Good morning Skippers and Crew of SSYC:
I am writing to invite all Skippers and Crew to participate in a discussion and sharing of ideas as to what each of our expectations are or should be relative to rafting and perhaps boating in general. With respect to Longbranch, last week end, probably all of our expectations were not met as many of us experienced and some of us observed the raft break up at 3:30 AM Saturday night. Please feel free to forward this invitation for a shared dialogue to any interested crew person.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to agree on a common expectation at SSYC raft ups. For example "all boats over 30 feet will put out and set an anchor". I am not advocating this particular requirement but only mention it as an example to encourage a discussion.
It is probably a good idea to try to sort out and reconstruct where each boat was in the raft up and who had anchors out to try to identify how to prevent a recurrence.
When emergencies occur, MOB, sudden squall, unexpected medical emergency or accident, engine failure, jammed rigging or rigging failure when wind gusts, anchor caught on obstructions, some skippers have an expectation that each crew person has a responsibility to help resolve the emergency to the extent of that crew person's experience and knowledge. Other skippers may regard crew persons as passengers like on an Argosy Commercial Tour Boat. Some crew persons may regard them selves as falling into either category. It seems to me that we need to have an understanding between us all as to what our expectations are and what other person's expectations are.
Please email to me your best thinking and suggestions as to causes of the Longbranch experience and thinking for the future.
It will help me frame the agenda for the next Skipper's meeting on June 11, 2007. Please come prepared for a forward thinking discussion.
Thank you all,
Larry Gill ,
Fleet Captain
FLEET CAPTAIN
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7 Comments:
Hi Larry,
Nuala and Sam forwarded this to me: I’m so glad that you are doing this and I will plan to be at the skippers meeting on the 11th. I had emailed Mike Brough suggesting that he have a class on raft ups, to definitely include crew as well as skippers.
- My first suggestion would be to send this message out to the entire membership – there may be other crew interested in learning what they can for the future – and not every skipper will take the time to forward the message to their crew.
Suggestions that I’ve thought about:
- A designated person would be in charge of assuring that we have enough anchors out and configured correctly as more boats are added to the raft up. I’ve also heard that anchors should be set by a person in a dingy in order to get a good hold on the bottom
- reattaching the lifelines at the open gates before we are down for the night
- life jackets available and easy to grab before we are down for the night
- flashlights handy to grab in the dark before we are down for the night
- ignition keys left in the ignition before we are down for the night
- a designated skipper or crew with a ready dingy to go boat to boat to alert others when there is an emergency – this person would agree to be not drinking heavily that evening and have their cell phone or radio ready – like a designated driver.
- Also, as a crew member, and still a novice, I’d like to see a list of things that we should know about raft-ups and how we can be most useful to the skipper when there is an emergency such as this – of course if the skipper is comfortable with our participation, and only with his direction – for instance - like how the lines need to be tied to tie the boats together and how to untie them quickly without getting line caught in a prop or ending up on the wrong boat.
That’s it from me – I know there is much more – I look forward to the discussion. I’m all about not making anyone guilty and using this as a much needed opportunity to learn skills for the future.
Jane
Good work Fleet Captain,
It will be a worthwhile discussion with lots of worthwhile input I’m sure. I will send my after I give it some thoughts to share!
Marie
Here are some Raftup Guidelines from other Yachett Clubs - they are similiar in many respects - all have some local issues - one does rivers for instance
Common Threads
There is a "Raft-Master" that is in charge of the raft-up and places each boat where he thinks will make the raft-up safest
The center of the raft-up is set first ( ok not novel ) - the first boat sets the direction of the raft-up - wind and current conditions -
Initial tie of each new boat is done without their anchor out
The raft-master takes the anchors from each new boat and places the anchor where he deems best for the raftup
Some Yachett Clubs even specify the type and length of rode -
All I think require EACH boat to have BOTH a BOW AND STERN anchor available
all seem have EACH boat set an anchor - some Yachett Clubs have some boats 2 anchors
the prevailing anchor usage is Bow - Stern - bow - Stern - Bow - stern - and so on from the center boat out.
Some have a sign-up that is way in the future to allow the Raft-Master to design the raft-up BEFORE the raft-up day ( ok maybe that one is a non-starter for SSYC but thought I would get some juices going )
Some thoughts from some of the SSYC skippers - know where your engine key is - know where a couple of flashlights are - have a spare fender or 2 readily available as well as a boat hook, horn ( to wake up the whole bay so they can watch the fun?? ), PFD's ready to wear.
the different papers should give a starting place for people to think things over even if SSYC does not elect to have a formal raft-up policy - at least looking at what other clubs have done should be useful.
mb
Larry, as one who contributed to the fiasco by not setting a stern anchor, I can agree that some discipline is needed. I would suggest that you develop a raft up check list or recommendation which would apply to all OVERNIGHT SSYC raft ups. Some elements might be:
o For SSYC sponsored overnight raft ups, the Fleet Captain or his designated representative is in charge of anchoring. This does not apply to tie ups to the Port Madison Buoy.
o Number and placement of anchors a function of projected wx, but alternate bow and stern anchors seems a good basic start.
o Additional anchors and other provisions the responsibility of the Fleet Captain or designee.
o All boats to have bow, stern and spring lines and suitable fenders.
o Dingy tie up at night done so as to permit rapid raft break up.
Each skipper is responsible for having his own boat safe and ready for prompt emergency cast off with flashlights, PFD's, clothing, etc., ready, and the boat ready to depart (keys in, cockpit reasonably clear, etc.). As always, the club does not take responsibility for the condition and training of crew, but relies on the skipper, SSYC only providing boat guidelines. SSYC can take responsibility for the raft up, and I would first try raft up recommendations to see if that works out before making it more mandatory.
My thoughts,
Hal Tobie
One comment I have is say you only end up getting 3 boats. Under the plan proposed, One anchors into the wind the other two set an anchor in reverse fashion. I don't think this setup would be too good if the winds kickup.
IMHO
Steve D.
I think the key is to have someone (the Fleet Captain, or his designate) be in charge. At least then someone would know how many anchors are out. (I know I’ve been to raftups with many boats, and no one is quite sure how many anchors are out, and no one decides when or where another one is needed) The designated Raft Master (I think that’s a great title!) should be first at the raftup and have his/her dinghy ready to assist in dropping and placing anchors for the other boats.
Having your anchor placed by the Raft Master in a dinghy is a lot easier than dropping anchor and trying to set the anchor while backing up into the raftup. This is particularly if the anchor is not directly off the bow or stern, or if the wind is pushing the raft around. He can make judgments and change the plans if more or less boats than expected show up. Years ago I belonged to the Roche Harbor Yacht Club, and this is the way they did it. It worked especially well for wagon wheels.
We’ll have a good chance to practice in Kirkland.
Walter Friesen
There has been terrific input to this discussion - one other aspect is pre-trip planning for the location of the raft, as well as the shape and initial design (to be adjusted as needed by the Raft Master).
While we are discussing who and where we are going on our overnight trips, we should also pick the brains of those who have been to the destinations before so we can advise all of the safest and best places to anchor, so the first boat to arrive (which may NOT be the Raft Master's) has some guidance as to where to start the raft.
In this last case, the first to arrive had never taken their boat to Longbranch, and was not aware of our clubs experience in Filucy Bay that motivated us to be anchoring further inside the harbor for both shallower water and having the raft be more protected from the wind. Even though it is farther from the dingy dock, it is much safer.
In other cases, we have started the raft in less than the best places too. So, as part of the rafting discussion, I suggest we add this aspect to the planning session of our Skipper's Meetings.
Bruce
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