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The skipper is the medical officer, too.

8/30/2015

Because the skipper is in charge of the safe operation of the boat and the welfare of the crew, he or she is also responsible for taking care of any medical issues that may arise.

The skipper should make sure that there’s a proper first aid kit aboard, suitable for the boat’s area of operation and how far the boat will be from medical assistance. Being the medical officer doesn’t mean that the skipper must perform first aid if there is someone aboard who has more training in what’s needed. A trained person is the first choice for assistance.

The captain is there to make sure that what needs to be done, gets done. This may mean coordinating assistance on the VHF radio, assigning crew tasks for a medical emergency, and other responsibilities. Think about what you would do in the case of a disabling injury or illness to one of your crew or yourself, if you’re the skipper. If you normally operate with only one other person aboard, it’s essential for both of you to have a plan. Everyone who’s in charge of a boat should take a basic first aid/CPR course; the more trained people out there on the water, the better for all of us.

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Can You Hear Me Now?!

8/20/2015

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Instead of shouting (sometimes mixed with cursing) back and forth between helm and bow (providing entertainment for bystanders), some boaters use hand signals, which work pretty well for many people. An alternative is to use a wireless, hands-free communicator system – they’re readily available and relatively inexpensive. This system is especially good when it's windy or there's other noise interfering with hearing. In the U.S., FCC regulations prohibit the use of VHF radios as an intercom. If you must communicate with un-amplified words, the person on the bow must face the helmsman when speaking or yelling. Read my lips.

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Do you know the rules for meeting a sailing vessel?

8/12/2015

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If you sail only occasionally or don’t operate where there are many sailing vessels you may not recall the rules. Operators of power-driven vessels should also have a basic understanding of the sailing rules because when they are maneuvering among sailing vessels, the sailboats have the right of way. However, a sailboat may be meeting another sailboat and have to observe sailing rules, causing the boat to do an unexpected maneuver near the powerboat. Woe to the powerboat skipper who comes upon a sailboat race!

Rule 12 of the Navigation Rules defines which sailing vessel has the right of way when two sailboats that are in sight of each other approach and risk of collision exists. Remember that “in sight” means visually; if you see a vessel on radar or AIS and not with your eyes, it is not in sight.

(1) When each sailboat has the wind on a different side, the vessel with the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the vessel with the wind on the starboard side. Starboard tack has right of way.

(2) When both sailboats have the wind on the same side, the vessel that is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel that is to leeward.

(3) If a sailboat on port tack (wind on the port side) can’t determine which tack the other vessel is on, the port tack vessel shall keep out of the way of the other vessel.

(4) When a sailboat overtakes another sailboat or a power-driven vessel, the overtaking boat always keeps out of the way, and it should keep going until well past and clear of the other vessel. Don’t cut in ahead of the vessel or cross in front of her. Rule 13 discusses overtaking. The text for Rules 12 and 13 is available at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRulesContent

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The skipper is the medical officer, too.

Can You Hear Me Now?!

Do you know the rules for meeting a sailing vessel?

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