GALIANA SAFETY MANUAL
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Responsibility & Accountability
It is important that everyone on board understands the legal responsibility of the boat’s skipper for the safety of both the vessel and its crew. The boat needs to be structurally safe, have all the adequate safety equipment, and the crew needs to be selected and trained so that it is capable of doing the planned passage and cooperating in dangerous situations. The boat needs to be sailed in a safe way and the skipper needs to be experienced enough both as a sailor and as a leader to lead the crew in difficult situations.
All the above is the responsibility of the skipper, and if things go wrong he is accountable for what has happened - in ultimate cases he is the one going to court.
The skipper can and will delegate responsibility of different boat tasks to different crew members. Things to be delegated include different areas of preparation of the boat before going to sea and after leaving port. At sea, the watch captains will take over running the boat during their turns. In practice, the watch captain is responsible for the safety of the boat and the crew while he is on watch, but he is accountable only to the skipper. The skipper is the one legally accountable for the safety of the crew and the vessel. Responsibility can be delegated, but legal accountability cannot.
When taking responsibility for a delegated task, take it as a sign of trust from the skipper and don't let him down. If things turn difficult, don't hesitate to ask for advice on shore or by waking the skipper up. At sea, remember - he has put his trust in you and he's the one going to court if things go badly wrong.
Leadership & Followership
When going to sea, remember that you will often encounter demanding situations. Either the competitors in a race make the situation pressurized or very often the ocean is the one throwing challenges to the team onboard. Therefore, the first thing the team needs to understand and accept is that the task of the skipper or the watch captain as the leader is to be demanding when needed.
The right to be demanding is earned by having done your homework and knowing what you are doing, but also by being humble and realistic of one's less than perfect knowledge of things. You have to be able to answer positively to the question: “Are you up to the task?” The right also needs to be earned by being civilized and empathetic. You should be able to laugh, especially at yourself. We are doing this for fun and in order to enjoy life, not to suffer.
The aim of the Galiana team is to optimize the use of the 12 brains we have on board. When the situation allows, everyone is welcomed to discuss coming decisions, and everyone is encouraged to make suggestions for improvements of ways to sail the boat safely and quickly. It is everybody's right and duty to think about how to sail the boat as fast and smart as we can during a race or passage.
At sea, at times situations occur where no discussions are possible, and instant action is required. That puts the followership of the team members to the test. The person in charge (PIC), be that the skipper or the watch captain, takes clear command, gives short, clear orders, and the team acts accordingly. If orders are questioned, it may not
be a question of opinion, but only regarding something the PIC has not observed and critically affects how to act. Good leaders can always also act as good followers; in order to become a good leader, you first need to learn to obey orders.
Active safety
It is important that the boat is equipped and the crew trained in such a way that they can manage to get a MOB (man overboard) back onboard, or launch and enter a life raft, or put out a fire, or fix a leaking through hull, or recover from dismasting or running aground. The marine industry is more than happy to innovate and sell more and more devices helping us in such situations.
Way more important is to avoid getting into these kinds of situations in the first place. It has been said that a wise sailor does not get into situations in which a skillful sailor survives. I have said that culture eats gadgets – a shared strict safety culture onboard is your best guarantee of reaching the next port safely. The most important aspect is having the right attitude and understanding and managing the risks. Equally important is developing your skills in sailing safely when the going gets rough and tough. Having said that, I have personal experience of escaping from some close calls. In some, I could have been wiser, but e.g. the sinking of Asteria in 2022 showed that despite all conceivable precautions and preparations, at sea things do go wrong at times. For that reason, we need the passive safety offered by safety gear and systems, though even in a situation when they are used, active safety is still needed.
Avoid unnecessary risks. It is fairly easy to stay onboard, if you have your jacklines close to the centerline and are always clipped on whenever there is the slightest risk of falling over the side. Don't be lured by the misleading feeling of safety of wearing your inflatable PFD equipped with AIS and PLB. 10% of them don't function if you fall over the side. According to British statistics, 47% of MOB situations of a couple hundred recreational boaters led to a fatality. In cold water the victim quickly becomes unresponsive.
Whenever at sea and you see floating debris, follow it and see how quickly it disappears from sight. In big seas it is extremely difficult to find someone with only their head visible. Every time you step out of the companionway, make a mental practice of visualizing how the disappearing boat would look from the water behind the boat. Then clip on before stepping on the deck.
Think of the risks, talk about them, and don't hesitate to question and discuss the ways people act on the boat. Our common aim is to bring the boat and its crew safely to the next port.
This manual goes through the plan of action and roles in different crisis situations. But equally, or perhaps more importantly, it explains ways of avoiding getting in such situations in the first place.
MISCELLANEOUS HAZARDS
How To Avoid
Keep in mind that out at sea we are far away from professional medical help. An offshore sailing boat is a hazardous environment and avoiding injuries requires understanding and actively avoiding risks. Be careful, think ahead, and speak up when you think something is risky.
