Practical Boat Owner - January 2016

St Peter Port Marina in Guernsey

News

Practical Boat Owner 595 January 2016 • http://www.pbo.co.uk 7 ➜

Boaters warned about dangers of portable generatorsTelevisions, laptops, mobile phones, power tools, heaters
or simply charging the batteries: whatever the electrical need, the stark warning from a leading boat safety body is that petrol
generators will continue to cost lives and cause misery unless boaters use them correctly.Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) made
this blunt statement in light of the fatalities and injuries that have taken place on boats across the UK in recent years: the warning comes as
boat owner Matthew Eteson was sentenced for causing the deaths of his partner and her daughter through his faulty DIY installation of a ‘poorly
designed and constructed’ exhaust system for a generator. Eteson was found guilty after a trial in October and sentenced at Preston Crown
Court to two years imprisonment,

suspended for two years, for the manslaughter of Kelly Webster and her daughter Lauren Thornton. Kelly and Lauren died while

sleeping on board Eteson’s boat on Lake Windermere on 1 April 2013 as result of carbon monoxide poisoning. Eteson was a registered

and experienced Gas Safe installer but, due to unsuitable materials, his

Msummer’s ARC Channel Isles rally have been snapped up.Sixteen of the 30 boat slots have ore than half of the available spaces for next
been booked up for the cross-Channel cruise in company to Alderney, Guernsey, Jersey and Cherbourg. Taking place between
20-27 August 2016, the inaugural ARC Channel Islands is run by World Cruising Club (WCC) in association with RYA Active Marina
and with the support of Hamble School of Yachting and Practical Boat Owner magazine. The entry fee includes pre-rally preparation
advice and support from a lead boat, berthing for the duration of the rally, GPS satellite tracking of each yacht and the support
of WCC staff throughout the rally.Marina in Gosport for a welcome supper on Thursday 18 August. Participants will meet at Premier

Following safety checks and skippers’ briefings, the fleet will set sail for Cherbourg on Saturday 20 August. After having a day to enjoy

the town and local market, the rally will visit Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney on a route that allows sailors to combine pleasant sailing

with time to explore ashore.development manager, said: ‘It will Guy Malpas, RYA yachting

be an excellent opportunity for sailors of all abilities to gain greater experience in a challenging and enjoyable environment.’

following an overnight sail from Alderney, and conclude the rally with a farewell dinner on Saturday The fleet will return to Gosport

27 August. Confirmed entries can save up to 30% on selected charts and pilot books through Imray once they have signed up to the rally.

come, first served basis. Would-be participants are encouraged to enter early to secure a place. Full Places are allocated on a first

pricing details and links to the conditions of entry and safety equipment requirements are available in the ARC Channel

Islands information pack.■World Cruising Club on +44 (0) 1983 296060, or email mail@ To request a copy, contact

worldcruising.com

Places going fast for inaugural ARC Channel Islands rally

pipework failed and the soft soldered joints melted, resulting in carbon monoxide fumes being discharged into the boat. The court

was told that Eteson had neglected to test this system and was aware that the carbon monoxide detectors on board had been disabled.

can be seen as critical to some boaters wanting off-grid electrical power. However, as generators emit The BSS says petrol generators

deadly carbon monoxide and need refuelling with highly flammable petrol they must never be installed in an enclosed cockpit area or the

engine space of a boat, and must never be used on or close to the boat where exhaust fumes could enter it and where they could cause

injuries or fatalities. The BSS says that if boaters want to use generators, these basic points should be noted:

■permanently or make unauthorised modifications that are not supported by the manufacturer or proprietary Never install a portable generator

component supplier.■or on the bank near the boat’s doors, vents, windows and hatches. Never run generators on the boat

If you can smell exhaust fumes in the boat, it could mean the cabin is also filling with carbon monoxide.■ Never refuel any generator

anywhere aboard the boat; take it to the bank and ensure you are a safe distance from other boats and potential sources of ignition.

any marina or mooring-owner guidance and rules on the use of generators, refuelling and the However, make sure you keep to

handling of petrol on their sites. Further advice is available on http://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/generators.

Atlantic Odyssey

sets sailA total of 38 yachts set sail in ‘perfect weather conditions’

of north-easterly winds blowing at 12-15 knots on the third annual Atlantic Odyssey rally.In spite of the Atlantic Odyssey

being a non-competitive event, several skippers tried hard to be first across the Lanzarote starting line on 18 November with Australian Alba

finding German heels. The event, a smaller version of its ARC rival, offers a 20% reduction in entry fees to families with children Invictus hot on its

under 16. Participants are bound for Martinique in the Caribbean.founded the ARC nearly 30 years Organiser Jimmy Cornell, who

ago, came out of retirement to launch the Atlantic Odyssey in 2013, which he runs with his daughter Doina Cornell. In addition to the

Atlantic rally, Cornell Sailing has 12 yachts taking Islands Odyssey. Canaries bound for the Cape part in the inaugural These have left the

Verdes and Barbados, after spending a month cruising through the seven islands of the Canarian archipelago. The Islands Odyssey is

a pilot for a more ambitious 2016 event, when commemorates of Barbadian independence by the Barbados 50 rally the 50th anniversary

sailing a historic route from London to Barbados via West Africa and the Cape Verdes.