Should You Scuttle your Yacht when abandoning?
by Nancy Knudsen, Cruising Editor on 17 Jan 2008
Abandoned catamaran, three months and 1000 miles later SW
Two incidents this week put the focus on two of today's prime issues in blue water sailing. (The top one being the question of when they will design boats with keels that stay on). The poor sailor who apparently caught on fire and somehow ended up overboard was not responsible in this case, but his sailing boat then travelled 2500 miles alone to Hawaii. Many other boats also have been known to sail long distances after they are abandoned by their crew without being scuttled.
In the other incident, a solo sailor, somewhat curiously, called his local pub back home for help when he was incapacitated on an Atlantic crossing. He was in no state to sail the boat with an apparent broken collar bone, but this is not the case with many other sailors who abandon their boats. The old adage of 'you should step upwards to get into the liferaft' seems to be much abused these days, as is the equally old adage that the boat should then be scuttled to avoid causing a hazard to other vessels. What do you think?
The inaugural Brisbane to Gladstone Rally of Discovery is on this year, a great opportunity to sail in company up the Queensland coast and have some fun along the way.
How good are you at doing your own forecasting at sea? Ken Batt this week offers some reliable answers that could help have the right rig in place BEFORE the storm hits.
The one piece of gear that makes the difference between a good and a bad night's sleep when at anchor is not the chain, the snubber, the sentinel or the technique of anchoring, though these are all obviously important, but the right anchor. Des Ryan compares some of the 'new generation' of anchors.
Lots of other news – the incredible Francis Joyon has had a difficult week, in danger of losing his mast, but is now heading for home and a new solo round world record – maybe under 60 days!
Yachties with their yachts in Fiji cyclone holes for the cyclone season are now up in the air about their legality, as Fiji has suddenly changed the rules! There's a delightful story of a couple sailing the North Queensland coast in a demountable trimaran that 'lives in the shed' when they are not sailing ... and if you are anywhere near Geelong in March remember the Wooden Boat Festival is on again.
If you have something to say, email me by clicking the link at the end of the Magazine...
Have a good week, and
Sail safe...
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