Specific things to keep in mind
On Galiana we don’t sail barefoot. On the deck you can easily injure your feet and toes on the fittings – wounds heal slowly at sea. Below decks the floorboards are varnished – you should always wear shoes or crocs; bare feet and socks are slippery.
Beware of the boom and the spinnaker poles – both are heavy and hard. On Galiana they are held up by boom and pole lifts (there is no solid vang holding the boom up). Thus, there is a risk of them coming down – stay out from under them. The main boom is at the height of your head when you stand up, so be aware of it and don’t turn your back towards it when standing on the deck. If you have the honor of spiking the spinnaker guy, don’t put your head behind the spinnaker pole – it will jump back once the pull of the spinnaker is released.
Be careful with the sheets, guys and winches – we can be handling loads of several tons with the heavy sheets and winches; don’t put your hands too close.
Open hatches are dangerous. You can break bones falling down a hatch. We always keep the main hatch closed when taking the main sail down. Be especially careful when lowering the spinnaker through the letter box (between the main boom and mainsail foot down the main hatch. Always stay on the windward side of the main boom when lowering the spinnaker – if the sail gets into the water, you will not.
More bones are broken down below than up on the deck. When moving inside the boat in heavy weather and especially when climbing up or coming down from the upper bunks, be especially careful, plan how you will move around ahead of time, and always have a good hold of something.
Harbor maneuvers. Galiana weighs ca 20 tons, don’t get yourself between the quay and the boat. Don’t get your hands between the cleats and the mooring lines. Make sure you understand what your task in the maneuver is ahead of time. If you are unsure, speak up.
SEASICKNESS
In addition to being a nasty personal malady, seasickness is also a safety issue. A person who is severely seasick may have limited capability to look after his own safety and can also be a safety risk to others. Prolonged seasickness can lead to loss of body fluids and an imbalance of electrolytes, which can be serious. If a large part of the team is severely seasick, the overall capability of action and thus the safety of the boat is at risk. Thus, avoiding seasickness and the ability to cope with it is an important safety issue.
How to avoid and deal with seasickness
People can be divided into three groups. Roughly 5% are the lucky ones who never get seasick under any circumstances. Most of us, (maybe 90%) gradually get used to sailing in rough conditions, and with enough miles under their belts, and as they get older, become less prone to seasickness. This group can also be helped via preventive medication, as well as medication after prolonged seasickness. And then there’s the poor 5% or so who always get seasick - even on the Gosport ferry - and suffer from motion sickness all their life (I cannot provide scientific evidence for the percentages, they are just my understanding / gut feeling).
Thus, most of us can and should actively try not to get seasick. There are some time proven precautions and remedies available. When going to sea, don’t be hung over, eat lightly, avoid excess fat & spices. Do eat simple carbs, which are easy to digest and provide important energy. When at sea, dress properly for the prevailing conditions, ensuring you are not too cold or too hot.
The cause of nausea / seasickness is a confusion in the brain due to contradictory information between what our eyes see vs. the signals from the balance organ inside our ear. The eyes give false information about the zenith being where the mast is pointing at, or inside the boat where the cabin roof is, while the balance organ gives the true information. By being up on the deck and looking at the horizon, you provide your brain aligned information through the eyes and the balance organ – this both prevents seasickness and at times even gives remedy against it. When below decks this is not possible, so you should minimize the time you keep your eyes open below decks. When preparing to go up on watch, lie first in your bunk with your eyes closed and make a plan for how to get dressed and get up to the deck as fast as possible. If you can close your eyes while getting dressed, it might help. Reading or playing with your mobile phone is an absolute no no.
When coming down below after your watch, stay on deck and make a plan for how to undress, use the head and hit the sack as quickly as possible. When in your bunk, close your eyes immediately. If your bunk is in front of the mast, you can move to the saloon and sleep on the settee berths (on Galiana we also have lee clothes for these). If it is crowded and many people are seasick, take a sleeping pad and lie on the floorboards in the saloon with a bucket nearby. The lower and closer to the center of gravity of the boat you sleep (in Galiana, the saloon floorboards or settee berths), the less you will be thrown around in big seas.
An important safety note regarding seasickness is to never rush to the side of the boat to throw up without clipping yourself on. It’s ok to throw up on the deck or in the cockpit; the next wave will wash it away.
There are a number of different pills and plasters available to prevent motion sickness. Try them out on separate weekend days at home, as some of them may have side effects for different people. Some even cause nausea as opposed to preventing it. If you experience hallucinations or nausea, try the next drug and try to find the one that works for you. On Galiana we have strong medication which can be taken after none of the preventive drugs have worked. This is strong stuff meant for e.g. cancer patients during chemotherapy and should be used only in severe situations.
MAN OVERBOARD
How To Avoid
Don’t go to the leeward side of the boat unnecessarily – if you do, clip yourself on
Be aware of the boom, it’s the most dangerous single part of the boat. Always stay on the windward side (watch out for accidental gybes!)
