Self Reliance

[Peter Ludlow]

A Balance

Each is responsible for his/her own actions!In general sailing/boating carries a risk - none of us were built to survive unassisted underwater. Risk abatement involves planning & preparation for events and the degree depends on the environment (risk) one is sailing/will be sailing in. There are few places one can sail that would justify not carrying life vests, for example. Likewise any boat sailing offshore would be inclined to have a life raft. These are obvious examples of preparation to moderate risk. So also is equiping a boat with adequate nav support - charts, GPS, Loran, radar and weather instrumentation, knotmeter and depth sounder.How many have thought about a clogged raw water intake and the consequence of an overheated engine? Solutions; run the fresh-hot water or install a second raw water intake and Y valve.I don't count on any tow or rescue. Nice but not as dependable as being prepared. BTW - several years ago I came across a dink floating free in Long Island Sound in 25-30kts and rough seas. After capturing the dink and boarding to get the ID #'s I contacted the USCG to determine if someone had been reported lost. The USCG took the info & passed me on to the Auxiliary to deal with the dink recovery. The auxiliary wouldn't come out due to the weather. As time passed & we were having a great sail, the owner contacted me on VHF, as he heard the discussion with the CG and had been searching for his dink. He met us in mid-sound about 1 hour later and we passed the dink off, while sailing along at 6kts. Morale - don't count on anyone without a personal interest!

 

[Brad Newell]

Be Prepared

It's unrealistic to expect the average "yacht" (sailboats are yachts to most of the world) to be able to solve every problem that might possibly arise. You can, however, be pretty well prepared to deal with most everything. In a worst case scenario, you have to be able alert those who might be able to help...and be able to survive until help arrives. And, obviously, the further you are operating from civilization, the more emergency gear you need to have aboard.

 

[Chip Houseman]

*!the learning curve

The only ability you will ever have as a sailor is the ability that you prove to yourself everytime you leave the dock. Sailing relates to everything in life as you are always learning something new. Whether you are a novice or an seasoned sailor there was a learning curve. My learning curve began the day my uncle pushed me off the beach in a sunfish and said go follow those boats in the race when I was about 10 years old. I have now sailed for 26 years and currently sail an oday 17 daysailor that I have owned and been in the family for 19 years. I have personally commissioned and launched it the last 6 years and I have been learning every year that I go out. If I never left the dock and thought that I should not leave until I was self reliant I would not ever have gone out. To be self reliant is one thing but to experience a learning curve is another and what makes sailing such a challenging sport. I would not take away those years to testing the waters and learning to make me a seasoned sailor that where I can claim to be self reliant. It is good to know that towing companies exist and the Coast Guard is out there, but I would rather think I could handle about any situation that I might encounter and be self reliant and never need the assistance of the Coast Guard or towing companies. To be self reliant you should have a good sense of what your abilities are and the eventuality of any unforeseen situations and you should be prepared for these.

 

[Bob]

When to Call for HELP

Hi Gary,The captain's call whenever a situation can't be coped with and in the captain's judgement the saftey of crew or boat is or will be endangered.While sailing out of danger seems obvious - he was requested to anchor after the incident and a tow would assist. In a perfect world - the tow boat operator should have requested he check to see if he was taking on water, set sail, put on life jackets and report. The skipper would have reported - water check was made immediately, crew has life jackets and boat under sail.Interesting quiz topic.Bob

 

[Bob F]

Baby Steps

I have found that baby steps are the best way to learn. Taking a GIANT step can sometimes lead to getting in too far and having a problem. The sea can be unforgiving at times, so learn to crawl before you walk and learn to walk before you run.

 

[the Pirate of Sha-lin]

I have never found any real trouble worse than a grounding, thank goodness. However, I believe that no one should rely on someone else to get them out of trouble. IF someone is there to help, and is willing, then we should be thankful. More than likely though, there will be no one but yourselves. The Coast Guard should not be called until you are stepping UP into the lifeboat. The best that you can do is to prepare to the best of your knowledge, and if something goes wrong-innovate. I know that I'm a fine one to talk, since I've never had a really bad time, but I have assisted or offered to assist when others needed help. I don't think that those few people planned to have someone help, but I'll bet that they were glad that someone did. Part of the boating experience is learning self-reliance, and the little bit I've learned has been amoung the most important lessons of my life.

