Safety (IanKJ)
The issue about safety is an interesting one. When sailing in a group there has to be some agreement to stay together so that all in the group can offer assistance. Organised racing is another matter. Racing will inevitably involve pushing canoes and sailors to their limit with a high risk of capsize regardless of the sailors' skills. The more skilled may avoid capsize when others will not, but in reality the best sailors will capsize and may need assistance. Is it appropriate to rely on passers-by to render this service?
The risk on large bodies of water like Loch Lomond is obvious. Do all members of the OCSG really understand some of the risks they take, or do they rely on others taking responsibility for them? I'm not sure there is a solution that would satisfy all members. I suspect that some assume that the more skilled sailors will come to their aid, but would they then accept any restrictions placed upon them by those involuntarily placed in this position of responsibility?
Safety (LouiseH)
I have heard on the OCSG grapevine that my capsize on Windermere is being used to substantiate an argument for safety cover being provided at meets. I do not agree that my capsize in any way provides evidence that the OCSG should change the way it conducts itself. With this in mind I would like to tell the story from my point of view.
I capsized in gusty winds and was assisted back into my boat by MalcolmC. I was suffering from a cold and was consequently grateful for Malcolm's assistance (Thanks Malcolm). After he had assisted me back into my boat I paddled it down to the cafe myself. When I arrived at the cafe I was in a bad mood, and not feeling very well because I was ill. I was wearing a dry cag and dry trousers over a Buffalo top. On arriving at the cafe I changed into dry clothes. Although I may have looked cold, I was not uncomfortably cold, and was definitely not close to "hypothermia" as has been suggested by some accounts of the event. I decided that given that I was ill and had been in the water, the best thing for me to do was to go straight home to bed. Steve towed my boat home for me so that I could do this. No big drama, and a lesson learnt that no matter how much you want to go sailing, sometimes it is better to stay at home and get over your cold.
Safety (RoyB)
Re. Mark-JanD's capsize at Loch Lomond. I'd like to get the facts straight. I quote from my report in September's GOSSIP: We at the club had seen Mark-Jan capsize off Strathcashell Point. His sailing partner Bernard went to help and BillO offered the services of the club rescue boat. I readily accepted and in a few minutes off it went with SteveR aboard. By this time Bernard and Mark-Jan were almost ashore, but the latter and his canoe were brought to the safety of the jetty...
When Bill offered the rescue boat I could see that Bernard was apparently carrying out an effective rescue, but I wasn't going to turn down the extra help offered. Without the rescue boat M-J would have survived safe and sound as Bernard brought both man and canoe to safety.
Safety (SueB)
On Saturday, 2nd October, I was just about to leave home to go to the Lakeside meet when two vans and three workmen turned up to do a long-awaited repair job. Grounded! As the day wore on I sat in the study working - and listening to the wind and the hail and the thunder, wondering what it was like out there on Windermere. I thought about the last time I had been out in wild weather, at the Scottish meet, and about some of the discussion various people have had on safety issues. Thus it was that I decided to put down a few basic ideas that have crystallised over the years. I don't know whether they will be of any help to anyone - but here is my personal safety checklist for canoe sailing:
Basic "Musts"
• Be able to paddle the canoe, solo, in a straight-ish line in a bit of a wind.
• Be able to get the sail down quickly and safely in a strong wind (with no risk of the sail or boom getting in the water).
• Be able to let the sails flap (relatively) harmlessly in an emergency (sufficiently long sheet, releasable kicking strap - whatever it takes!).
• Be able to get back into the canoe, unaided, and without sinking it, in the event of falling overboard.
• Have side buoyancy bags or tanks to allow the boat to be righted and bailed reasonably easily.
• Have sufficient additional buoyancy in the ends of the boat to be able to climb on or in an overturned or swamped boat (and get at least the upper body out of the cold water!).
• Have a large bailer, on a line (to avoid bailer-overboard syndrome).
• Have a sail that can be reefed down to under 20 sq ft.
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