RNLI gives warning to 'Birmingham Navy'

[rallyveteran]

RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Times article

THE Royal National Lifeboat Institution has given warning to amateur sailors to undertake proper training or risk the imposition of statutory controls at sea.

Basic rules for amateurs
Make sure there is fuel in the petrol tank
Check the weather forecast beforehand
Wear a safety harness when sailing at night or when the wind gets above force 4
Don’t sail after dark or in fog
Don’t drink at sea
Put the sails up while still in harbour
If there is a strong wind, put a reef in the sail before you put it up: it’s easier than at sea
Make sure that at least one person on board can work the VHF radio
Never follow the yacht in front: the skipper may know even less than you

What a strange list /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Of course The Times may have mangled it, but leaving aside the contradiction between wearing a safety harness at night, which would be a fat lot of use without stropping on, and not sailing at all at night, haven't they left out some of the key points such as:

Undertaking training before skippering a vessel and
Always sailing within the ability of skipper, crew and vessel?

What other points would forumites have on their 'must do' safety list.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Make sure that two people can operate the radio.
At least 2 people should know how to start/stop and use the engine
Get weather forecast - only go out within your/crew/boat limitations
Basic 1st aid kit
Appropriate clothing
Tell someone where you plan to go and expected return time/destination.
We're supposed to do a passage plan and carry a SOLAS at sea signal paper.

And lots more but too busy now to list them

Steve
www.seraph-sailing.com

 

[Cornishman]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

[ QUOTE ]
Never follow the yacht in front: the skipper may know even less than you

[/ QUOTE ]

Reminds me of the story of the yacht which followed a Thames Barge until it ran aground, and then the yacht did too. Skipper of barge calls out "I'm here for sand. What you come for?"

I agree, though, that this is a strange list. Don't sail in fog? How many of us deliberately sail in fog? But we often get caught in it unexpectedly.

 

[tyce]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

to quote "Make sure that two people can operate the radio.
At least 2 people should know how to start/stop and use the engine"

guess your not a regular solo sailor then

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

I really can't see the point of taking a swipe at RNLI when all they are trying to do is alert the public to the need to take care if you put to sea. What's wrong with that?

FWIW odds are the list is based on RNLI's experience of the main causes of call outs; they have far more knowledge about this than we do.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Agree there. If the points sound less onerous and reasonably sensible even those who just go out for a jolly may take the trouble. If you make it sound like a mammoth task theyll say "sod that, we're only going out for a while"

 

[Steve Clayton]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Go back to the situation in the Solent 2 years ago when Chris Evan's and his mates were out and about. The skipper went overboard at twilight and drowned. Subsequent reports indicated that NO ONE ELSE on board knew how to use the radio, turn on the lights, or use the engine.

We live and learn!

 

[Guest]

Unfortunate ..... but had to happen ...

The RNLI is a wonderful voluntary body and should be supported as much as possible.

But I always am wary of bodies stepping outisde of their remit. The list given here, albeit understandable and most likely based on call-outs, is not a very good one and also introduces a sad note.

If any Govt. person read it and started to consider legislating Boating ........... then it would be a mess if based on that list. We have to remember that RNLI even though voluntary is often listened to by authorities ...

I would hope that this list - if correct - is only a discussion document aimed at the unwashed few who think boating is a joy-ride and no experience necessary ... which majority on boats understand is not the case.

How does anyone point out to the idiots the wrongs without incurring trouble for those that are not so stupid ???

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Unfortunate ..... but had to happen ...

I think you're all over-reacting. It was headlined "Basic rules for amateurs"
If that threatens you, perhaps it was aimed at you.

 

[Guest]

I didn\'t say any different actually ...

I commented that often many text's issued by some are read by others and lead to rules etc. that basically are a mess. It is a comment and not a statement to contradict another.

I agreed that idiots on water need educating .... but publishing a list may not be the best way forward - especially from such an esteemed body.

My last comment in that post actually put a sort of question - how do you educate idiots and not suffer the ones who have some knowledge ??

