Sea Survival Course

[janeK]

Having just completed a Sea Survival course it got me thinking how many of you that own a boat have ever been on one? As a life raft is a piece of safety equipment that is on the boat and hopefully never to be used.
Please don't think "oh, it doesn't apply to me, I only coastal hop" being holed by a submerged object can happen at any time in any depth of water, or a fire on board.

What was amazing was the difficulty getting into a life raft in the water, especially if only 5'2" rather than a 6' yachtie with an inflated life jacket, which being a female then enlarged the bust area to enormous proportions for getting over the inflated ledge into the raft itself
I did the course with 2 others (Male), who I regularly sail with , so it gave us a good idea on us working as a team should the need to evacuate arise - hopefully not

However if you only sail as a couple have you ever considered the dynamics involved, reading about it is very different to actually doing it! I would recommend BOTH of you do the course as its a huge confidence booster for your wife/partner.
Also being a non swimmer I was a bit apprehensive about the jumping into the pool and the sound and feel of the jacket inflating, but it was so quick and getting to know how your life jacket feels and how you move in the water was enlightening

I would strongly recommend this course to anyone, not only is it very informative but a lot of fun too .

So how many of you with a boat, 1) Have done the course 2) If not, have ever tried entering a life raft from the water and what was better or worse than you had thought, about the whole experience.

 

[Bobc]

I really enjoyed it, and would recommend that everyone do it. Mucking about with a liferaft in a swimming pool is time well spent.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Yes, been on two. One in a swimming pool and one in the very cold Solent in the middle of August.

I now know why they always recommend inflating the liferaft before you leave the boat so you can step into it rather than trying to climb into it after jumping into the water getting wet and cold.

Always best to stay on the boat until you have no other option.

Very well worth the trouble to take the course. Well done.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Yes, been on two. One in a swimming pool and one in the very cold Solent in the middle of August.

I now know why they always recommend inflating the liferaft before you leave the boat so you can step into it rather than trying to climb into it after jumping into the water getting wet and cold.

Always best to stay on the boat until you have no other option.

Very well worth the trouble to take the course. Well done.

 

[BlackPig]

Worth doing if only to learn: do not go in the life raft till the last moment.

 

[duckhead]

Highly recommended, should be compulsory!
Just the chance to jump into the water in your own lifejacket, see how deep you go before it inflates, then swim around in it a bit, then try and get in a liferaft after righting it, wearing your own lifejacket, all in controlled conditions - Invaluable

 

[sarabande]

on my current training course, the recommendation is for the largest/strongest person to get into the liferaft first, so that (usually) he can then help smaller crew get inside. Seems counter intuitive to "Women and Children first" but is another piece of advice to hold ready.

 

[laika]

So how many of you with a boat, 1) Have done the course 2) If not, have ever tried entering a life raft from the water and what was better or worse than you had thought, about the whole experience.

I've done one and yes, it emphasises the difficulty of getting into the liferaft even in a swimming pool.

On the other hand (as has been discussed recently in another thread) how many people have had to get into a liferaft when that was their best option for survival? Considerably fewer (thankfully) than have done the course. Whilst I think that this course is definitely worthwhile (and is a requirement for YM commercial endorsement) and am glad to have done it, a topic for discussion might be if you only had limited financial/time resources, would there be better courses to do (given the base of VHF+first aid). Is "RYA Sea Survival" or "STCW Personal Survival" the better course? Or would the money be better spent on the RYA offshore safety training?

 

[dslittle]

Did it in a swimming pool as well. Really focuses the mind. My main thought coming away from the Course was that it was hard enough in a warm swimming pool - I hope that I never have to do it in any type of cold sea !!!

 

[Resolution]

if you only had limited financial/time resources, would there be better courses to do ?

laika
I found the survival course deeply thought-provoking. We now pay much more attention to staying on the boat (eg harness usage) and to navigating the boat safely. ie prevention rather than cure. The liferaft sits there as a threat of extreme discomfort and danger, rather than an easy refuge.

 

[Dave100456]

To JaneK

Not wanting to tell someone how to live their life, but...... I am always amazed at people who partake in our sport yet cannot swim!!

Whilst your sea survival course was no doubt useful, learning how to swim and getting confidence in the water is probably more of a priority. Given a choice between the two I'd rather have swimming proficiency than a sea survival qualification.

The inversion of a catamaran and aided rescue of a crew member (non swimmer) shown recently on TV, highlighted the need to be confident in water.

And JaneK if you don't mind me quoting your words with a minor change, apply it to swimming:

"I would strongly recommend this course to anyone, not only is it very informative but a lot of fun too ".

Apologies -rant over!!

 

[mm42]

I did STCW personal survival techniques. Enjoyed it.

Good practice that I hope I never need.

