Chapter 6
SAFETY AND WEATHER
Clothing and Safety Equipment
Sailing can be done in almost any weather condition. However, to fully enjoy experience and to do so safely, you must have the proper clothing. Weather can change rapidly and having the right gear at hand is essential.
Small one and two man sailboats are easily capsized. Small boats also have less freeboard, or less distance between the rail and the water, therefore they expose sailors to sea spray. Constant spray or splashes will soak through most layers. For warmer water conditions and light wind, normal swim wear under a t-shirt is appropriate. When conditions turn colder, the use of a spray suit, or layer of wind/water-proof material and in more extreme cases a wet suit, is necessary. Vital body heat can easily be lost when immersed in water for even short periods of time. If the combined water and air temperatures equal less than 120, hypothermia is a threat. Being prepared with a wet suit or spray suit will keep you warm and out of danger. Heat is also a cause for concern. It is of the utmost importance to bring a water bottle on the boat and to drink water at regular intervals. At least one pint of water per hour is recommended while on the water. Heat stroke or exhaustion is a threat whenever the air temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity is above 70% according to the U.S. Sailing Instructor Manual.
A good set of gloves is helpful regardless of weather conditions. Beginning sailors always have an assortment of blisters and cuts from a hard day in the boat. Gloves help not only to keep the hands protected, but they also provide additional grip when winds quicken.
Footwear is a good idea, whether sailing boots or sailing shoes. They provide protection for your feet and traction in the boat.
The most important piece of safety equipment is the personal flotation device (PFD). It is always worn when on the water. A simple gust of wind from a new direction can send the boom across the boat and knock you into the water, perhaps even knocking you unconscious. Type III PFDs are the most common worn while sailing. A proper fit is key to comfort and safety. If it is too loose it will ride up while you are in the water and chafe your neck when you are seated. If it is too tight it will prohibit movement. In a proper fitting PFD, you should be able to turn your head and be seated without it interfering.
Safety concerns on the water are mostly weather related. Storms can quickly form with heavy winds and lightning. Try to maintain an awareness of the changing weather conditions. The boom is a cause of injury to many sailors. Changing winds and accidental jibes or tacks can cause the boom to swing with great force across the boat and into your head. Always be on the look out for its movement or you may end up taking a swim with a big headache.
Capsizing
Capsizing is a part of sailing. When it happens, it is important to know how to right the boat or un-capsize. All sailboats will float if capsized. Once capsized, check to make sure the situation is safe (i.e. no injuries or damage to the boat). Release all lines so the sails are no longer cleated. Check the centerboard to make sure it is all the way down and find the main sheet. Point the boat upwind by swimming the bow into the wind (if possible) and then, swim around to the centerboard holding on to the main sheet. Next, grab onto the centerboard pulling your weight onto the board. As the boat rights itself, reach up and grasp the side of the boat (the gunwale), scramble over the side with main sheet in hand. The mainsheet allows you to maintain control over the boat. Once inside the boat, check all sails and lines and get ready to resume sailing.
Capsizing Demonstration: Click to Play
Man Overboard
If in a two-man sailboat one person falls overboard, actions must be taken to quickly recover that person. The jib should be left to luff so you only have the main sail to worry about. Put the boat on a beam reach and tack onto a reciprocal beam reach keeping the man overboard in site. As you approach the man overboard bear leeward so you are not pushed into the man overboard. Let your main sail luff and turn the boat into the wind once you are in reaching distance. Stabilize the boat while the man overboard crawls back in.
Man Overboard Demonstration: Click to Play
