage of the total lack of privacy (as I understand it) on these race boats is that there would be no opportunity to get drunk on your own!

Mike.

An alcoholic can be very sneaky where drink is concerned.

PS, this was a theoretical situation.

 

[[33964]]

We do not know whether this tragedy was triggered by green water sluicing through an open transom.

Bavaria focus on the cruising market these days hence their open/closable transom designs are relatively more snug than many other examples from different manufacturers.

The transom on the 70's is not open once the liferafts are in place.

 

[[33964]]

Very sad. RIP Sarah.

And well put ComradeRed (and others of the same genre).

There cannot be many of us on here that are so perfect that we have never failed to clip on when we should have - but our luck held and so we are here to post comments.
RKJ doesn't yet know the full facts and so has asked for a full review when the boats arrive in port. Unless we exceed his knowledge of the facts (unlikely) and ocean experience (also unlikely) we should leave to him to ascertain the causes.

I think what a lot of people could do with knowing is that the Clipper organisation is fanatical about safety and learning from even minor incidents such as fingers getting trapped in a hatch.

I have never come across such a positive, sensible and reactive safety culture before.