SimonJ
Member
I have recently spent some time in company with some participants in a leg of the recent so called Biscay Triangle Rally which started from Torbay earlier in the summer and featured in an article in the October edition of YM. They had some interesting but worrying feedback and comment, which being very nice people they are reluctant to voice more publicly! They had joined the rally (at some expense) for the first leg from Torbay to La Corunna because they were led to believe that would be sailing in company and it would safer and reassuring for them having little experience either offshore or at night. Their 3 year old boat (40ft of UK manufacture) was checked out before the start and although they were given advice with regard to certain safety recommendations eg fit main hatchboards with securing arrangements and the sliding hatch with inside/outside locking (both post'79 Fastnet requirements for racing) - they did not HAVE to comply nor were they checked again before setting off for the Biscay.
In the event, surprise, surprise, once away from Torbay they did not see another participant until arriving in La Corunna nor could they raise any participant on their VHF (which works well).
Their prime objective in participating was not met. They also had heavy weather in the Bay. No surprise either but no forced compliance with safety items?
Anyone, with experience, who has tried to remain in touch with another boat on a long offshore passage will know it takes an enormous effort and lots of preplanning IN ADDITION to normal passage workload. This would typically involve an agreement (or even an organisers briefing?) to aim for common waypoints (difficult to achieve in practice anyway in the Western Approaches where wind direction/strength often changes frequently) as well as an understanding of the need to change course and speed by sail change or whatever just to keep close. At night it can also be quite stressful with another boat nearby all the time.
I have also talked to some smaller ARC entrants (often flying what some cruisers are now, rather cruelly, calling the "Learner Flag") who believe they will be safer "in the company of other boats" - do they really think that if they have a problem in theeir 33-35ft boats the much bigger, faster boats will turn up wind (in the Trades) to come back to help them mid ocean?
My belief is that once you go out to sea "you are on your own", the fact that there may be other boats doing the same thing may give your morale a boost but, ordinarily, spread over hundreds of miles of ocean, not much more.
If you are on your own you also free to choose on your terms the day and time of departure - rallies and races invariably have to set off on predetermined dates regardless of conditions actually forecast or prevailing.
My concern is that while purporting to promote safety (in number, standards, knowledge etc) rally organisers ARC, Blue Water et al are actually encouraging inexperieced and ill prepared boats and crews to go beyond their capability. I have even read recently of the RYA running cross channel rallies to provide reassurance making passages in company.
And why do I care - well selfishly, I admit, I know that it is my insurance premium (if I can still get cover) will go up as a result of any further "accidents" and there will be no case for not conforming with some other EU countries for (what I regard as) irksome inspections and certification/classification.
Am I alone in my views?
<hr width=100% size=1>SimonJ
In the event, surprise, surprise, once away from Torbay they did not see another participant until arriving in La Corunna nor could they raise any participant on their VHF (which works well).
Their prime objective in participating was not met. They also had heavy weather in the Bay. No surprise either but no forced compliance with safety items?
Anyone, with experience, who has tried to remain in touch with another boat on a long offshore passage will know it takes an enormous effort and lots of preplanning IN ADDITION to normal passage workload. This would typically involve an agreement (or even an organisers briefing?) to aim for common waypoints (difficult to achieve in practice anyway in the Western Approaches where wind direction/strength often changes frequently) as well as an understanding of the need to change course and speed by sail change or whatever just to keep close. At night it can also be quite stressful with another boat nearby all the time.
I have also talked to some smaller ARC entrants (often flying what some cruisers are now, rather cruelly, calling the "Learner Flag") who believe they will be safer "in the company of other boats" - do they really think that if they have a problem in theeir 33-35ft boats the much bigger, faster boats will turn up wind (in the Trades) to come back to help them mid ocean?
My belief is that once you go out to sea "you are on your own", the fact that there may be other boats doing the same thing may give your morale a boost but, ordinarily, spread over hundreds of miles of ocean, not much more.
If you are on your own you also free to choose on your terms the day and time of departure - rallies and races invariably have to set off on predetermined dates regardless of conditions actually forecast or prevailing.
My concern is that while purporting to promote safety (in number, standards, knowledge etc) rally organisers ARC, Blue Water et al are actually encouraging inexperieced and ill prepared boats and crews to go beyond their capability. I have even read recently of the RYA running cross channel rallies to provide reassurance making passages in company.
And why do I care - well selfishly, I admit, I know that it is my insurance premium (if I can still get cover) will go up as a result of any further "accidents" and there will be no case for not conforming with some other EU countries for (what I regard as) irksome inspections and certification/classification.
Am I alone in my views?
<hr width=100% size=1>SimonJ
