Re: [SCOW] Interesting report on dinghy entrapment

Hi,

A few thoughts.

First, if a boat goes over, the first task should be to make sure everyone is OK and get on life jackets. A flying Scot or a 420 (as in the report) will take some time to turtle. I think usually that will give enough time to make sure that everyone is free of the boat, lines, and stays. However, the time it takes to put on life jackets is taken off the time it takes to get floatation to the top of the mast and get crew to the centerboard. So, if there is risk of capsize, I recommend putting on life jackets just in case.

Having a boat with a trapeze adds extra risk, more to get tangled in. The Flying Scots have more room, are more stable, and have less to get tangled in than the 420 or 470 (which I am more familiar with). That is good. However, if the Flying Scot does turtle, I suspect it is much more difficult to right due to its weight and width. That puts more priority on not turtling. Turtle or no turtle, If the crew is free of the boat with life jackets on, then a successful rescue is possible.

In the accident in Annapolis, the crew was by the mast dealing with the spinnaker and was pinned by the boom and boom vang after a jibe (in addition to being caught on the trapeze). A similar problem would be unlikely if not using the spinnaker but could happen using a spinnaker on the Flying Scots. The boat is more likely to capsize with the spinnaker up and a crew is more likely to be at the front of the cockpit. Obviously, a mistaken jibe under those circumstances is dangerous, particularly if the skipper lets go of the tiller during the jibe.

In the worst and unlikely case, if someone is caught on the rigging and there are problems freeing them, them a floatie would be important. If a boat goes over in cold water, a floatie might allow faster recovery under conditions where time is more crucial, even without other complications.

The problem is to evaluate the likelihood of various possibilities, the costs, benefits, and alternatives. We obviously cannot protect SCOW sailors against every danger and should not try too. Nonetheless, it seems to me that a floatie is worth consideration.

John Rogers


On Sep 24, 2012, at 3:59 PM, "Reikowski, Robert J." <breikowski@wmata.com> wrote:

> I know I will regret this.
> We sail in the Potomac.
> I would be more concerned if we were on the coast or even in coastal waters.
> None of our boats have ever gotten remotely close to capsizing except in capsizing class. (which is incredibly hard to capsize a flying scot, don't even want to think about trying to capsize a cruiser in the Potomac)
> What crew injury is going to be prevented by putting a floatie on the top of the mast?
> Loss of life? Seriously? (I am not talking about capsizing the boat, I am talking about it going turtle)
> I say we make a rule not to take the boats out in weather that would cause this condition, wait, we already have that rule.
> How about we make certain the captains of the boat are well trained before going out in open water? Oh, yea, we do that too.
> Before making more committees, how many people are getting injured? I would be more interested in follow up reports on preventing future injuries.
> How long Has the marina been there? And how many flying scots have gone turtle in that time period?
> Of course, somebody is going to say that if one person dies, that is too many.
> I agree, but the safest way to keep that from happening is to close the club and ban all people from sailing "just in case"
> Seriously, nothings broke, why are we getting so paranoid?
> Bob Reikowski
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: scow-all@googlegroups.com [mailto:scow-all@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jamie Russo
> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2012 3:02 PM
> To: earledrj1@starpower.net
> Cc: Julian; scow-all@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: [SCOW] Interesting report on dinghy entrapment
>
> Thanks Julian, for sharing this informative report and appreciate f/u suggestions from Jan. Yes, it is good to have a healthy respect for the water, as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Curious how the club may choose to proceed . . .
>
>
> On Sep 24, 2012, at 2:05 PM, <earledrj1@starpower.net> wrote:
>
>> Julian - thank you so much for sharing this important study with SCOW
>> members. I think SCOW should consider acquiring and requiring the use
>> of the masthead floatation device (the mainsail head slip-on buoyancy
>> device or "floatie") on the Scots. The cost is minimal compared to
>> potential crew injury, loss of a life, or damage to boat/sails
>> occasioned by turtling in our sailing area. It may be time to create
>> an appointed "Safety Officer" position and/or "Safety Committee" for
>> the Club, too. Jan Earle
>>
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