ARC safety regulations

[oldvarnish]

Like many before me I was daunted by the mass of regulations (ISAF) which I was required to comply with for a lengthy offshore event (OSTAR). In fact, when it came to implementing them I didn't think there was a single one that didn't make the boat safer or more seaworthy. Get stuck in, and get 'em done. There's no boat so pretty or precious that it can't be fitted with a cockpit-mounted bilge pump.

 

[Martin_J]

My point was that the Fastnet is shorter and closer to land than the ARC and requires two manual pumps.

How is the ARC able to list only one as a requirement?

You also learn a lot more about the nooks and crannies of your boat whilst installing a couple of 38mm hoses from the bilge to the pumps and then nowards to some new thru hull fittings

 

[AntarcticPilot]

DR doesn't work over those distances seeing as someone suggested it.

Well, most of the early navigators - before the late 18th century - made ocean crossings using DR to determine longitude; there wasn't an alternative. OK, it isn't very good over that sort of distance, and it is notorious that ships were lost because of inaccurate DR (look up Sir Cloudesly Shovell), but DR across oceans certainly works - it just doesn't work very well

Most of us could lash up something to estimate our latitude. Northern hemisphere voyagers can simply get the altitude of Polaris - it will give latitude to better than a degree, and you could lash up something to measure the altitude to a degree (a primitive cross-staff would be easy enough; no need to calibrate it as long as you have a set of trigonometric tables). That only leaves longitude, and with modern knowledge of ocean currents, DR ought to do well enough to make a land-fall. The main thing would be to make sure you always underestimate the distance travelled, so your position is behind your DR - that way you shouldn't make the mistake Sir Cloudesley Shovell made, and run onto rocks that you thought were in front of you.

 

[Chalker]

The ARC requirement is one external, a second internal one is recommended.
Extract
Bilge Pumps One manual bilge pump securely fitted, operable from on deck with companionways and hatches shut. (It is recommended that a second manual bilge pump, operable from below decks, is also fitted). Unless permanently fitted, bilge pump handles shall be provided with a lanyard, securely attached, and catch, or similar device, to prevent accidental loss.

 

[Neil_Y]

In answer to antarctic pilot...

True in a way...but that is DR + Astral for latitude, then at least you know which reef/island you'll hit but not quite when if heading East or West.

I'm sure many of the ocean sailors now without GPS would not know where to start getting any sort if fix, and DR on its own after 4-5 days could be 20-30 miles out.

On the bilge pump question make sure it's big and solid, there's nothing worse than emergency kit failing under sustained use...been there

 

[Island Packet]

I note that the requirement for a manual bilge pump "permanently installed" is also part of the ISAF & ORC regulations for any race that is beyond sheltered water. In other words, temporary pumps on a spare washboard or a board you wedge across the cockpit wouldn't be permitted.

Well you are wrong so far as the arc is concerned. I have it in writing from the organisers that a pump on the washboards is acceptable and was the approved configuration on an ip 485 that completed the arc.

As to srew holes the 485 has an electric pump operable from the cockpit and a manual pump from the galley. Ip say it is not possible to fit a manual pump in the cockpit without huge modification. They also say their configuration complies with all the manufacturing regulations in europe.

So there it is and hence my earlier post. You may not agree but that is the way ip485 owners go about it.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Well you are wrong so far as the arc is concerned. I have it in writing from the organisers that a pump on the washboards is acceptable and was the approved configuration on an ip 485 that completed the arc.

As to srew holes the 485 has an electric pump operable from the cockpit and a manual pump from the galley. Ip say it is not possible to fit a manual pump in the cockpit without huge modification. They also say their configuration complies with all the manufacturing regulations in europe.

So there it is and hence my earlier post. You may not agree but that is the way ip485 owners go about it.

I don't think anyone is arguing with the fact that IP say that they comply with the 'builders regulations' (whatever those are) - its a matter of whether two permanent bilge pumps is regarded as good practice. Furthermore I think that those of who were quoting the various race regulations were using them to reinforce the point that best practice is two manual bilge pumps; not to suggest that ARC boats have to comply. Clearly ARC boats don't have to comply with the ISAF race regulations, but I would still suggest that the race regulations might be a good starting point for a safety check list for those who wish to sail offshore.

Regarding Island Packet. My experience is that IP make boats that are very comfortable to live on but they have their disadvantages. I am disappointed (and surprised) to hear that its very difficult to add a manual bilge pump to your IP which can be operated from the cockpit.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

In answer to antarctic pilot...

True in a way...but that is DR + Astral for latitude, then at least you know which reef/island you'll hit but not quite when if heading East or West.

I'm sure many of the ocean sailors now without GPS would not know where to start getting any sort if fix, and DR on its own after 4-5 days could be 20-30 miles out.

