In December of 2024, after decades of meetings of the stakeholders, testing, and technical meetings, the Final Rule was published in the Federal Register. This article, the sixth in a series, describes how the new North American Standard for flotation devices changes what we’ve been accustomed to since the 1970s. Read more
Update:
Articles are of general interest to the entire CCA membership, and are not particular to any specific station. Categories include Feature Articles, Safety Moments, White Papers and For Ocean Racers.
2024 Search and Rescue Experience in Lake Superior
Mark & Bev Lenci, M/V Friendship 4
We have decades of worldwide cruising experience, but those years never included being the primary vessel in a search and rescue (SAR) event. Then in one week, we were the primary vessel in three SAR events in Lake Superior.
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This article is about the process by which life jacket standards and requirements have changed in the last 50+ years leading up to December of 2024, when new standards and requirements took over. In the second part of this article, available next month, we’ll discuss what we think are the ramifications of the latest, greatest (?) regulations. Read more
Three yachts participating in or returning from the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race incurred severe flooding and were abandoned. All aboard were rescued without death or injury. All three yachts later sank.
US Sailing, the CCA, and the BROC empaneled a team of experienced ocean sailors to review the incidents. Their findings are linked below.
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Our fleet surgeon, Jeffrey S. Wisch, M.D., has prepared the attached memorandum which contains excellent advice and a comprehensive medical list. Updated PDF posted here
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In general, of all of the lithium-ion cells that were tested, LiFePO4 would be considered the safest cathode material because of the relatively low temperature rise and the resulting low likelihood for thermal runaway to propagate. LiCoO2 and LiMnNi would be considered the most hazardous because of the relatively large temperature rise and high probability for propagation of thermal runaway to adjacent battery cells. Read more
The underlying reason to wear a life jacket is to provide buoyancy to keep the wearer’s mouth above the water to prevent drowning while awaiting rescue. With that relatively simple goal, why are there so many life jacket designs, and why are some more effective than others? Read more“We know the topography of Mars 100 times better than the bathymetry of our oceans.” Dr. David L. Porter made this statement during his presentation, Probing the Sea, at the Environment of the Sea Committee meeting at the 2024 Fall meeting. Dr. Porter is one of the many scientists and researchers who continue to measure and analyze the oceans that are so precious to the CCA. Dr.
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For years, Nick Thornton and I sailed together. We went through the junior sailing program at Royal Victoria Yacht Club in British Columbia, we raced against and cruised with each other in dinghies and keelboats, and as adults we sailed many miles offshore together. During the spring of 2007, he called me about his son. “Sam’s finishing high school and plans to take a year off,” said Nick. “What do you think about taking him on a delivery with you this fall?” Read more