 

[Lakesailor]

I don\'t know

It applies to all sectors of society.

 

[oldharry]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Where do you start, and where do you stop with absolute beginners? I have no problem with a list like this as long as it is regarded as inclusive, not exclusive.

I also have a lot of sympathy with RNLI trying to address the problem of people who buy a boat and go for it without even elementary knowledge:

A few years ago Swanage Lifeboat went out to a small boat reporting engine trouble off StAlbans. The tide was ebbing and they were unable to get back.

The LB crew duly arrived and checked things out but found nothing apparently wrong with the rather small engine.

The owner when asked reported they had got out there quite fast, bnut didnt seem to be able to get back. Clearly the engine was inadequate to cope with the tide, and the RNLI Cox explained about the tide coming in and out:

"Oh thats interesting" was the response "- how often does it do that?"

... what else do you do, other than demand Tests and licenses, to meet that sort of ignorance?

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

[ QUOTE ]
The tide was ebbing and they were unable to get back.


[/ QUOTE ]

Having stood still for one and a half hours trying to get into Teignmouth when a spring tide was on the ebb, I know how the guy felt! It seemed to go on forever.

 

[aitchw]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

But at least you knew what was happening.

 

[ChrisE]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\' - bloody good job as well

The bit you forgot to add is that, according to the article, the majority of calls come from the leisure sector with only 7% coming from the professionals, fishermen, etc. He goes on to say an increasing number of sailors don't spend enough time on the water to recognise when the risks they are running.

On that basis I'd say that the RNLI has every right to tell the average leisure sailor to get his or her act together. He was also trying to head off calls for compulsory regluation, which I know most people here don't like. I'd reckon that on the those kind of stats it is only a matter of time.

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Unfortunate ..... but had to happen ...

Yeah well just thank heaven then that the Govt don't usually legislate without the rnli or rya representing us, and on the few occasions things slip through that shouldn't they ameliorate the effects quite effectively, as discussed on these forums many times

 

[BrendanS]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\' - bloody good job as well

and yet people on these forums are continually haranguing the decent pwc users, and expecting them to self regulate their few tear aways. Here we seem to be castigating ourselves for equally ignorant sea users, and yet can't seem to regulate ourselves at all. Hmmm!

 

[Birdseye]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\' - bloody good job as well

" the majority of calls come from the leisure sector with only 7% coming from the professionals, fishermen" which is very much what I would expect given that there are far more leisure sailors than professionals and leisure sailors are on average in much smaller boats.

The advice seems sensible to me. But most people will yawn and move on to something more interesting. Just like we continue to drink, to eat junk food, to drive too fast, to smoke and lots of other v silly things.

Thats life.

 

[tcm]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\' - bloody good job as well

just got back from french med and jeez, the results of statutory licensing ain't that great. Small boats waterskiing around anchored boats, almost all boats planing right up the swimming area, even large boats using "car horn" sound signals. The exams for small coastal boats skippers seem to be done with many candidates at a time, and take about 15minutes.

Fortunately, Tblair goes on boating hols so will hopefully get hold of the right end of the stick. Or indeed, leave the stick well alone. I agree that info/advert nagging campaigns is the way to go.

 

[Malcb]

Re: RNLI gives warning to \'Birmingham Navy\'

Damned if they do and damned if they don't.

The list is a BASIC not a FULL list.

Anything that will make the ordinary, amateur, sometime part time, boater think before he goes out on the water is a good thing.

We, as experienced, sailors know that we should give a full safety brief before even leaving the pontoon/mooring (or hopefuly before even getting into the tender).

Don't we?

All our crew should know where all the sea-cocks are, where the life jackets and safety lines are, how to operate the radio (in an emergency)., how to stop and start the engine etc. etc. etc.

Do they?

This was, presumably, meant as a list to those boaters/sailors who do not have the experience as many on this forum.

This is meant to reduce the problems that happen with some holiday sailors which occur only too frequently.
IMHO