Three yachts participating in or returning from the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race incurred severe flooding and were abando
Both these incidents illustrate the fact that yacht safety equipment is useful only to the extent it can be accessed in difficult conditions, that it is in working order, and that the operator is thoroughly familiar with its operation. They also illustrate that guiding a rescue vessel into the vicinity of survivors in the water or in a life raft is not the end of the rescue problem. There remains the problem of visually spotting the victims among waves or swells, often in low visibility conditions.
The CCA Offshore Communications Committee has prepared an in-depth overview of offshore communications methods and co
... As we were the fastest boat, we had the least amount of time to prepare for spinnaker sets and douses, gybes, configuration changes, and most importantly, communication. This was evidenced by some truly terrible spinnaker sets, botched take-downs, shouting, possibly some hurt feelings, and a general feeling that we weren’t performing like a team. But no one got hurt, the boat was undamaged, and despite several fire drills, we won all three races.
Since the discontinuation of SeaTow's radio check service, the US Coast Guard recommends all VHF checks be held
Not just for safety anymore, DSC can be used to contact another boat for purely non-emergency reasons, such as find other boats positions and automatically plot them on your chart-plotter Not only that, you can set your radio to be part of a “group” to send and receive alerts intended for a fleet of vessels. This capability may serve any fleet, be it yacht club, regatta, race or just a group of friends.
While working with fellow CCA members on a comprehensive marine safety manual, I found that the powers that be have p
Despite my better judgment, I was coerced into delivering a 40’ cruising sloop up the coast from Oceanside to Moss La