Giving assistance or calling for help

[fireball]

On a slightly smaller scale - but regular dinghy racing - if someone is seen 'in trouble' then generally we see if they are ok at that moment - and if they are we carry on racing - if not then we'll stand by and get hold of the patrol boat.
I wouldn't act any differently in the big boat (except getting hold of a patrol boat!) but it does depend on the size of the course and if the 'casualty' could be kept under observation.

 

[lw395]

Now that's the way to do it!



It's a fact of life that those who get in trouble are often those least well qualified to assess how much trouble they're in.

But he's the skipper and has the right (and responsibility) to decide what help to accept.

There are some I would prefer not to get help from.
Sometimes 'help' from a yacht can be a nuisance when a more suitable vessel is on its way.

Equally I would weigh up any incident at the time and might stand by if I thought it was appropriate.

 

[snooks]

Snooks and everybody, I'd be interested to know under what circumstances you would leave a yacht you saw lose its mast.

If I was racing I'd check to see that all was well, if it was and everyone was safe, I'd continue racing. If not I'd stand by and offer any assistance I could, I'd inform the OOD of the situation, and afterwards seek redress.

If I was coastal cruising I'd offer assistance, if it was required I'd stand by a safe distance away. I'd assist is any way I could without endangering either my crew, my vessel or myself. If my assistance wasn't required I'd report the incident to the coastguard and sail on.

If not going to force my assistance on anyone, I might make the the situation worse, but I'll offer my help if the situation allows.

 

[Ubergeekian]

On a slightly smaller scale - but regular dinghy racing - if someone is seen 'in trouble' then generally we see if they are ok at that moment - and if they are we carry on racing - if not then we'll stand by and get hold of the patrol boat.
I wouldn't act any differently in the big boat (except getting hold of a patrol boat!) but it does depend on the size of the course and if the 'casualty' could be kept under observation.

That seems very sensible, and of course things are different if there is a safety boat to hand.

 

[Ubergeekian]

But he's the skipper and has the right (and responsibility) to decide what help to accept.

There are some I would prefer not to get help from.
Sometimes 'help' from a yacht can be a nuisance when a more suitable vessel is on its way.

Equally I would weigh up any incident at the time and might stand by if I thought it was appropriate.

All very true, and I would never try to give unwanted help. However, someone who thinks he does not need help might suddenly find he does (when the water appears above the cabin floor).

 

[snooks]

However, someone who thinks he does not need help might suddenly find he does (when the water appears above the cabin floor).

So should we start shadowing all boats we see, because we never know when they might need assistance? No, of course not.

However stern glands fail, keels drop off, seacocks fail, engines overheat, rig come down, most happen without warning.

Even so I'm not going to follow other yachts because "someone who thinks he does not need help might suddenly find he does"

 

[Woodlouse]

That seems very sensible, and of course things are different if there is a safety boat to hand.

In my experience when racing inshore almost all races have a safety boat somewhere nearby regardless of the size of boat.

 

[Ubergeekian]

So should we start shadowing all boats we see, because we never know when they might need assistance? No, of course not.

However stern glands fail, keels drop off, seacocks fail, engines overheat, rig come down, most happen without warning.

Even so I'm not going to follow other yachts because "someone who thinks he does not need help might suddenly find he does"

I think you know what I mean. Standing by in case things get worse for a boat with its mast over one side in case things get worse is not quite the same as following someone in case a seacock fails, is it?

 

[DogWatch]

Were they saving their flares for a real emergency?

 

[Quandary]

RACING

I think this debate indicates a certain lack of perspective and understanding from those who do not race. If you do, you are not unaccustomed to seeing people with problems that might cause consternation to a cruiser, not just rig failures but spectacular wipe outs, groundings etc.
Most racing crews have the experience to judge when they need to stop and when it is safe to carry on, inshore or offshore certainly has a bearing. The cameraderie is also altogether greater than among cruising folk though you do have to stand a lot of pisstaking later. When racing we generally always stopped to pick up crew who fall overboard even with personal buoyancy if we were nearest, carried on otherwise unless we judged the nearest boat incompetent as too many cooks can cause a foul up. In the case of rig failure I can't ever recall stopping inshore though I have taken our boltcutters over after the race. A lot of mast failures in inshore races are the result of collision when say an windward boat is too close and takes the wind causing the two masts to clash. Similarly boats aground and unable to get themselves off are best dealt with by the club rib as deep draught inceases risk of compounding the situation.
Cruising is different, last year I was told to piss off and mind my own business after speaking to a guy anchored over a rivermouth shoal, but I would do it again though I was disappointed that he did re anchor elsewhere later, I was hoping to see him lying on his side.

 

[snooks]

Cruising is different, last year I was told to piss off and mind my own business after speaking to a guy anchored over a rivermouth shoal, but I would do it again though I was disappointed that he did re anchor elsewhere later, I was hoping to see him lying on his side.

If I got that reply, I'd have said "Sorry, my mistake, you're fine where you are...Good day sir!"

 

[Brian blue bear]

distress calls

I would very much like to hear from someone who was there, so they could explain why nobody in the fleet stayed to help.

there are more ways of calling for help other than vhf, assuming no spare vhf or Arial waving arms at your side up and down, red flares and more, If they don't call for help,you would assume they don't require it at that time if at all, but informing the race control or coast Gaurd, would be wise in case the situation deteriotes, that is how I would like to be treated in a simular position, especially since the entrants most likely to stop would be Club members who's race would be spoilt for otherwise no urgent reason.

 

[DogWatch]

there are more ways of calling for help other than vhf, assuming no spare vhf or Arial waving arms at your side up and down, red flares and more, If they don't call for help,you would assume they don't require it at that time if at all, but informing the race control or coast Gaurd, would be wise in case the situation deteriotes, that is how I would like to be treated in a simular position, especially since the entrants most likely to stop would be Club members who's race would be spoilt for otherwise no urgent reason.

Of course you meant to type orange smoke there

 

[Woodlouse]

Of course you meant to type orange smoke there

He forgot the burning barrel of tar on the foredeck too.