Safety
Hurricanes are a danger in the Pacific, particularly towards the lower latitudes, but there are other dangers as well – total electrical failure (meaning no power for my watermaker), capsize, sharks, pirates, injury or illness. Some of these things are within my control. Some are not. My strategy is to do all I can to mitigate the former, and to not waste valuable mental energy thinking about the latter.
Training in the Royal Navy's notorious "Dunker" - how to escape from a submerged cabin
Fortunately my boat proved herself well on the Atlantic, and it is most unlikely that I will need to call for rescue. If a hurricane strikes, my best strategy is to retreat to my cabin, seal all the hatches, and strap myself to my bunk to avoid being hurled around. I would stay buttoned up like this until the hurricane has passed.
If at any point it looks as if my life is seriously in danger, I have various ways to issue a Mayday.
If I still have electricity and a satellite phone, I can call for help, or if there is a ship nearby I can issue a distress signal from my VHF radio.
I have an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon, 406 Mhz, Category 2, made by McMurdo) which will activate automatically when wet, or can be activated manually by pressing a button. I also have a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon, also by McMurdo) in my emergency grab bag, which is what I take with me in the liferaft if I have to abandon ship. It performs the same function as the EPIRB.
When activated, the beacons send out a distress signal that allows the beacon to be located by the satellite system and lets search and rescue aircraft know where to locate my boat. They are registered with the EPIRB Registry in Falmouth, UK – when the EPIRB is activated they liaise with any relevant MRCC’s (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres) to identify a nearby ship that may be able to divert to my last known position.
Other onboard safety equipment includes:
- Sea-Me radar enhancer with audio alarm
- Global positioning beacon that posts my latest position to website
- AIS2000 transponder, provided by Digital Yacht
- Foghorn
- Marine flares (4 red parachute, 4 red handheld, 4 white parachute, 6 white handheld, 2 orange smoke handheld)
- Signalling mirror
- Immersion suit
In the safety harness - and not much else!
- Liferaft (4-man liferaft made by Winslow) plus Survival Equipment Pack and grab bag (see below)
- Lifejacket
- Safety harness
- Type-4 Coast Guard Approved Flotation Device
- Fire blanket
- Fire extinguisher
The liferaft grab bag contains:
- 4 chocolate bars
- 4 small bottles water
- Anti seasickness tablets
- First aid kit
- Fishing kit
- Glucose sweets
- Grab bag
- Lightsticks (6)
- Personal EPIRB
- Pocket strobe light
- Silva compass
- Thermal foil blanket
- Tool kit
- Waterproof flashlight
The liferaft’s Survival Equipment Pack (included within the liferaft) contains:
- Manual Inflation Pump – Spring Loaded Return w/ Adapter
- Repair Kit (Includes: Repair Tape,
- Repair Clamp (3”) & 2 PRV Plugs w/ Tether)
- Collapsible Bailer Bucket w/ Handle
- Paddles w/Retro Reflective Segments
- Sponges
- Signal Mirror (2”x3”)
- 3 USCG Aerial Meteor Flares
- 3 USCG Hand Held Locator Flares
- Raft Knife
- Utility Knife (SS Lockback)
- Pelican Flashlight
- Survival Manual
The Manual Inflation Pump, Bailer Bucket, Raft Knife, and Pelican Flashlight are all on lanyards tied to the LifeRaft.
The Survival Equipment pack is also tied to the floor of the LifeRaft and the contents are vacuumed packed.