Editorial- Another Keel Gone, another Lost Life

by Nancy Knudsen, Cruising Editor on 4 Sep 2008 Warmer weather and the opening of the sailing season means our yachting waterways will be happily bulging with sails again – both racing and cruising boats. However, it's tragic that the onset of Spring has coincided with another yachtsman losing his life because the keel fell off his boat. His traumatised and grieving crewmate–and fellow owner–said they hit a 'discarded spinnaker from another yacht'....and this collision was enough to remove the keel? I don't think so.

However, the ultimate killer appears to have been the fact that the life jacket the drowned seaman was wearing was too large, and obviously lacked a crutch strap. I hope this is the last time anyone will hear complaints about crutch straps on life jackets.

The inevitable enquiry by Maritime New Zealand will be held, but cruising sailors, who often venture too far from land for an early rescue, will, at their peril, ignore the need for a robust keel design.

The Coalition Task Force, already present in the Gulf of Aden for the 'War on Terror', has finally included safeguarding of shipping as part of its brief. That's the good news, but it was sadly not in time to save two French sailors, who were kidnapped yesterday after another pirate attack off the coast of Somalia.

In happier news, it's that time of year when many dozens of international cruising boats are passing through Australian waters. The round-world Blue Water Rally is currently heading from Mackay to Darwin, while the World ARC has just left that port sailing for Bali. There's also an amusing tale (if it's not your yacht) of sea-lions who are sleeping on decks in such great numbers that they are sinking the boats.

On a practical note, my 'Product of the Week' is the 'One-Touch' winch handle – no more thumb fiddling to get the wretched thing to dislodge – and there's some valuable hints on how to make sure your yacht is as fire-proof as possible.

Lots of other news too, so read on, enjoy, and.....

Sail Safe!