Use the preventer and give extra attention to steering when going downwind
Stay clipped on, and use a double tether so you can always keep one hook clipped on while moving the other clip. Keep your tether short, and clip to a point as close to the centerline of the boat and as far from the sides as possible
On Galiana in rough conditions, clip yourself on before your bum is out of the main hatch, and do it the other way around when coming in
Use Spinlock or Wichard cast aluminum clips, not the ones made out of steel plate – they can bend
Stay clipped on also (and especially) when just sitting in the cockpit half asleep
Use the heads - no one has ever drowned while taking a pee inside
“One hand for the ship, one hand for yourself” – always hold onto something when moving on the deck at sea. Staying on the boat is inversely relative to the distance between your bum and the deck of the boat – keep your weight low.
Using 4WD on the deck is nothing to be ashamed of; going overboard is.
Planning the action
In a MOB situation, the action starts the moment someone delivers the dreaded shout: ”Man overboard!”. The plan evolves during the first minute or two while the first action is taken by the helmsman pressing the MOB button and stopping the boat (unless there is a spinnaker up). Have someone pointing at the MOB, and someone throw the life ring and Jon buoy for him. These things should happen instinctively by the crew on deck; while this is happening, the watch captain will plan for the recovery of the MOB. If the skipper is on deck or comes to the deck, he is the one who will take command. Communicate by giving clear orders and using names – always acknowledge orders by repeating them as received using a loud and calm voice.
Action
Person who observed MOB - shout “MAN OVERBOARD”. Throw appropriate equipment (1. life ring 2. Jon buoy) towards the MOB. Keep eye contact with the person in the water and point at the person with a straight arm as long as you can see the MOB. If and when you lose sight of them, continue pointing in the direction you saw the person last. Continue pointing until the watch captain or skipper orders you to other tasks.
Watch the captain (or skipper, if on deck) take command of the situation. Plan and decide how to maneuver and stop the boat to windward of the MOB for the recovery. Explain the plan to the team on deck and lead the operation.
Helm (no spinnaker) – press the MOB button. Immediately slow the boat as much as possible – having a spinnaker up will make the situation more complicated. If possible, he should make a big course change e.g. by tacking and leaving the foresails to the windward side (this will also make the course change visible on the chart plotter).
This will make the boat stop by heaving to and give a moment to plan the recovery without getting far away from the victim. Keep the boat maneuverable at all times and help the foredeck lower sails. Ensure the boat and crew are ready before tacking, gybing or making any dramatic change of course or maneuver.
Helm (when the spinnaker is up.) - press the MOB button. Head up enough for the spinnaker to collapse. Then use a knife to cut the spinnaker windward sheet and guy, letting the spinnaker fly on the leeward side of the boat. Next cut the halyard by knife, letting the spinnaker drop into the sea. Finally the lazy guy and spinnaker sheet on the leeward side are cut, freeing the boat of the spinnaker. The helmsman will then need to steer the boat away from the spinnaker in order not to foul the keel, rudder or propeller with the sail which is now in the water.
Navigator – watch leader who last came off-duty. Make sure that the MOB-position has been saved on the chart. Make sure that the MOB’s PAB (personal AIS beacon) is visible on the plotter. Assign a person to give directions towards the MOB from the plotter to the helm. If you can’t find the PAB on the plotter, inform the skipper. Send a Mayday message using the DSC (digital selective calling) button on the VHF radio, or contact the nearest MRCC by Iridium if not within VHF reach. Plan a creeping line search pattern from the MOB’s position.
Cockpit – ease sheets and depower the sails according to the orders of the helmsperson. Help foredeck to furl headsails or cut away the spinnaker as explained above. Make sure no sheets are in the water! Only after that should you start the engine. Prepare to use lifebuoy and/or
Jon buoy (these two first items might have been thrown right away after the “MOB” shout, especially at nighttime in order to have a light in the water near the MOB), or the rescue sling, throwline and/or other rescue equipment. Prepare to hoist the MOB with a halyard in collaboration with foredeck. At the decision of the skipper or watch captain, the other lifebuoy may be thrown to the MOB.
At mast - cut the spinnaker halyard after the spinnaker guy and windward sheet have been cut. Prepare a masthead halyard to hoist the MOB.
Rescue swimmer – gear up (drysuit + dedicated life jacket + EFA-sling), prepare to assist the MOB when the person is close enough to the boat
Medic – prepare to give first aid to the MOB, as they might have injuries and be hypothermic:
Clear the medical bunk for MOB, prep dry clothes, towel, and a sleeping bag (if not in the tropics). After the MOB is onboard, assess the situation and make a plan.
prepare sat phone medical call
Off watch - The crew members sleeping in the saloon lower bunks are the first ones to go on deck to help the watch on duty. Put on minimal gear (life vest, boots), to help furl the foresails or get rid of the spinnaker and reduce the boat’s speed as quickly as possible. This is a max 5 minute job, after which the rest of the crew should be on deck.