 

[larry w.]

self-reliance is the best insurance

IMHO, every sailor should be comfortable singlehanding his/her vessel. Getting in/out of the slip, dropping/weighing anchor, reefing, emergency steering, jumping the start battery, etc. Most of the boats on my dock never leave the slip because the owner can't round up crew. Mistakes are learning experiences as long as no one was hurt.

 

[Jack Jackson]

In This Guys Defense

I live near the mouth of the Cape Fear river and run a small powerboat across the river to work every day. Although I haven't read the article and don't know the exact circumstancesthis skipper was in I feel like I must come to his defense.This area can be pretty challenging for a sailboat. The river twists and turns at the mouth, and there are some pretty good shoals on either side of the channel. The ICWbecomes a ditch right near the mouth of the river and becomes really narrow.There is a fair amount of commercial traffic and TONS of powerboats. The currents are pretty strong and can get really interesting when the wind, the tide, and the river flow combinations are wrong.If the wind wasn't in his favor the skipper did the right thing by anchoring and waiting for a tow.This would be much smarter than short tacking across a hundred yard wide waterway in front of a ferry boat, a woodchip barge, and fifty 26 foot Pursuits with three 250 hp outboards racing to see who can get offshore first. So in other words maybe getting a tow WAS the smartest move in that situation.

 

[Alan Dodd]

Help was there when we needed it!

This September, We were taking one of our last summer outings in our new (old) boat. My venerable father in law (86 years young) and my sister and brother in law were aboard for a daysail. Soon after we left the dock, a few hundred feet out into the crowded harbor, the motor quit and would not start again. We had enough gas, but the old motor would run for only a few seconds and quit again! A passing fisherman saw our plight and cheerfully steered his whaler alongside and towed us back to the dock. We were so encouraged by his helpfulness and cooperation. The folks at the dock assisted us in getting everything back in order. My brother in law said he'd rather be motoring in his camper! What a day!

 

[Bob Early]

Survivors tell their tale

Thank You for the information. I never saw a tug trailing warps (lines). But then, I never got that close to one, and when we passed in Cape Cod Canal, I don't recall seeing any excsess lines. Although I learned to "sail" ten years ago, I feel my real experience began on the Merrimac River about 4 years ago. I was sailing with my son (his boat). He had recently changed the diesel fuel filter. We were preparing to move the boat to Cape Cod for a vacation week (approximately 60 miles).As we motored down river toward the bridge in about a 3 kt ebbing current, we found the bridge schedule had changed, and needed to wait 30 more minutes. As we turned and proceeded to motor up river, the diesel engine quit. Quick assessment: Bridge down, current ebbing. mooring field between us and the bridges. Big sign: NO ANCHORING CABLE CROSSING.Let it be said that since this time I have learned what the problem was, how to fix it, and what to do in case the engine fails (again).With a great degree of luck, a man in a Grady White (power boat) took our line, and towed us to a vacant mooring. Only accepted our "Thank You" for his pay.Sometimes even the haphazard gets lucky, and as survivors, we get to tell our story; not that we are (debatably) masochistic, but rather that others may learn by the experience. Answer is: Be sure to bleed all fuel lines on a diesel after changing the fuel filter. :-0/Bob

 

[Robin Stoaks]

