 |
| |
| |
By now, we've all heard about the whale that hit a boat and sank it.
As part of our crew briefings, when sailing across blue water, I like to appoint "Captain" responsibilities that are assumed by crew members. I was first impressed with this idea when we sailed out of Tortola with Conch Charters. Our Dinghy Captain, Jay, was tasked by the Check-Out Captain at Conch, to never/ever/never leave the dinghy unattended, un-tethered and never unlocked. Jay truly amplified this calling, to the point I have never forgotten how serious he took this charge. Since then I have broadened my various responsibilities when chartering a boat, to share the many important facets of safe sailing. I ask for volunteers to be responsible for the: dingy, monitoring/transmitting VHF 16, MOB spotter, head responsibilities (emptying holding tanks), sail hoists and reefing, galley (organizing refrigerator/food stores/ clean-up assignments), night watch shifts, roving fender handler, spotters fore and aft when docking, anchor setting/mooring, sand-line handlers when sailing into Avalon, and so on.
I'm getting breezy here because of how the crew of "Raindancer" reacted when confronted with a major stress-out situation. The skipper knew his responsibilities. The crew knew their responsibilities. They all performed like an NFL football team. They all knew their positions and duties, and simply got their jobs done before they sank, 15 minutes after the strike..
If you have guests aboard your boat, do they know how to react to an MOB situation? How about a broach? How about finding your way back to the marina if the skipper is incapacitated? And if you're out at night, make sure you have the skills to get you back (even if there are no jetty lights or confusing nav lights presented).
And speaking of being prepared, having the App "Windy Lookout" has proven to be an invaluable high wind alert system, that really works.
Developed by our own Utah Lake sailor, Sean Thornton.
Thank you Sean.
What draws men (and women) to the sea?
Utah snow total accumulations break all records!
High waters of 2011
Provo River in the background continues to dump run-off water
and large debris into Utah Lake.
Wind driven waves easily power over rock break-water barrier and into inner harbor.
How much higher will this years record snow pack bury this fishing platform?
I had decided to move our boat from the south side of the north dock, to the other side, 2011.
Next day we had an epic wind out of the south. The surge pushed water and debris into the harbor. The south dock, boats and all, were dislodged and forced into the north docks.
My old empty slip was now partially occupied by the stern of a south dock boat.
I remember the time....
(my favorite lead into a yarn, a personal experience, a nautical poem, etc.)
back in 2011, when spring flood waters rose high enough to submerge the jetty roads,
in the Provo Marina. Lots of big stuff was being jettisoned out into Utah Lake from a swollen,
surging Provo River. There was so much debris in the water, if you weren't vigilant, you could easily collide with a mature uprooted tree or numerous flotsam of a curious nature.
Ice Breaker
(At this rate, we may have some real ice breaking to do after breakfast)
Social get together / group mast raising / boat splashing
Pancake breakfast
Sailing season is here. Let's get ready. Help our community of sailors set up their boats.
Service project - Clean up the Ice Rink Pavilion and parking area.
Utah Lake State Park
Ice Rink Pavilion
April 8, Saturday, 9 AM
Thanks to Windy Lookout and getwetsailing.com
Fun read R2AK
These Days
(Try Full Screen)
Bonneville School of Sailing
www.bonnevillesailing.com
801.636.5204
|
|
 |
|