On my course it was predominantly sea fishermen, three of them (father and two sons) had previously had to abandon ship 60 miles NE of Aberdeen, they'd got into the liferaft only to find it was such a terrible ride they got back out of it and onto what was left of their boat rather than spend any more time in the raft.

 

[Koeketiene]

I would strongly recommend this course to anyone, not only is it very informative but a lot of fun too .

+1

It's one of only two courses I managed to convince the wife to go on (the other one being Dazed Kipper theory).

 

[alant]

I've done one and yes, it emphasises the difficulty of getting into the liferaft even in a swimming pool.

On the other hand (as has been discussed recently in another thread) how many people have had to get into a liferaft when that was their best option for survival? Considerably fewer (thankfully) than have done the course. Whilst I think that this course is definitely worthwhile (and is a requirement for YM commercial endorsement) and am glad to have done it, a topic for discussion might be if you only had limited financial/time resources, would there be better courses to do (given the base of VHF+first aid). Is "RYA Sea Survival" or "STCW Personal Survival" the better course? Or would the money be better spent on the RYA offshore safety training?

STCW course, done at Andark, via Warsash, consists of using Titanic style (merchant marine) 'lifejackets', which you jump from a high board with (simulating a ship abandonment), with horns/klaxons blowing & lights out/flashing/hoses, then cluster crew, turn large liferaft over & enter. Quite exhilerating & worthwhile.

 

[alant]

To JaneK

Not wanting to tell someone how to live their life, but...... I am always amazed at people who partake in our sport yet cannot swim!!

Whilst your sea survival course was no doubt useful, learning how to swim and getting confidence in the water is probably more of a priority. Given a choice between the two I'd rather have swimming proficiency than a sea survival qualification.

The inversion of a catamaran and aided rescue of a crew member (non swimmer) shown recently on TV, highlighted the need to be confident in water.

And JaneK if you don't mind me quoting your words with a minor change, apply it to swimming:

"I would strongly recommend this course to anyone, not only is it very informative but a lot of fun too ".

Apologies -rant over!!

Its not just " a qualification", its a practice run, for when ithappens for real. Swimming skills might be valid, but not sure how relevant when leaving a sinking yacht in rough seas & then wondering " what the F do I do next"?

 

[laika]

STCW course, done at Andark, via Warsash, consists of using Titanic style (merchant marine) 'lifejackets', which you jump from a high board with (simulating a ship abandonment), with horns/klaxons blowing & lights out/flashing/hoses, then cluster crew, turn large liferaft over & enter. Quite exhilerating & worthwhile.

Is that a syllabus difference or an implementation difference? The first aid course I did at Warsash was very big-ship oriented (assuming extensive immobilising equipment, stretchers etc. and a competent medical officer on the bridge) but I gather that same first aid course is done rather differently by Hamble School of Yachting.

 

[Dave100456]

Its not just " a qualification", its a practice run, for when ithappens for real. Swimming skills might be valid, but not sure how relevant when leaving a sinking yacht in rough seas & then wondering " what the F do I do next"?

Being apprehensive about entering or the possibility of entering water because you can't swim is not a good state of mind to be in when faced with a survival situation. Its all about mental workload and having the best clarity of thought to decide "what the F do I do next", is a bonus.
That's the point I was trying to make and is perhaps best discussed in a different thread without hijacking the OP's post.

 

[BlackPig]

Its not just " a qualification", its a practice run, for when ithappens for real. Swimming skills might be valid, but not sure how relevant when leaving a sinking yacht in rough seas & then wondering " what the F do I do next"?

When the instructor asked everyone why they were doing the course some said to do the Fastnet others to get the qualification to do trawler fishing. I was the only who said to live longer. Most on the course I was on seemed to see it as a bit of paper.

 

[Malo37]

Done the offshore survival course several times. This four day course includes escape from inverted helicopter, liferaft deployment etc. Several non swimmers completed the course ok and provided you are wearing a lifejacket swimming ability is secondary. The main risk is time spent in the water so anything you can do to minimise that increases survival chances.

 

[capnsensible]

STCW course, done at Andark, via Warsash, consists of using Titanic style (merchant marine) 'lifejackets', which you jump from a high board with (simulating a ship abandonment), with horns/klaxons blowing & lights out/flashing/hoses, then cluster crew, turn large liferaft over & enter. Quite exhilerating & worthwhile.

Im in favour of doing the most informative course you can get too. I was kinda lucky to get on a RN sea survival course as the Commercial Endorsement stuff first came out. Horsea lake, jumping in, swimming to liferaft then getting towed around at speed by a Gemini was a bundle of learning. Especially as it was February time!

Mind you, at least when you did this, it was warm.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBDlZ7EHx4E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7IcI4ecVwk