Picking up the MOB
Pick up MOB by throwing a rescue sling to the MOB. The sling must be attached to the boat!
If MOB is capable -> puts the sling on and swims or is pulled to the leeward side of the boat midships and is hoisted from there onto the deck. Open the gate in the life lines and use the ladder stored next to the forward hatch if conditions allow.
If the MOB is unconscious / not capable -> the rescue swimmer jumps in the water (attached to the boat with a safety line) and helps the MOB to put the sling on, helps from the water to hoist the MOB. Climbs back onboard by using the rescue ladder or by hoisting. Stay safe!
How to practice
In the safety briefing, go through the MOB procedure – make everyone say what they should do in their roles
On the dock, practice how to hoist a person from the water with a rescue sling using a halyard. Practice also the use of rescue ladders.
On the water, throw an object overboard and do the whole MOB-procedure. If a safety boat can be used, consider using a real person.
Practice the procedure in both upwind and downwind action. First go through the procedure and then execute in real-life mode.
Practice the operations in the dark with half of the crew inside, “off watch”.
The most valuable result of practicing for a MOB situation is a common understanding of how difficult a rescue operation is. According to UK statistics, ca 50% of MOB situations lead to fatalities. Understanding all of this should lead into a very strong and strict safety culture ensuring that there will never be a real-life MOB situation.
LOSS OF RIG
How to avoid
Get a strong, overkill rig with an old school Norseman-type wedge terminals and through mast bolted tangs.
Do regular checks of the mast and all parts related to it. Check that all pins are at place with tape on them, and no visible cracks are found. Proper tensioning of the rig – on Galiana we measure the tensioning with a Dillon digital gauge against the tuning guide of the rig designer.
Follow the movement of the mast in heavy weather.
Keep the running backstays tight.
Train and discuss what the helm should do if a shroud or stay fails. (Steer the boat immediately so that the broken one is on the leeward side)
Planning the action
All hands on deck with life jackets & tethers and clothed properly
Stay onboard! The moment of inertia of a boat changes radically when she loses her mast, and the movements in waves become violent. Everybody must be clipped on all the time – recovering a MOB with the mast over the side most probably would not succeed.
The skipper confirms the group’s damage fighting / safety team
Plan how to deal with the situation (it can change), discuss and decide the plan with the skipper
Action
Damage fighting team:
Evaluate the situation:
Everyone onboard and not injured
Is the hull intact?
Bring out the equipment needed to execute the plan.
If needed, involve persons from the safety crew in the damage fighting tasks
Remove all parts that might threaten to damage the hull or cause injury to the crew
Try to save as many parts as practically and reasonably possible
Prepare for a jury rig
Two options for jury rig
the planned one, an A-structure made of two spinnaker poles
building one with parts and pieces left from the broken mast
Safety team:
Immediately give seasickness pills to the crew members who need them; the more aggressive movement of the boat will cause seasickness
Bring out safety equipment, as the situation can deteriorate quickly. Prepare for evacuation by going through the “Abandoning Ship” checklist
Make sure that everyone stays clipped on
Prepare mentally for MOB operations, but do everything to avoid them
Check the life rafts for damage. Make sure that at least one of the rafts is quickly prepared and in standby mode.
Before starting the engine, double check for ropes and rigging in the water
External communication:
Navigator or skipper communicates actively with the Coast Guard, Race Control or MRCC for further plan or instructions (by Starlink or Iridium) -> whether to continue to the finish (of the OGR leg) or divert to another port
Consider carefully whether you are in need of outside help or if you can manage the situation by yourself. Having a heavy vessel in big seas next to you will add to the risks.
Practice
Go through the checklist in the safety briefing
Go through all tools and equipment planned for use in this situation
Go through the planned jury rig
Name everyone’s task and position in this event
Talk about how to prevent the loss of the rig
ABANDONING SHIP
How to avoid
Remember that the boat should be abandoned only when you are sure that it is sinking. You are safer in a flooded boat than in a life raft – don’t leave the boat in panic. You should climb up, not down to a life raft.
Planning the action
The damage fighting team makes efforts to prevent the loss of the boat – try to buy time, every second, minute, hour is important!
The safety crew prepares for safe abandoning of the boat if needed.
Try to get closer to land or rescue units
Prepare for a long stay in the life raft
Action
Lifejackets and survival suits on – put on additional warm clothing!
Prepare for the use of the liferaft – in the OGR with two SOLAS rafts, first prepare the raft which
doesn’t have the Hammar-release system. Remove the raft from the cradle and place it on the deck close
to the gunwale. If needed, cut the lifelines in advance.
Next, prepare the other raft
Inflate the raft only on order from the skipper.
Take out grab bags – if there is time, consider taking additional items like comms equipment, water, food, flashlights, passports, phones, credit cards etc. During the race, passports, credit cards and phones are placed into a watertight grab bag beforehand.
Activate one EPIRB – make sure it works. Take the other EPIRB with you, but don’t activate it yet. One PLB
can also be activated at this point. Make sure that race control / MRCC is aware of your situation.
