Wear a Hi-Vis vest when around moving boats. Photo: Becky Fantham/Unsplash
A recent (Jan 8, 2020) report in the BVI BEACON newspaper details the tragic story of two incidents wherein persons in the water were run over and killed by other vessels.
These events highlight the importance of taking preventative action when in the water. Many charter yachts come equipped with inflatable orange beacons that attach to an ankle with a Velcro strap. Or, as in the photo, you can wear a fluorescent yellow vest that can be inflated to support buoyancy if required.
Now, these may not look graceful or conducive to deep dives. But they just may save a life.
One of the fastest growing categories in the charter end of the market is the relatively new Power Cat niche. It has created a surge of interest in the Caribbean. Particularly this winter season, 2020, where the wind has disappeared for weeks at a time–bad for sailing but GREAT for motoring!
SmarterCharter friend John Wooldridge, writing in PassageMaker Magazine, produced this excellent appraisal of some of the new models available this year–a couple of which you just might find available in the BVI and elsewhere.
The US Coast Guard has put out a friendly reminder that you should put together a float plan and leave it with a trusted person anytime you are heading off shore or on a lengthy voyage (even of just a few days.)
They even have a nifty link to a template you can use to create and send your plan to a trusted friend. That link is http://floatplancentral.cgaux.org/
An innovation long anticipated in the chartering community has arrived in the BVI. Popular destinations Anegada, Cane Garden Bay, the Cooper Island Beach Club, and Leverick Bay have partnered with Boatyball.com in an enterprise offering the yachting vacationer the opportunity to reserve a mooring ball ahead of time, by way of an app on their phone or device.
Just arrive at your convenience and pick up your pendant/pennant (whichever you prefer) and Bob’s your uncle.
The secret to happy sailing–as with happy camping, let’s say–lies in knowing how to use the equipment we have, and the secret life-saving items we didn’t know we had.
The good people at OUTSIDE have provided a handy guide to using household (boathold?) items for emergency re-purpose. There are, no doubt, dozens of other re-purposings that would fit the bill. We will explore these in later posts.
See also our recent post detailing all the good things your Smartphone can do.
There is room for everyone Photo: Ludomil Sawicki/Unsplash
Every year, sailors migrate to the Caribbean for the winter sun and sprightly breezes. A series of regattas begins in Barbados in mid-January and moves in a northerly direction by way of Antigua, Sint Maarten, Ste Barths, and the Virgin Islands.
Races are spread throughout the year as well–for local sailors as well as for international superyachts.
This year is special, since some of the venues with the most in-demand racing–Sint Maartin, Ste Barths, The British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands–were all but demolished by the hurricanes of 2017.
The fact that the racing is scheduled and boats chartered, with crews anxious to get down there and mix it up, is exciting news.
Nothing will impact your happiness aboard the yacht as much as a case of mal de mer or seasickness. Not only your happiness, should you be the one suffering, but the happiness of those around you. If you know or suspect that you or one of your crew is susceptible, then it is essential you take adequate preventative action.
There are a number of medications available for seasickness but they each have their complications. Many of these remedies will induce drowsiness, lethargy, dry mouth, and other symptoms. The most important part of taking these meds is to take them early. Most are for prevention of sea-sickness, not its cure. If you feel symptoms, it is often too late to do anything.
The most effective drug seems to be the Scopolamine trans-dermal patch. Talk to your doctor first—there may be side effects that won’t help your situation. For most people though, this is amazingly effective and has minimal side effects. Every other remedy pales in comparison.
The other common medication is Stugeron—which is frowned upon by the US Food and Drug Administration but widely accepted in Europe, the UK, and elsewhere. You may be able to buy it over the counter in some island jurisdictions .
For those with occasionally mild reactions, ginger can work wonders. Crystallized ginger is good or ginger in various candy or chewable forms. Straight ginger root is good, too—grate some fresh ginger into soda water or add the ginger to a cup of tea. Some of the fizzy soft drinks like ginger beer can be a good stomach settler—but make sure your choice contains actual ginger and not just a ginger flavoring.
Duty requires we point out that seasickness is associated with hangovers and alcohol—it might be best to refrain from excessive indulgence! One side effect of drinking alcohol, of course, is dehydration. Stay hydrated. If a member of the crew does come down with the Queazies, get them into the water when you’re anchored or moored.
A lot of the problem lies in the confusion induced by the rapid movements in all three dimensions as the yacht is rocked by swell and wind. If you are able to stop in a cove and get the crew swimming, the mood generally improves immensely. If all else fails, ease the ailing mariner into the shade of a palm tree and let them regain their equilibrium—minus the Painkiller.