Too much faith is Tow Boat US

Despite the knowledge you possess about your own boat--the knowledge needs to be extensive in realtionship to the assistance you require/request from your particular towing company. I have had Tow Boat US for 10 years. After a fouled anchor during a serious squall we were knocked down while anchored and plowed the wing keel past other boats anchored to a much more shallow area with the storm pushing in additonal water but very low tide was soon to follow. The first tow company who said they were affiliaited with Tow Boat US attempted to tow us until they lost a transmission and then finally their tow hitch and they pulled harder and harder knowing it was a 5 1/2 wing keel; sometimes being 2 ft in front of the boat. Initially they wanted to us the anchor puplit to tow! Digging the keel in deeper;I was to throttle up and keep the rudder turning. After their failure the "red" TowBoat US boat gave us the yellow polyprophylene line( we broke 3 three of them) and did manage to move us about 100 feet into the 2ft sand bar that is quite obvious on the chart. His instructions were not to throttle up or turn the wheel. He pleasantly offered to take us to shore before the next storm and bring us back tommorrow and tow us the 2 feet away from deep water. That next afternoon revealed a cracked keel and bilge ( all the way around-complete with sea grass and sand from the storm). At that point he offered to help only as a salvage job. Which instructions were correct?? There is a deep channel behind where we eventually stopped moving during the storm. He knew the water ??? but choose the direction. The keel and rudder were buried 3 1/2 feet in the sand from all of the pulling. Blind faith in the towing company you believe in because that is their profession. Oddly--no one ever filed any paper work with Tow boat US for any of the three assists. In an emergency situation being over whlemed-you follow their instructions....... In hind sight...I should have taken a few minutes to truly assess the situation before I gladly agree for a tow that so quickly was offered to salvage and would not assist except with that option. Luckily it wasn't a salvage but did require a barge and crane ( just in case)--with the sand "relocated" it floated with the keel attached and no seepage of water and was motored to the boat yard. Why did they not know that the harder you pull on a wing keel that it just buries it deeper?? At the end of the storm- the Coast Guard did ask my daughter if anyone needed to be air lifted--they never came although they were literally less than 5 minutes away. I did fear for my daugher's life and her friend (I couldn't reach them-everytime I tried to take a hand off of the wheel I could feel my body start to lift with heavy water washing over the boat; I knew they were on low side and the last thing I saw was the seawall/rocks in the heavy rain) but according to them we simply ran aground and they don't do anything with that. Bottom line-you need to know the what and hows of your vessel and assessment of what you expect in assistance.

 

[Tom DiGiacomo]

Common sense and good training

It was the monday after a big 4th of july weekend and I was returning in my Pearson 27, alone, listening to the vhf radio - mostly for entertainment - when I heard a mayday call to the coast guard station in St. Petersburg. It was generally calm with 10-12kt breezes and no real weather issues around. The skipper indicated that he had lost his propeller on his 50' sailboat roughly 1-2 miles west of us in the gulf but was unable to give the coast guard any coordinates for his location. After some fairly basic questions to determine if the guy was in any life threatening danger, the coast guard recommended that he contact one of the local towing companies for assistance, followed by a very simple question "Skipper, why don't you sail in?", With no good answer, the man revealed that his biggest concern, at the time, was that there were several people on board who had work committments and needed to get off the boat. Remember, this started out as a MAYDAY call. All too often I see people demonstrate this lack of common sense on the water and feel it is directly related to the lack of training required to own and operate a boat. If it is not required by law, than it is any prudent skipper's responsibility seek out his own training.When someone expresses to me an interest in learning to sail, I direct them to the local yacht clubs and encourage them to sign on with a boat for a season of racing. This is one of the best training grounds I have seen as it allows you to test youself in conditions that you might not normally venture into alone or with your wife and kids. You'll be exposed to the pure sailing techniques of sail trim, powering and depowering sails, boat handling, rules of the road, and finally, self sufficiency(as a team). You are generally on the boat with other experienced or semi-experienced people and there is a race committee that knows where you started, and where you are going, in case there is a problem. But most of all, you will obtain the confidence that you have been here before and that if you don't panic, and use common sense, you can figure out how to get out.

 

[mark votava]

Always scared, be safe?

I agree 110.% And I am glad some one posted my feelings. I am A rooky and have been for many years ,. Thanks for the words of wisdom and happy and safe sailing.  Mark Votava Mac 24' "Fading Awiegh"

 

[Fran]

Why didn't they come

If the coast guard asked if you needed help and didn't come, why not? If you were in fear of being swept off the boat did anyone tell them you needed help. It sounds like either they didn't care or your problem was very clear to them.

 

[Randal Orton]

"Never . . .

... place your vessel in a spot where she is depending on her engine for her life."R. Taylor"The Elements of Seamanship"

 

[Rolf Roding]

SAFETY FIRST!!!