On the bilge pump question make sure it's big and solid, there's nothing worse than emergency kit failing under sustained use...been there

My point is that as long as you KNOW your method is imprecise, you can work with it and still avoid dangers and make useful landfalls. So, using the methods I suggested, you'd use the time-honoured method of running down the longitude (that is, steering an east-west course along a known latitude) until you arrive at a point chosen as a destination because there are no dangers east or west of it, and ideally with identifiable features north and south of it. After that, you use your coastal pilotage skills!

Ocean crossing does not require precision, but in the absence of precision, it demands a different mind-set. Until the late 18th century, sailors didn't know their position to an accuracy of better than a degree, better in latitude and often much worse in longitude. It didn't stop them making ocean crossing voyages! An accuracy of 20-30 miles would have been regarded as being amazingly good in those days, when you could easily be 100 miles or more off.

 

[KellysEye]

Arc's Safety equipment regulations requires also

1. One manual bilge pump securely fitted,operable from on deck with companionways and hatches shut: Hallberg Rassy boats don't have it .

Why not fit one they are handy if you take on water.

2. A recognised secondary or alternative method of
navigation.

Many ARC boats carry a sextant and tables, which we did, although we used a program called Astrocalc. ARC safety regulations are based on RORC requirements.

 

[Chalker]

Kelly's Eye
1 many HRs do, including mine. See earlier posts.
2 many solutions acceptable to ARC, including Astro or a second GPS.

 

[mcframe]

FWIW the regulations for commercial small craft also require a bilge pump operable from the deck - but make the additional requirement that it needs to be capable of being operated from the helm position.

Veering rapidly off original topic - how about a mainsheet that can be dumped from the helm position?

 

[Island Packet]

I don't think anyone is arguing with the fact that IP say that they comply with the 'builders regulations' (whatever those are) - its a matter of whether two permanent bilge pumps is regarded as good practice. Furthermore I think that those of who were quoting the various race regulations were using them to reinforce the point that best practice is two manual bilge pumps; not to suggest that ARC boats have to comply. Clearly ARC boats don't have to comply with the ISAF race regulations, but I would still suggest that the race regulations might be a good starting point for a safety check list for those who wish to sail offshore.

Regarding Island Packet. My experience is that IP make boats that are very comfortable to live on but they have their disadvantages. I am disappointed (and surprised) to hear that its very difficult to add a manual bilge pump to your IP which can be operated from the cockpit.

I dont think it is difficult at all. In fact it is very easy to fit a pump to the bottom washboard and it works very well. The manual pump in the galley is also very efficient. Given i can stand upright in my bilge with my head below the sole and swing a small cat, if the water is over the sole while i am furiously pumping its probably time to consider other alternatives.

I guess every boat has disadvantages, i have yet to find anything that is not a compromise. Personally i love the 485 and couldnt imagine a better blue water cruiser but then i am biased.

 

[PITCAIRN]

A realistic secondary form of Nav. is either second (and third ) handheld GPS and/or Sextant. But it would be interesting to plot your course on the chart as dertermined from Dead Reckoning. You can plot on your chart as you progress across the Atlantic not only your GPS derived positions, but also those you get from compass/distance run. When you arrive in St. Lucia it would be of interest to see what your DR position is and how far out it is.

 

[ffiill]

Not planning on it but as well as two electric pumps I have a deck accessible pump-I would add an internal one for long haul and add far bigger cockpit drains.
Then I have a sextant tables and PC based reduction programme Oh and one on my phone.
A main GPS;a handheld GPS;laptop operated Seaclear with independant GPS currently loaded with full set of UK charts;NZ and south east Pacific charts;US east coast and Caribbean dependancy charts;West Coast US charts including Hawaii and Pacific Dependancies-Solomon Islands etc.
US world(Admiralty) and local pilots;Wind Vector charts;
World tide harmonic predictor.
One sestral compass;one sestral handbearing compass;one walking compass;one www1 prismatic compass.
Enough UK west coast charts to cover passage to Landsend; Atlantic charts to cover me to west Indies including Madeira Azores lanzarotte etc.;plus Chart of Magellan Straits;Galapagos;Gambias;Cook Islands.
Yes there is already enough there to get me to Newzealand!

 

[fireball]

FWIW the regulations for commercial small craft also require a bilge pump operable from the deck - but make the additional requirement that it needs to be capable of being operated from the helm position.

Its seems such an eminently sensible requirement (and one that our current boat meets without modification - where's the smug smily..)

Smugmode + 1 ....
our BAVARIA has this already ... can't quite sea what the issue is!

 

[KellysEye]

>many solutions acceptable to ARC, including Astro or a second GPS.

My understanding is it is an alternative method to GPS, if it goes down there is no point in having a second one. We sometimes used Astro for fun and carried a Walkers log which was on the boat when we bought it.