Sailing can be dangerous, from IHCA Sept News.

Most of us never think about the dangers of sailing. The following incident actually happened. It shows how easily accidents can happen in sailing.



In 15 knots of breeze boat S rounded the windward and short offset mark on starboard tack. Boat S put up their spinnaker to proceed to the leeward gates. Boat P on port tack, mistook the offset mark for the windward mark. On seeing the lead boat round the correct windward mark Boat P bore away and started to thread their way through the boats that had rounded the windward and offset mark.



The crew on boat S, not seeing boat P, nor expecting a boat to be in that position. hopped out on the trapeze. The crew of S and boat P made a heavy contact. Unconscious, the crew of boat S still connected to trapeze fell to the leeward side of boat S. Boat B behind boat S saw the incident and S crew limp on the leeward side of the boat. Boat B stopped with the crew of B jumping into the water and rescuing the crew of boat S.



The crew of boat B stayed with the crew on a rescue boat to the boat went ashore with a waiting ambulance to take crew B to hospital. Crew S will make a recovery and hopefully be sailing soon.



Every week we see boats come in on port tack at the windward mark. This incident was made worse by boat P making a mistake in identifying the wrong mark as the windward mark. This was an accident, though every week end we see similar incidents. Boats coming in on port tack to the windward mark without any rights. It was also a concern that in an 80 boat race only one boat stopped to offer assistance. Sailors should remember that if they do not offer assistance they can be protested under Racing Rules of Sailing Rule 2.



Boat B was given redress and a good finishing place though she did not have to complete the race for this to happen. This is done compensate sailors that do assist so they do not lose positions on the race course.



The IHCA recognizes the great sportsmanship of Neville Thompson and Shamus Stevens (Boat B) in their efforts and involvement in the rescue of the crew of boat S after a horrific accident on the water.



All at the IHCA and I am sure all fellow sailors wish the crew of boat S a speedy recovery and wish him fair winds and good sailing in the future.



Sailing is safe sport if we all take a few precautions. If someone does get injured or a boat is severely damaged, please stop and offer assistance.

This was at the recent F18 Worlds.

Great sportsmanship form Big Nev and Shamus...... Another Australian boat apparently 'put a block' between the injured party and on coming boats, parking their boat also. So thank you to them too.

How is the injured sailor recovering.... Last I heard, he had a pin in his shoulder, jaw wired shut, lacerations to the face and broken ribs / punctured lung?????

I am not totally visualizing this situation. Can somebody explain it a little better?

If Boat S rounded the offset mark and bore off, still on starboard and raised their spinnaker on their port side, why did they not see Boat P?

Did Boat P hit Boat S directly broadside on Boat S starboard side, or what? Was there damage to the boats, as well as to the crew?

Also, the description of the incident makes it sound as though it is not a good idea to come in to the weather mark on port, even when you do know which is the proper weather mark -- "Every week we see boats come in on port tack at the windward mark. This incident was made worse by boat P making a mistake in identifying the wrong mark as the windward mark. This was an accident, though every week end we see similar incidents. Boats coming in on port tack to the windward mark without any rights."

So, does this mean that, when going upwind, to avoid getting into a collision with preceding boats that are now heading downwind, you should always go to the right side of the course and approach the weather mark on starboard tack from a considerable distance out?

It is suprisingly easily done <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. The blind spot under the spi is huge and as they gather speed, the heading turns down wind putting boats on collision courses. The clearance buoy is supposed to prevent it however it's impossible to be 100% effective. I think it highlights the extreme importance of skippers/crews of *all* boats to keep a look out for what is around them. Of course going to the windward mark on port in such a big fleet is usually going to end in tears.

I hope the injured sailors make a speedy recovery - great work Nev & Shamus + the other boat.

Tiger Mike

So, my read is the S boat put up the spinnaker and began to bear off. This lower course drove them T-bone style into the Port side of P boat. Is this a correct assumption?

If you were the P boat and saw this coming (as I'm sure the P boat did not), how would you handle it?

Bear off?

I can't imagine tacking would help.

Bear off and gybe? Going high on the new gybe might allow them to duck. Certainly won't help your position, but could avoid a collision if there is enough space.

Your thoughts?

Having been in this situation many times, usually trailing the leaders as they round the mark, and come down, there is only one action. You must watch each boat, and assume they do not see you. Also, as you are on port, you have no rights. Usually safer to head up and go behind. Very risky to try to bear off and go ahead, as a boat that does not appear to being moving will accelerate very quickly, especially with the spin up.

Do not come in on port lay line in a large fleet...... Just asking for this to happen.

Agreed !

Or more to the point: don't come in on port layline in a fleet with punters...

Don't bathe in more than 6" of water and definatly stay away from NASCAR. Wear goggles while weed eatin the yard.

Ask an E.R. nurse how many sailing injuries they can remember.

Danger is inherent in every sport/activity/hobby. In my opinion, considering the equipment we use and the speed that we travel, we are pretty safe. Comparably.

Except that if you are sailing in a large fleet, not at the front, and closely passing the offset mark heading for a-pin, you're not very safe at all.

Odds increase dramaticly when you do something stupid like come in on Port to a crowded top mark.

If you are going to do it, you better know what you are doing and leave a bit of a safety margin in the bank. However if you know what you are doing...... You would not put yourself in that possition.

I am sure the guys in question on Port, regret their move and will unlikely do it again. Just a shame that they had to learn from such a nasty accident.

coming into the top mark on port is fine, but you need to plan an exit stratergy if it all goes to hell.

even with 80 plus boats in a fleet there is usually room at the top to get a slot.

remember the rules, you can't tack inside 2 boatlengths if you will force a stb tack boat to sail above close hauled, this is rarely an issue in a big fleet as most boats on the stb layline are well over stood and do not need to sail above close hauled to make the mark.

you have plenty of room to find a gap between the boats going downhill as you pass the offset mark heading to the top mark.(its actually more dangerous in a Farr 40 fleet than a cat fleet)