Safety for Swiftsure Fundamentals Special Safety Considerations - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Safety for Swiftsure Fundamentals Special Safety Considerations Key Players Racers Swiftsure Organizing Authority Safety Agencies

Fundamentals  Safety of boat and crew is sole and inescapable responsibility of the person in charge (SER 1.2 & RRS 46)  Designated person to take over as person in charge in event of incapacitation (SER 1.2)  Decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone (RRS 2013 -2016 #4)  Must give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger (RRS 1.1)  Crew is responsible to wear PFDs adequate for the conditions (RRS 1.2)

Special Safety Considerations  Long courses within both Canada and USA  Transit a major Vessel Traffic Management area  Sailing in dark and/or fog without radar  Wide variety of sailboats in size & seaworthiness  Crews vary widely in age, competency and experience  Wind and sea state varies due to conditions & tidal current  Sea temperature is cold (about 10 0 C, 50 0 F)

Key Players for Safety Racers Swiftsure Organizing Authority Safety Agencies

Key Players: Racers  Culture of safety on each boat  Skipper/owner sets the tone  A shared responsibility with crew  Training (e.g..; MOB recovery, location & use of safety equipment, aids to navigation, emergency radio operation)  Prevent and mitigate emergencies  Division of responsibilities with back up

Racers cont’d  Role of Person in Charge  Boat preparation  Seaworthy boat  Sound hull, spars, rigging, sails, and gear  Safety equipment properly maintained and safely stowed  Crew selection and organization Sufficient ability and experience to face bad weather   Crew knows where safety equipment is kept and how to use it  Crew briefing  Decision to sail or continue to race  Monitor weather conditions and forecasts

Racers cont’d  All crew members  Personal readiness (physical fitness, personal safety gear)  Safely perform role on boat  Contribute to safety of boat and other crew  Know Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016  Read Sailing Instructions and Notice of Race (PRO will not present them at Skippers’ meeting!)  Comply with Safety Equipment Requirements

Racers cont’d  Safely cross Traffic Separation System  VTS broadcasts on VHF 09 of commercial traffic every half hour  Continuously monitor VHF 16 (low volume if DSC)  MMSI and GPS enabled  Safe handling of boat (e.g.; gear down in heavy weather, maintain look out)  For emergencies (activate DSC, call Coast Guard via VHF 16, cellular/satellite phone, email), activate EPIRB, PLB Updated crew lists – in case of SAR   Position reporting (Four Long Courses)

Key Player: Swiftsure Organizing Authority Safety Policy Safety Equipment Requirement Conduct of Race

Swiftsure Safety Policy  Promote a Culture of Safety for Swiftsure  Safety Advisor – Don Thain  Protocol when to not start the race, or to abandon race due to wind & sea state conditions  Minimum safety requirements  Location of boats in event of emergency  Position reporting (Four Long Courses)  SPOT Tracker System  Accurate crew lists

PIYA Safety Equipment Requirements  Located on Swiftsure website ( Registration tab, Notices of Race sub tab )  Separate SERs for monohulls and for multihulls  Swiftsure Inshore Classic is ‘Inshore’ category  Four Long Courses are ‘Coastal’ category  A number of the SERs for monohulls have been modified by the NORs  Changes are described in the SER on the website  Any questions email/phone the Chair of Swiftsure

Conduct of Race  Trained and capable Race Committee  Rigorously adhere to NORs and SIs  Regular monitoring of wind and sea state via Environment Canada  Communications capability in whole race area  VHF 26  Dedicated radio operators at CRD & Sombrio Point  Safety compliance inspection  Coordination with Safety Agencies prior to race, and JRCC during race

Key Players: Safety Agencies  SAR interoperability of Canadian Coast Guard & US Coast Guard (Puget Sound Sector)  Air and Marine Emergency Response JRCC positions SAR units of Canadian Coast Guard  Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant from 442 Squadron  relocated to Victoria Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue  Oak Bay (Unit 33)  Victoria (Unit 35)  Sooke (Unit 37)  Secondary SAR role of Royal Canadian Navy vessels   Vessel Traffic Service (Puget Sound Sector) and Marine Communication & Traffic Services half hourly broadcast of commercial traffic on VHF 09  South Island Marine Safety Unit, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Safety  Is a shared responsibility  Is relative, not absolute  Reduce subjective risks (what we can control)  Assess objective risks (what we do not control)

Hint: Dr. Richard Dewey’s hourly Tidal Current Charts Download and email from Swiftsure website ( Race Info, Currents During Race ) to smart phone or tablet for use during race Study before race  Tidal Current Charts 09:00 May 23 to 00:00 May 25: Oak Bay: Victoria to Haro Strait  Tidal Current Charts 09:00 May 23 to 09:00 May 25: Juan de Fuca East: Victoria to Race Passage  Tidal Current Charts 09:00 May 23 to 06:00 May 25: Juan de Fuca East: Victoria to ODAS-46088  Tidal Current Charts 12:00 May 23 to 18:00 May 24: Central Juan de Fuca Strait  Tidal Current Charts 15:00 May 23 to 18:00 May 24: Juan de Fuca Western Entrances