Cruising Helmsman – June 2017

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Cruising Helmsman June 2017

LETTERS

RIGHT ROYAL RANT ABOUT ABANDONMENT

Hello,

I am very happy to join your newsletter,

I am just amazed that it is so easy for the

so-called yachties to head off into the

big blue yonder rather like hopping into

a vehicle. feed in the address to the GPS

and off we go.

I have spent 21 years in the RNLI

(Royal National Lifeboat Institution) in

England trying to look after the so-called

yachtsmen, plus in excess of 16,

nautical miles of ocean cruising around

the world in both sail and power. I find

all of that tame to what one finds in and

around Australia. Mainly from so-called

visiting yachtsmen.

"I have got a plotter," says the yachtie,

Does that gives him the right to proceed

to sea regardless of the weather forecast

or possible warnings which would have

been delivered by the BOM every day?

Then they get into trouble, "help," they

scream and expect all resources to be

deployed to assist. Whatever happened

to seamanship? What ever happened to

rigging a jury rig or a jury rudder?

Is it not time that these so-called

yachtspersons were called to pay for the

emergency services involved? Merchant

and naval ships have to divert from their

normal course to assist.

It happens all the time and costs a

fortune to the ship's owners, but they do

not complain as it is an unwritten law of

the sea that help is always rendered when

possible. Surprised that underwriters do

not insist on some form of qualification

prior to offering bluewater cover.

One of my recent clients was given

bluewater cover by a well-known

underwriter then rang to ask what

it meant!

Recently we had an Irishman, then a

South African, so-called yachtspersons

shouting for help when their vessels

appear from photographs to be

perfectly sound.

Australian police were involved in

rescuing the Irish and the Australian

Navy recued the South Africans. In

both cases I dare to say that with some

real basic knowledge of what they were

attempting they would have made port

without hassle.

There is even one case of an American

lady, who decided that the catamaran in

which she and her husband were sailing

which was caught in a gale situation,

called for help. A merchant ship diverted

and stood by until the lady finished

her nail varnish and was then happy

to be removed from a vessel which was

seemingly in good condition. All recorded

on film.

The lady then decided, because she

was into astronomy etc., the yacht had

decided it was going no further and

requested the merchant ship to run

it down and sink it. One trusts it was

not insured.

I rest my case.

Regards in sympathy with everybody

that has to deal with the idiots out there.

I have to say I do also know many

genuine yachtspersons cruising the world

who enjoy what they are doing and would

only call for help as a last resort.

CHRIS CARRINGTON

Ed notes: given the statements made

here regarding real situations, I can

provide no proof, nor was any provided,

as to their veracity. ≈