Let Race Control / MRCC know your:
Distress position – and that you have activated an EPIRB/PLB
Number of crew
Your intentions (stay onboard Galiana as long as possible and evacuate to the liferafts only when the boat is sinking)
Equipment on the liferaft (World Sailing or Solas A-pack)
Name and callsign (C/S OHA3688, MMSI 230173080)
Alert other vessels in area by sending a MAYDAY via VHF-DSC and MF/HF-DSC
Make sure that the boat is capable of floating as long as possible and close all hatches, secure rudder in mid position, tighten and secure everything left outside (sails!), leave navigation lights, YB tracker and AIS transmitter on, turn all other electrical equipment off.
Safety team – issue seasickness tablets for everyone, ensure everyone drinks water!
Skipper:
Skipper - always know where everyone is situated (inside the boat, on deck, in the cockpit, in the raft)
Skipper – make the decision when to abandon the ship and ensure all necessary equipment is in the raft
Skipper - count the number of crew in the raft(s) before entering yourself and pushing the raft off the boat.
Practice
Abandon ship drill, order Abandon Ship!
Damage fighters ready to use:
pumps
plugs
buckets
prepare the tasks mentioned in section 7 above
Safety crew prepares for abandoning ship
prepare the liferafts
activate the EPIRB (not in practice)
make sure everyone has a lifejacket on
contact race control/MRCC with Iridium (let them know it’s a test call
take out the grab bags and place close to the liferaft
let the skipper know you are ready and how many can help with damage fighting if needed
COLLISION
How to avoid
Keep a sharp lookout, including behind the sails. One person (watch captain) is responsible, everyone participates, use AIS when allowed, also use radar in bad visibility
React early and clearly according to the COLREGs
Communicate proactively with approaching ships by VHF to confirm maneuvers to be taken for safe passing
Be aware of shipping lines and restricted areas
Planning the action
In case of a collision, try to control the damage with all suitable equipment and materials so that it is possible to reach shore and/or rescue units
If it is not possible to maintain control over the situation, buy as much time as possible – every second, minute, hour helps!
Prepare for the loss of the boat by making everything ready for abandoning ship
Action
1. Everyone to their own positions – damage fighting / safety crew
2. Lifejackets and dry suits on – put on additional warm clothing!
Damage fighters:
If the boat is leaking, start the electrical, manual and portable bilge pumps, use buckets. The engine water intake can also be turned into an additional pump by detaching it from the through hull fitting and putting it in the bilge.
Start the engine – it runs without electricity but it will not start without it
Evaluate the situation and plan on how to solve it. Remember that the situation can change rapidly. Communicate and go through the plan with the damage fighting team
Bring out the equipment needed to execute the plan
Keep the rest of the crew updated about how the work is progressing. Consider involving part of the safety crew in damage fighting.
Safety crew:
Bring out safety equipment; the situation can deteriorate quickly
Contact race control/MRCC and let them know your situation. Send a MAYDAY or PAN-PAN via VHF-DSC and MF/HF depending on the situation
Make sure everyone is using lifejackets/safety harnesses and are clipped on while on deck
Consider preparing the liferafts – take out grab bags, consider packing additional items ready to be taken into the raft (see Abandon Ship)
Switch to Abandoning Ship – see checklist if needed
Practice
Read the checklist in the safety briefing
Damage fighters in position with equipment:
pumps
plugs
buckets
other usable materials (storm jib, sail bags?)
The safety equipment team prepares for abandoning ship:
prepare life raft
activate the EPIRB (not in practice)
contact race control / MRCC (let them know it is a test call)
make sure everyone has a lifejacket/safety harness on
FIRE
How to avoid
Make sure that everyone knows how to use the stove safely.
Always pay attention when using gas; always use the shut off valves.
Make sure that everyone knows where the engine shut off valves are and how to use them.
When cooking, remember basic principles regarding hot cooking oils.
Make sure that everyone understands the risk of using open fire inside a boat out at sea - fire is one of the worst things that can happen.
Planning the action
Everyone on deck, prepare to evacuate
Simultaneously fight the fire, prepare for evacuation and make contact with race control / MRCC and other vessel
When fighting fire, always make sure you have a way out behind you
Action
Alert everyone onboard
All crew on deck – only firefighters go inside if necessary
Firefighters:
Switch off the source of fuel / electrical system / gas
Try to quickly extinguish the fire using proper gear (blanket, CO2-extinguisher, normal extinguisher, water)
If the source of the fire is a lithium battery, try to throw it overboard if possible
Fight the fire with a clear route to escape! Don´t open the engine cover, try to fight the fire from a small opening to the engine compartment. (The engine compartment has an automatic fire suppression system)
If it is an electrical fire, use a CO2-extinguisher if possible
Crouch down low to escape heat and smoke
Ensure your actions do not spread the fire
Ensure the fire is completely extinguished, since the fire can start again!
