By Al Lehman
First written in 1986 and published in the Flicka Owners newsletter and AYC Compass Points. Edited in July 2023 because safety is timeless.
This might be a good slogan for a zoo or an animal trapper, but it should also be your slogan when sailing. A safety in football gives the team two points. You are safe in baseball when you reach a base or home plate without being tagged by the other team. But in sailing, you do not get points or outs for being safe. In fact, you lose something if you do not think about and practice safety.
Many give lip service to boat safety, and while we may have the required Coast Guard equipment aboard, some buy the least expensive personal flotation devices that meet the Coast Guard’s requirements. If we sail at night, we have the proper lights, and if we have a motor, we have a fire extinguisher. We may also have flares, a horn, and a throwable seat cushion.
One reason we use running lights is that it allows us to be seen, and if others use their lights, we can see them and avoid collisions. The immediate benefit of having running lights is obvious.
When was the last time you used your fire extinguisher or even looked to see if it was charged properly or expired? When we raced in the Marina Del Rey to San Diego race, racers were required to have their fire extinguisher recharged within 90 days prior to the race. Most of us probably do not know if our fire extinguisher will work if needed. I don’t recall ever seeing a boat on fire, although I have seen the results of a boat fire. Please make sure to check your fire extinguisher on a regular basis.
If I think about it, I could locate my emergency flares, but I’m certain they are outdated. Luckily, the only times I have seen flares used are on the Fourth of July or when someone was shooting off outdated ones. Flares do expire, so check the dates on them too.
Do you have a horn on your boat for sounding in fog? Although we don’t have much fog in Arizona, many have boats located on the coast, and having a horn should be part of any boat’s safety gear. It can also be used to capture the attention of another boat or a sleeping crew member.
Every boat should have personal floatation devices on board; one per person. Locally, the race committee will sometimes require that we wear them when racing. The bright orange horsecollar type is about the most uncomfortable thing I can imagine wearing while trying to race a sailboat. They will rub the back of your neck and interfere with quick movement more than a huge tummy (I have experience with both).
Instead, many of us have purchased one of the many new vest-style PFDs. But when was the last time you tried yours on to check the fit? Some of us are still growing and need to adjust our life vests accordingly. Have you ever jumped into the water to see how your PFD supports you? Will it keep your head above water without slipping off?
Those sailing offshore should have a crotch strap, harness, and a sturdy tether to attach to the boat or jack lines. In this day of inflatable PFDs, a crotch strap is always a must. If you don’t have a crotch strap, many are available to purchase as an add-on.
Years ago, I was near a boat being single-handed in high winds and waves. The skipper apparently went forward to lower the jib and fell overboard. The boat sailed on, and the skipper was never found. The Park Ranger was on the scene within about five minutes and a helicopter within fifteen minutes. The Park Ranger said that the skipper was not wearing a PFD but that if he had been, he most certainly would have been saved.
I had always been careful and cautious, but since witnessing this incident, I started putting on my life vest when the wind and waves picked up. I also bought my wife a good-fitting life vest, and I had our harnesses out and available if I needed to go forward.
Let’s all have a safe summer and “Bring Em Back Alive.”
