Emergency Planning

Pre-Thinking Emergency or Dangerous Situations

Sailing is so much fun that most days we simply enjoy being on the water with the wind pushing us along.  It’s only when the unexpected happens that we might be confronted with something that we hadn’t planned for, something that was unexpected, that might even have been dangerous.  If, on the other hand, each of us has done some “what-iffing” and pre-planned what to do in these unexpected situations, then usually everything works out fine - - our guests think that we are miracle workers - - and so on. 

And it seems that the longer we sail, the more likely it is that something unexpected with happen.  Sit around the dock or clubhouse with a couple of “old-timers” and just listen to the stories of daring-do……  What an adventure it was the day – in 35 to 45 knots of breeze – that the mainsail shredded itself along one seam without so much as a warning.  Or the night while at anchor in a storm that the anchor started dragging.  Or the day when we were returning to Radenbough Cove on Pennock Is. Alaska that we ran aground on the reef on the eastern approach.  And so on……

Pre-thinking about what should happen in the event of an emergency or a dangerous situation not only is the prudent thing to do…… but it also is a neat way to spend these long winter nights.  So, what would you do with the examples above???  Or, how about the following ones……

Kathy and I were sailing on a really blustery Easter sunday afternoon several years ago.  We had sailed up to Whiskey Rock in 15 to 20 knots of breeze.  On the way back to Bayview, the wind piped up to 25 to 35 and the wind was right on our nose.  It was tough going and quite wet with a lot of spray in the air.  Time had gotten away from us that afternoon and while on a starboard beat toward Lakeview, it became apparent that if we kept on sailing, we would not arrive back at the Bitter End Marina until after dark.  What were our options?  What should we do?

How about the day that I went out single-handed in 5 to 10 knots of breeze?  I’d had a great sail for several hours and was somewhat tired from all the sheeting in and steering.  I’d taken in the sails, furling the mainsail on the boom and folding and bagging the jib.  The engine started right up and I motored toward the marina.  Just as I was about to enter the narrow entrance into the marina, the outboard engine quit abruptly.  What should I do now?

Another day – with a somewhat stronger breeze blowing – I’d furled the mainsail on the boom; but left the jib lying on the foredeck to fold and bag after I’d gotten back to the slip.  Just as I was about to enter the marina – at the narrowest point – a puff of breeze lifted the jibsail up the forestay – completely obscuring my visibility forward.  What can I do now?

One day while sailing up the lake to Sandpoint in a strong breeze, I noticed that the boat didn’t seem to have as much boat-speed as I would have expected.  I was broad reaching on port tack with full main and a 150% genny.  I thought that I should have been going around 5.5 to 6 knots.  But, I was only doing between 4.5 and 5 knots.  Looking aft toward the dinghy that we were towing, I could see that the dinghy had to be taking on water… a lot of water.  Now, what should I do?

These are just a few examples of interesting situations that I’ve faced while sailing over the years.  What did I do???  Well - - -

When the mainsail shredded itself, there wasn’t much I could do except douse the jib and haul down the mainsail – then start the engine and motor back to the marina.

Having the anchor drag in the middle of the night in a pitch black storm was pretty exciting.  So exciting that I had an excess of adrenalin that produced extreme dry mouth and I couldn’t talk for about four hours after we got things settled down.  Of course, having an anchor watch warned us that the anchor was dragging.  We began weighing anchor with the engine running and reset the anchor.  That was the answer - - but in the pitch black darkness that was only punctuated by flashes of lightning - - it was quite a chore.

When we ran aground on the reef at Radenbough Cove, it was on my brother’s boat.  The first thing we did was check the tide tables to see if the tide was coming in or going out.  Fortunately, the tide was coming in and we floated off the reef about ten minutes after hitting it…… with no damage to either the boat or the reef.

When the outboard quit, I was lucky enough to have not quite reached the marina entrance and was able to quickly turn the boat back to open water.  I did the same thing when the jib climbed the forestay.

When the dinghy began slowing our speed because she was filling with water, I hove to.  Then pulled the dinghy up to Snickerdoodle with the painter and used a bucket with a rope attached to the handle to bail out the dinghy to the point where I could safely get into the dinghy and finish bailing.  I found that the water was coming up the daggerboard trunk and into the dinghy; so I “plugged” the top of the daggerboard trunk with some foam rubber to stop the water from coming in and continued to sail home.

For most of these situations, I try to think ahead and figure out what I’d do if something happens…  I cannot think of every possibility – but just by thinking about situations like these, I can fill my mind with alternative solutions that can be used when “disaster” strikes.  Try doing this.  It will make you a safer sailor.  And, while you are “what- iffing”… consider - -

Who else should know about the “plan”.  The skipper, certainly.  Anyone else???  First mate, significant other, the rest of the crew, kids??????

What is the plan?  Is the plan written down?

Does everyone aboard know how to use the VHF radio and call for help.

Does everyone know the difference between a Mayday Mayday broadcast, a Pan Pan broadcast, and a Security Security broadcast?

How about asking the crew – while you are all having breakfast – “Say, where are the fire extinguishers?”

Or, “What VHF channel is used for emergency broadcasts?”

Or, “Where are the lifejackets (does anyone really say PFD’s?)?”

Or, “How do we rig the jacklines in case of nasty weather?”

Oh yes, that Easter Sunday when we were concerned about getting back to the marina after dark with a strong wind blowing?????  We took in the sails, started the motor, and motored the three and a half miles back to the marina – getting there just before dark.  Incidentally, I knew that the outboard engine knew that it was the “second class” mode of propulsion for the sailboat and that it would be vindictive if it got the chance.  That it would stop running when we most needed it to run.  So, what was the plan if the outboard quit?

The wind was out of the southwest.  We were motoring nearly due west.  My plan was that if the outboard quit, to do a “U-turn” and let the wind in the rigging push us east.  Hopefully, be able to see what was wrong with the engine and correct the problem.  If I couldn’t fix the outboard, my plan was to sail under bare poles up the lake to find a protected anchorage and wait out the storm.

AND, when the outboard died while entering the marina, I did a quick turn and “sailed”/drifted toward open water.  When reasonably clear, I started looking at the motor.  Somehow, the fuel line had unclipped itself from the engine – the only time since 1985 that it unclipped itself.  I re-connected the fuel line, pumped the bulb a few times and restarted the engine.  Life was good……

Hmmmmm……..  What if “x” happened??????