Some advice after 30 years sailing in most global waters (captains duties and responsibilities:1. Do not rely on anyone else but on yourself CHECK WEATHER REPORT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE2. Check your safety equipment prior to any trip, even short sunday afternoon trips, check fresh water and fuel reserves3. Brief your crew (especially your spouse, with patience) and give clear instructions.4. Accidents happen. Be well prepared to deal with them, then there is no reason to be afraid of anything.5. Where are:  -life vests? Use them. Safety harness. -location of fire extinguishers -first aid kit, medicines -a good knife -wire cutter How to use in emergency: -life lines, life raft, dingy6. Explain basic operation of engine, communication and navigation equipment, setting of sails7. Know and communicate your destination, sailing plan etc.HAPPY AND SAFE SAILING!P.S.If anyone of you reading this message is interested in sailing with me on a Hunter 410 in the Mediterranian Sea YOU ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT ME AT rolfRd@aol.comRolf "S/Y ZANY"

 

[Beverly]

Ladies need to learn as well

All ladies who go out on a boat need to know a few basics before stepping foot on a boat of ANY KIND. They should know how to get "Captain Ron" back onboard should he fall over. (Unless you do not want to retrieve himThey should know how to use the VHF to call for help. They should know how to get the boat to safety and they should know the basics of navigation. There are sailing classes just for women that help demystify the boating experience.Oh Yeah, they need to learn to put on lipstick when the boat is healing over and the water is splaching over the bow so when they get back to the dock they don't look wind whipped after a terrifying trip.*yks

 

[DAVEY JACKSON]

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

ONLY HAVING 3 SMALL "PROBLEMS" IN MY SHORT SAILING CAREER ABOARD OUR CAT 30,I STILL HAVE ALOT TO LEARN. ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES I RAN AGROUND. BOTH TIMES NEEDING A TOW TO GET FREE,ONLY AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING I NEW TO TRY. THE OTHER PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE MOTER WOULD NOT CRANK. WITH MY MOM AND DAD ON BOARD WE SAILED BACK TO THE SLIP. WHEN OTHER SAILORS IN THE CLUB COMMENTED ON HOW WELL WE DID, IT GAVE ME A RUSH. SINCE THEN WE'VE PRACTICED A FEW TIMES WITH MUCH SUCCESS. THIS WEB SITE IS NEW TO ME AND I'VE LEARNED ALOT. THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO WRITES IN. FROM ONE LANDLOCKED SAILER THAT NEEDS A DEPTHSOUNDER!

 

[Gwen s/v Luna Sea]

Resolutions for self-reliance

The more time I spend on the water, and especially in command of my own little boat, the more I appreciate the endless variety of surprises, mishaps, and outright disasters that one can stumble into. S/He who doesn't leave the dock with maximum preparation and total humility is a fool. (Some would say we're fools, regardless, but that's another discussion.)This past season was my first "season in command" in many years, as I just purchased my little vintage Venture 21 last June. Nothing horrible or overly dramatic happened, and my limited time spent sailing was generally wonderful. However, I've made a several resolutions for next season. Most importantly...1. Sail alone whenever possible. A spare hand can be nice at times, but single-handing is far more peaceful, enjoyable, rewarding, and safer. Yes, safer. I know myself pretty well after 5+ decades, and I know Luna Sea pretty well now. Other people are loose cannons until proven otherwise. I find that I make better decisions, plan ahead better, and feel more confident when I'm alone. With crew, I seem to spend half my time -- and attention -- teaching.2. No liquor aboard, ever, period. It hurts a little to say that, but there are too many drunken slob boaters on the water already. Slugging down a few beers is guaranteed to make you less self-reliant, no matter how they make you feel!3. Anyone caught aboard with lipstick or mascara will be tossed over the rail immediately.

 

[Jean Gosse]

Learn in a small boat

Always think "what if". When you plan your trip, day sail or world cruise, Think ahead!Study your charts! Become familiar with the area, landmarks ashore, depths afloat!When powering in restricted waters, have the sails ready to go. If the engine quits, you can cast off a couple of tiers and set the main immediately. Jib can be added after the boat is under control.Always plan an escape hatch. You don't have to continue the way you were going. Maybe sailing back to a previous mooring would be better. There you can prepare again for the difficult passage, wait for favorable currents, winds. Most important. Learn to sail a very small boat, without an engine (a centerboarder, less than 20'). When you are proficient, can sail confidently wherever you want to go, then consider a larger boat (if you must) and spend time aboard, just thinking how you will accomplish each job aboard.Everyone who regularly sails with you should be equally able to sail the boat. Find classes, read books, sit at the tiller and think out each manouver and imagined emergency. Practice "Man Overboard", retrieval, and sailing with main only, jib only, no rudder.Most of all IF YOU SEE A BOAT THAT MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE, GO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP!!!