Andrew’s guide to Hazardous Situations

A Ratings Examiner’s tips on how NOT to die, or at least minimize dying, while sailing small boats.

BY ANDREW CHEUNG

Small sailboats--especially performance-oriented ones--can be hazardous in unexpected ways. Therefore if you’re planning on sailing these boats, it’s important to learn more about these hazards and how to deal with them.

Below are some possible hazards you may encounter, and suggestions on how to prepare for and handle these precarious situations. I do not pretend to be an expert on any of these subjects, but I've experienced some of the scenarios and would like to share my knowledge.

ILL-FITTING FLOTATION DEVICE

Lifejackets, PFDs, whatever you call 'em--they only work when you wear 'em. And they only work well when they fit. If you're considering buying a PFD for personal use, ask the store if you can jump in the water to test its fit. There's nothing more unpleasant than the sensation of a PFD riding up too far, obscuring your face (imagine trying to breathe through a wet cloth), cutting into your armpits, and snagging on deck hardware while you're desperately trying to swim out from underneath a turtled boat.

A well-fitting flotation device should not ride up while you're in the water. It should also conform to your body--make sure the shoulder straps don't stick up off your shoulders, and make sure there are no fancy pockets or webbing on the back that could snag on boat hardware.

GETTING TRAPPED IN A TURTLE

Arguably more pleasant than being eaten by a giant turtle, getting trapped under a turtled boat is still rather unpleasant. Luckily I've only experienced this twice: once under an FJ, and once under an International 14.

The best thing to do is avoid getting trapped in the first place by either preventing the boat from turtling, or jumping clear (but no farther than you can reach) from the boat during a capsize.

Otherwise:

1. Don't panic--most cockpits form a decent air bubble.

2. If you are sailing with crew and are both trapped, go one at a time (unless of course, there is no air pocket).

3. Clear your body of any entanglements (trapeze wire, rigging, etc).

4. Take time to ensure that your escape path is free of potential entanglement hazards (this is where that well-fitting flotation device comes in handy).

5. If you have a knife, make sure you can reach it.

6. Consider exiting belly-up--this makes it easier for you to grab the rail and pull yourself away from the boat, like a horizontal pull-up.

7. Holler at your crew as soon as you are clear and safe.

GETTING TRAPPED UNDER A SAIL

1. Lean into the boat as you capsize to windward, but don't linger or it will turtle.

2. Try to launch yourself fore or aft so you'll be able to reach the edge of something to pull yourself out.

3. Consider carrying a knife to cut through the sail if necessary.

FOOT LOOPS AND YOU

Don't let this happen to you. Carry a knife.

TRAPEZE HAZARDS

Trapeze sailing is no doubt exciting. However, trapeze harnesses can become dangerous in certain conditions. With the exception of newer designs, most trapeze harnesses have a fixed hook with no quick release. In a capsize, this hook may entangle itself on running or standing rigging, preventing the sailor from reaching the surface. While statistically unlikely, fatalities due to entanglement do occur.

In one instance, an Austrian Tornado catamaran sailor drowned when his hook became entangled in the rigging during a capsize. In a separate instance, a German sailor drowned when his 49er skiff pitchpoled and his hook caught on the shrouds. Read more here.

Thankfully I've never personally experienced this situation, but here are some tips I've compiled from what I’ve read and heard.

1. Consider purchasing a spreader bar with a quick-release function. Unfortunately, the ISO standard for such a system was only recently established, and early reviews of these systems range from "works great!" to "accidentally released me tons of times".

2. Place your hand over the hook opening during the capsize to prevent anything from snagging on it.

3. Wear your harness over all of your gear. In an emergency you may be able to remove it, or at least loosen it enough to provide the needed slack to disengage your hook.

4. Consider carrying a knife to cut through your harness or running rigging. Someone also mentioned wire cutters for standing rigging, but I'm unsure how easy it would be to perform this while trapped underwater.

GETTING TRAPPED UNDER A TRAMPOLINE

I have only heard/read of this happening before, so I can only speculate, but:

1. Strongly consider carrying a knife, even if it has a blunt 'safety-tip'.

2. Strongly consider temporarily attaching a second knife to the underside of the trampoline or crossbeams using velcro straps or some other removable method.

KNIVES

Having researched this topic extensively, I could write pages upon pages about the right knife to get. Unfortunately the perfect knife, which would be cheap, reliably sharp, and easy to use doesn't appear to exist. Here are some things to look for, in no particular order:

1. Blunt 'safety-tips' so you don't stab yourself in the leg when trying to cut that mainsheet.

2. Assisted-opening devices for folding knives. These torsion springs allow you to open a knife with minimal effort.

3. An easily accessible way to attach the knife to yourself.

4. Inexpensive because you'll lose it at some point.

5. Minimal care required to stay sharp even if exposed to moisture and salt (almost no cheap knives meet this ideal).

6. A hook knife feature, allowing you to cut line with one hand and minimal line tension.

7. If shopping for a dedicated hook knife, be sure to buy a double-bladed one, as the single-bladed hook knives require much more force to cut successfully . More information here.

8. If you are a keelboat sailor, minimal magnetic interference.

9. Brightly colored handle.

OTHER SAFETY GEAR

Other gear to consider using:

1. Loud whistle. Cheap, small, effective.

2. Brightly colored clothing. Remember, it's hard to see more than just the tip of someone's head when they're in the water, so skip the fashionable navy blue spray top and get something hideously neon.

3. Flares or a strobe light. Note the expiration date and/or the date you put in the batteries (batteries drain over time even when the device is powered off).

4. VHF radio and waterproof bag. Even if the radio says it's waterproof, it ain't. Remember, we get a discount at Fisheries Supply.