Safety crew:
Sail the boat at about 150 apparent angle to minimize apparent wind and so that the smoke doesn’t affect the crew in the cockpit. Make sure that all crew stay out of any smoke
Bring out safety equipment, the situation can deteriorate quickly
Turn Starlink on, take a mobile phone & YB3 on deck in order to contact race control / MRCC and let them know the situation. Make MAYDAY or PAN-PAN call by VHF to alert other vessels
Make sure everyone is using a lifejacket
Prepare the life rafts, make sure to take them to a location onboard where the fire cannot damage them. Consider the direction of the smoke.
Prepare to give first aid to the firefighters
Switch over to check list Abandon Ship if needed
Practice
In the safety briefing go through the fire extinguishers and blankets, where they are located, how they work and which is best for what use
Everyone familiarizes themselves with the engine area, the electrics and other potentially fire causing objects. Discuss which is the best way to fight a fire in different locations.
Everyone practices exiting the boat from different beds blindfolded
ROLL OVER OR PITCH POLING
How to avoid
Concentrate when helming. When sailing downwind, surf down the waves diagonally and don’t expose the side of the boat to a breaking wave top – that can lead to a roll over (capsizing sideways, first a knock down, but if the rig digs in the water, it can develop into a 360 degree roll over). At the top of a breaking wave, turn the stern of the boat towards the breaking sea, then surf down the wave diagonally and before reaching the trough of the wave head up in order to avoid digging the bow into water, which might result in pitch poling (a lengthwise summersault of the boat).
When beating upwind, head up to the wind when you sail over/through the breaking wave top. After cutting through the breaking wave top, bear off sharply to avoid dropping down from the wave top and to gain speed before the next wave top, where you’ll head up again.
Take short enough turns in helming (15 – 30 minutes) and have a person helping the helmsman. Make sure to use helmsmen that are capable of keeping control of the boat and have the strength needed.
Use the right setup of sails - keep the speed safe compared to the speed of the waves – as long as you stay in control, enough speed is safer than too little speed. Consider using a drogue with lines long enough if sailing downwind and you are unable to actively steer the boat.
Action
Assess the weather and sea state – understand the risk
Have only a minimum crew on deck (2) understanding that whatever happens, they have to stay in the cockpit.
Inside the boat all hatches are properly closed and everyone not actively doing something should be located in safe places (bunks with lee clothes and a safety belt around waist) with everything packed, locked and strapped for a roll over.
Medical readiness if the outside watch has taken water into their lungs
The outside watch carries Spare Air bottles with breathing regulators attached to their PFD
During Roll over
On deck – stay calm, stay in the cockpit, when you get under the surface reach for the Spare Air and use it for breathing, wait until the boat turns right side up (this may take minutes). Don’t panic, do NOT try to swim away from the cockpit!
Inside – hang on and wait for the boat to turn right side up. If possible don’t move until the boat has turned.
After the Roll over
On deck – count out loud the amount of crew on deck, and make sure that everyone is still onboard. Take control of the boat, steer to the desired direction.
On deck – make an assessment of possible injuries and damage on deck, report inside
Skipper – take a headcount of everyone (including the persons on deck). Ask everyone if they are injured.
Inside damage fight – make an assessment of any damage inside, make a plan to fight the damage
Inside – safety crew starts to give first aid to possibly injured, damage fight team starts to fight damage inside (and outside if needed)
Change to new crew for the outside watch – the persons on watch during the roll over might be in shock
Communicate to race control / MRCC if needed
Remember that there is a risk of another roll over at any time – work according to that! This means that if the boat is still in sailable condition, have the next two up on deck on watch trying their best to steer the boat so that it stays under control.
Practice
Go through the checklist during safety briefing
Go through how to secure everything inside
Practice the use of Spare Air bottles
Practice using the Spare Air bottles in the cockpit blind folded
Discuss the whole situation and different ways to prevent it
THUNDERSTORM
How to avoid
If possible, try to plan your route around the thunderstorm. Also use radar to detect approaching clouds in the dark.
Action plan
Prepare the boat so that minimum damage will occur to the boat and crew if lightning strikes
Unplug and protect as many electrical devices as possible in advance
Preparation
Shut off all unnecessary electrical equipment
Prepare for fast increasing wind speed (see storm preparations)
Consider putting critical comms equipment inside the oven on a plastic container (It acts as a Faraday cage
Consider unplugging electrical devices from power sources and antennas
Shut off all gas valves
Don’t charge any devices
If possible don’t touch any metallic parts in the boat
If lightning strikes:
Count all crew
Check all crew for injuries
Take full control of the boat
Check the whole boat for possible fire in the hull or in the electrical systems. The fire can be hiding!
Check the electrical systems and comms equipment, and make an assessment of any damage
Communicate to race control / MRCC and other vessels if needed
Practice
Go through the checklist during safety briefing
Go through what equipment should be unplugged and how to do it
Go through all places to check for fire if struck
Discuss the preparations and actions to take if lightning strikes
GROUNDING
How to avoid
Pay attention to navigation
Keep away from a lee shore
Keep a sharp lookout
Planning the action
Split the crew into two groups: the safety-team and damage fighters.
