Mondays 10/26/2009 Question and boating safety Tip ANSWERED
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:40 am
Saftey Tip
When is the last time you did a "Man Overboard Drill"? Do you sail with a friend, spouse, or better half? Do they know how to retrieve you? Could they FIND you if you went overboard? If you have any doubt of the difficulty in finding someone who went over your should try this: Get a coconut. Go out on a nice sunny perfect sailing day. You know, 15 kts wind, 1 -2 foot chop, and perfect conditions. Make sure all round you is clear, drop the coconut in the water ( it is very roughly the size and color of a human head ) keep sailing, and avert your eyes from the coconut for 45 seconds. Now look back and see if you can find the coconut! I bet you will find it substantially harder than you think! Now imagine somone goes over and you take 10 minutes to come about, drop sails, and prep for recovery!! PRACTICE YOUR MAN OVER BOARD DRILLS!! You'll never regret the knowledge!
FYI: It was a calm clear day with zero wind and lots of sunshine. No rain, no fog, no extenuating circumstances. I was aboard Destiny motoring at 4 knots. I left Everett for Poulsbo hours before my daughter and wife could leave. They agreed to take the dinghy and catch up with me. The dink is an RIB 10'2 with a 15 hp. It does about 20 kts. I was between Edmonds and Kingston but had not crossed the shipping lanes. The girls finally got close and called me on the cell. After very clear description of where they were I could not see the dinghy on a full plane doing 20kts across the water just a few miles away! What an eye opener! Finally, coming to a full stop, with the binoculars and searching I spied them! Called them and told them which way to go to get to me. OMG! THEY COULD NOT SEE ME! I was in Destiny a 40' Beneteau standing 56' high at the very top! It was not until they were headed straight at me with my guidance did they spy Destiny!
The point here is that it is way more difficult to find something on the water than you may imagine. OK, I rambled enough . . . . .
Question for today
What vessels other than law enforcement is allowed to display flashing blue lights on the water?
Now go buy a coconut.
When is the last time you did a "Man Overboard Drill"? Do you sail with a friend, spouse, or better half? Do they know how to retrieve you? Could they FIND you if you went overboard? If you have any doubt of the difficulty in finding someone who went over your should try this: Get a coconut. Go out on a nice sunny perfect sailing day. You know, 15 kts wind, 1 -2 foot chop, and perfect conditions. Make sure all round you is clear, drop the coconut in the water ( it is very roughly the size and color of a human head ) keep sailing, and avert your eyes from the coconut for 45 seconds. Now look back and see if you can find the coconut! I bet you will find it substantially harder than you think! Now imagine somone goes over and you take 10 minutes to come about, drop sails, and prep for recovery!! PRACTICE YOUR MAN OVER BOARD DRILLS!! You'll never regret the knowledge!
FYI: It was a calm clear day with zero wind and lots of sunshine. No rain, no fog, no extenuating circumstances. I was aboard Destiny motoring at 4 knots. I left Everett for Poulsbo hours before my daughter and wife could leave. They agreed to take the dinghy and catch up with me. The dink is an RIB 10'2 with a 15 hp. It does about 20 kts. I was between Edmonds and Kingston but had not crossed the shipping lanes. The girls finally got close and called me on the cell. After very clear description of where they were I could not see the dinghy on a full plane doing 20kts across the water just a few miles away! What an eye opener! Finally, coming to a full stop, with the binoculars and searching I spied them! Called them and told them which way to go to get to me. OMG! THEY COULD NOT SEE ME! I was in Destiny a 40' Beneteau standing 56' high at the very top! It was not until they were headed straight at me with my guidance did they spy Destiny!
The point here is that it is way more difficult to find something on the water than you may imagine. OK, I rambled enough . . . . .
Question for today
What vessels other than law enforcement is allowed to display flashing blue lights on the water?
Now go buy a coconut.
having to clean my seat after the K-Mart comment!!!! Usually, blue is reserved for Law Enforcement, and red for Fire/Rescue. So, my guess is not F/R.