Stabilize the situation and assess further risks. Lowering tides? Streams? Waves?
Check for damage and possible leaks.
Make a plan for how to get moving. If stuck on the ground, try to turn the boat 180 degrees to escape via the same way you came from. Heel the boat with sails or crew on the boom in light winds if the conditions allow.
Inform MRCC.
Action
Safety team - count crew to check that everyone is onboard, ask if anyone is injured. Assess whether the situation can get worse due to outside factors (falling tide, tidal streams, waves etc), locate the exact position of grounding and inform MRCC / race control.
Prepare for ABANDON SHIP in extreme cases where the boat is badly damaged and sinking.
Damage fighters - checks bilge and keel bolts for damage and leaks. Also check the rudder and thru hulls.
Practice
Discuss how to avoid grounding. Discuss what parts are most likely to be damaged when grounding and where flooding would most likely occur.
FLOODING
How to avoid
Do weekly checks on thru hulls and keep the bilge dry when at sea, perform hourly checks, and pump the bilges at least once per watch cycle.
Planning the action
Split crew into safety crew and damage fighters.
The damage fighters try to locate the source of flooding as quickly as possible and then try to get it plugged. Constantly assess if the water level inside is rising or falling; is the situation under control? Every minute is important!
The safety crew makes sure that MRCC/ race control is aware of the situation and prepares to abandon ship.
Action
Damage fighters - make sure that the big bilge pump is working. If there is enough crew, a chain of people with buckets
Practice
Prepare a sail (storm jib) to be put under the hull – discuss how to attach the ropes to make it stable.
Take all the cabin soles off and look at how you would access different areas of the hull interior.
LOSS OF STEERING
How to avoid
Do weekly checks on the steering and keep it in good condition.
Check that cables are in good condition, everything moves smoothly and no cracks are found.
Also listen for noises - a good steering system should be quiet!
Planning the Action
Damage fighters assess the situation and locate the problem - is the steering jammed? Have we lost the rudder? What part has broken? Make a plan after assessment. Can we fix it? Can we steer the boat with the emergency tiller? Do we have to rig the emergency steering arrangement by attaching a spinnaker pole transverse at the mast with snatch blocks at its ends and a sailbag with weights being towed behind the boat with lines led through the blocks to winches?
Safety crew to check surroundings - is there space to drift, any big changes in weather coming up? Inform MRCC/ Race Control and make PanPan if needed.
Action
Damage fighters - clear the lazarette / aft compartment and try to localize the problem. At the same time check the rudder with a camera if possible. Once the problem is identified, make a plan to fix it. Keep the PIC aware of the situation and any progress made.
Safety crew - check the surroundings – is there any outer reason for the damage? Is there space to drift, navigation-wise? Check for the coming weather and sea state. Make sure that MRCC/race control knows your situation and make PanPan if needed. If the damage crew needs to go in the water, make sure that they operate safely.
ORCA ATTACK
How to avoid
Keep yourself updated about where attacks have occurred recently. Try to avoid these areas if possible. Good information can be found on
Facebook-pages related to the subject. Don’t get too close to the coast of the Iberian Peninsula; hundreds of incidents and 10 sinkings have occurred, most within 20 m of shore. Outside the continental shelf only a few incidents have occurred.
On Galiana, we have strengthened the skeg and the area of the hull around the skeg, as well as the rudder blade. We have also replaced the original rudder shaft with a stronger one. We also have a watertight bulkhead in front of the rudder shaft and skeg, so if orcas damaged the rudder and skeg, there would still be hope that the hull wouldn’t flood.
Action plan
Turn off the engine, lower sails, and if possible put the engine in reverse. Wait for the orcas to leave. You can drop sand in the water when an orca is approaching the boat. Loud bangs with fire crackers are said to scare them. Regarding the use of ammunition or harming the orcas in any way, the PIC/skipper of the boat is legally in an awkward situation. On one hand, the orcas are an endangered species and should not be harmed in any way. Many environmentalists fiercely oppose the use of pingers or fire crackers. On the other hand, the skipper is legally responsible for the safety of the people onboard. On Galiana, we love the whales and the ocean, but put the safety of our sailors first.
Give MRCC a heads up - the situation might get worse quickly. Prepare for flooding - clear the area around the rudder post, and check that bilge pumps work.
Action
Damage crew - prepare for loss of rudder and flooding. If the situation evolves - go to FLOODING or LOSS OF STEERING.
Safety crew - Let MRCC/race control know the situation immediately and make sure they know your position. Be ready to change to FLOODING or LOSS OF STEERING. If possible, document the situation by filming.
PIRATE ATTACK
How to avoid
Keep yourself updated where piracy has occurred lately. Try to avoid areas with high risks. If you must enter an area where there is a risk of piracy, get to know what kind of safety precautions are arranged in the area. Make sure you know where to report if you come under attack.
Action plan
Immediately make a MAYDAY call as soon as you believe that you are under a pirate attack. Try to quickly reach for nearby vessels and MRCC – make sure that as many as possible are aware of the situation. When the pirates are alongside, comply with their demands and act calm. If there is time before the attack, hide any really important items.
Action
Navigator - make a MAYDAY and use as many means of communication as possible (VHF, Iridium, YB3, MF/HF) to report the situation to as many parties as possible. Continue to communicate until the pirates are onboard and coming inside the boat. At this point, stop and comply with the pirates` demands.
PIC - be the main communicator towards the pirates. Stay calm and try to negotiate.
Rest of the crew - Prepare to take sails down. Stay on deck and stay calm - do not take action on your own.
CANNIBAL ATTACK
How to avoid
Keep your body mass index fairly normal – that way you will also fit better in the narrow bunks of Galiana.
Don’t sail in the Patagonian Archipelago at the turn of the century before the last one.
Action plan
Get different sets of clothes and especially hats ready.
Also get your stores of carpet tacks ready
Action
When spotting the bonfires of the cannibals on the shores while anchored, move on the deck of the boat making noise, preferably with your shot gun
Then go below and change your clothes and especially your hat
Repeat the procedure as long as your wardrobe permits, making noise all the time
Before getting in your bunk for the night, spread the tacks on the deck – when the barefooted cannibals climb onboard in order to get some variety in their diet, they will step on the tacks and you will wake up to their swearing and yelling
They will probably retreat without you using your shotgun on them
GALIANA SAFETY BRIEFING
Lifejackets/safety harnesses – how do they work, how to use, how does the AIS beacon on them work
Clipping points and jackstays – locations and when to use
Do not clip yourself on the lifelines or standing rigging
Use when weather demands, when outside cockpit in the dark, recommended often, and at watch captains or skippers orders
Deck safety – danger areas and equipment, be careful with the main boom, we don’t have a rigid vang holding the boom up, someone might accidentally open the boom lift
Also be careful with the heavy spinnaker poles, never have your head under the pole. Don’t have your head aft of the pole either when spiking the spinnaker guy, the pole will jump back as the spinnaker is released from the guy
Keep fingers away from winches, moving on the deck always stay on the windward side
When dousing/lowering the spinnaker, always stay on the windward side of the boom
Be aware of open hatches, don’t fall in
MOB - equipment and procedure button at the aft end of cockpit sb bench by the rudder pedestal
Emergencies – checklists
Preparation for heavy weather
Prevention of and coping with seasickness
Safety Plan – where is the safety equipment located
Communication – how to send MAYDAY, activate EPIRB, use of Iridium, use of YB3, DSC
Switches – navigation lights, inside red light
Engine – how to operate the engine
Backup steering – how does it work, location of tiller
Communications, use names, give clear orders and always acknowledge them as received
How to use the fire extinguishers and blanket
How to use the Jonbouy, life rings, throwing line
How to use the handheld VHFs
What´s in the grab bags
What to wear at all times (lifejacket/safety harness, knife, strobe) wear head torch always when it is dark
Using PFD or being clipped on is always recommended, but compulsory at watch captain’s or skipper’s orders
PREPARING FOR HEAVY WEATHER
Stow all gear securely
Shut lockers and hatches
Consider stowing essentials in watertight bags
Mark fix on paper chart and secure chart (dry)
Update log
Stay away from the lee shore
Write out weather forecast and fasten to the chart area, write down air pressure
Reorganize the watch schedule if needed. Let the strongest and most able crew rest first. Make sure that the crew is well rested before bad weather.
Eat a meal and prepare food that can be eaten. Easily digested, carbs, not too heavy or spicy. Fill water bottles and boil hot water for the pump thermos
Drink plenty of water
Take anti-seasickness tablets or use bandages if needed
Check YB3, Iridiums, handheld VHF, torches etc batteries and charge if needed
Check engine batteries and charge if needed
Check that there is no oil under the engine
Make water using the water maker if needed
Check bilges and ensure bilge pumps are working
Check and wear safety equipment
Check jackstays, safety lines and lifelines
Check that the washboard of the companionway hatch is secured
Make sure that heavy items are well secured, eg. anchors
Check that reefs are working and ready to be used, also #4
Remove all excess ropes and items from deck
Consider taking headsails down from the furlers
Consider securing spinnaker and jockey booms on deck
Hank storm jib ready to the forestay or baby stay if beating
Prepare the drogue
In the northern hemisphere: Starboard tack takes you out from the center of a low pressure. In the southern hemisphere: Port tack takes you out.
Close engine and generator exhaust, engine exhaust also between the engine and the water box, close engine and generator seawater intakes and close fuel tank vent lines.
Stall wind generator and hydro generator
Cut long fingernails (they will tear when wet handling the sails & ropes)
Get proper clothes ready