Risk Management Handbook YELLOW BOOK
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Coastal Cruising Club of Australia Inc. Risk Management Handbook YELLOW BOOK CCCA Risk Management 1 20-Mar-15 INDEX Page Risk Management – Yellow Book 3 Yellow Book Support Articles Check List Index 15 Recommended Reading Index 25 - Research, Mainsheet Articles 26 - Research Articles 45 - Books 46 Mainsheet Articles Indexes - Safety 50 - Seamanship 65 - Strong Wind Sailing 82 Document standard -Editing 140 Notes 141 This document is intended for use only as the publisher and authors intend that it is used which is for the exclusive benefit and information of CCCA and CYCT members. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and data of the Yellow/Blue book at the time of publication, to the extent permitted by law, the CCCA and its Members/authors disclaim all liability and responsibility (including indirect or consequential damages) and costs which might be incurred as a result of the information and data being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason. CCCA Risk Management 2 20-Mar-15 RISK MANAGEMENT The purpose of this document is to offer recommendations to members to encourage safe cruising. These recommendations are based on the experiences of members and published information from recognized authorities. Experienced members of CCCA are always eager to share their experiences. A Risk Management Strategy should be implemented by members undertaking enclosed, coastal waters and blue water cruising. The best way of reducing risk is to gain experience. “With repetition come good habits, with good habits comes good seamanship, with good seamanship comes security, and with security comes enjoyment.” - John Rousmaniere, Author: “The Annapolis Book of Seamanship” and quoted in “YA Cruising Yacht”. The idea of risk management is to reduce the likelihood of undesirable events. Fundamentals • Members are subject to the “Boating Handbook” for the State in which they sail. Each State has different requirements so passage planning must take this into account. • Members are subject to the “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea” (update 2003) when not subject to the State Boating Handbook, • Members are subject to the “CCCA Objects and Rules” and “Protocols” when participating in Club events. • Members covered by comprehensive Insurance should ensure that they use their Yacht subject to their Insurance Policy, especially those conditions titled – General Conditions and Exclusions. Assumptions • Members who sail the coast of Australia could sail in conditions referred to as Ocean, Long Coastal, Short Coastal and Inshore in the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club cruising Regulations (Green Book). • Members participating in ‘Sailaways’ may be subjected to conditions referred to as Inshore in the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club cruising Regulations. • Members are the only and final judge of their competence to handle conditions during Sailaways. CCCA Risk Management 3 20-Mar-15 Education Prior to cruising, inexperienced cruisers should educate themselves in all aspects. This is distinct from training which is covered later. This education should take the form of: Extensive reading including: • International Regulations for preventing collisions at sea (published by the Royal Yachting Association) which include notes and explanations. • Each State Boating handbook • Novels on cruising by respected authors • Cruising guides for targeted areas of interest • Mainsheet Articles from the Mainsheet library that support this Handbook follow. • CCCA Information, Hints & Tips Handbook. Texts on skills needed: • The RPAYC Cruising Regulations (RPA Green Book) • Yachting Australia’s Cruising Yacht • Yachting Australia’s Navigation • Electrical & Electronic Systems (Boat owner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual by Nigel Calder, third Edition.) • Mechanical Systems • Boat Maintenance (refer to the CCCA Services Directory). Check Lists • Study check lists which follow in Mainsheet Articles Discussions • With experienced members which is the great benefit of being a member of CCCA. • Participate in the Help section at CCCA monthly meetings. CCCA Risk Management 4 20-Mar-15 TRAINING Training Courses. Members are encouraged to undertake training courses such as: • Yachting Australia Training Schemes: • National Small Boat Sailing Scheme • National Yacht Cruising Scheme • CCCA and other club Courses • Privately Managed Training Courses • Coastal Skippers course Cruises • Volunteer as a crew on an experienced member’s yacht during a cruise. • Use a professional or experienced skipper for your first offshore cruise. • Participate in a cruise in company with another CCCA member • Undertake multiple short cruises prior to undertaking a more difficult long cruise. Trial Systems (refer to following Mainsheet Articles) • Practice heaving to in various weather conditions • Trial MOB drills. However, all systems should be installed to reduce the risk of being MOB as retrieval systems do not guarantee success, especially with only one partner left to handle the boat and undertake the rescue. • Anchor in enclosed, sheltered waters of various depths and sea levels • Follow by anchoring in exposed locations in deteriorating conditions but close to a sheltered location for backup. • Shorten sail in enclosed waters in various and increasing wind strengths • Practice navigation using dead reckoning on paper charts. • Practice night sailing in home waters especially leaving and returning to port. • Test systems after maintenance or repair, irrespective of source of work. CCCA Risk Management 5 20-Mar-15 • In home waters undertake a full mechanical service including motor, replacing the impeller, servicing breather, bleeding the fuel lines, cleaning sea strainer, changing fuel filters, checking hoses and wiring and checking engine mounts and coupling. • It should be noted that the following recommendations in this document supplement the above education and training and are based on particular experiences of members. RECOMMENDATIONS – Coastal Cruising: The following recommendations are based on actual incidents and accidents experienced by members over the prior 20 years, This document focuses on the 3 main causes of incidents experienced by members whilst coastal cruising, the use of dinghies, anchoring in strong tidal areas and entering anchorages in difficult conditions. Incidents reported in State Maritime Annual Reports and the National Assessment of Boating Fatalities in Australia 1999-2004 closely align with CCCA experiences • Use of Tenders • Seamanship • Seamanship at Sailaways Use of Tenders Each State Boating Handbook should be used as the minimum guide. The Handbook is accessible on the WEB. NOTE: Each State has different rules. The following additional recommendation should be implemented for further protection: • Seriously consider wearing a PFD even when the Boating Handbook does not require its use. The wearing of a PFD increases the chances of survival (refer National Assessment of Boating Fatalities 1999-2004. NOTE: The exemption of wearing PFD for rowing boat/dinghy and tenders (Boating Handbook NSW Maritime p31, 2008-2009) should not be implemented at Sailaways • do not overload your tender • Hard dinghies are more unstable than Inflatables and require enhancements to improve safety. One improvement would be the addition of flotation devices to the sides to increase stability (refer following Mainsheet Articles ) • entering a dinghy from the water is very difficult so a dinghy should have a device to aid re-entry (refer following articles ) CCCA Risk Management 6 20-Mar-15 • Wear appropriate footwear for protection to reduce the risk of injury arising from stepping on sharp objects and stingrays. Footwear will also reduce the chance of breaking of bones due to impact when boarding or leaving a dinghy. • Always enter and leave a tender from the centre of the floor and not from the sides. • Remove the outboard from the tender when towing the tender. • Do not tow the tender in open waters or in risky conditions in enclosed waters (risk of overturning the tender). • Use a lifting system from the yacht for raising and lowering the outboard. • always use a floating rope for a dinghy tender Seamanship A member needs to know more than just the mechanics of sail trim and steering and will need to develop a wide range of skills in cruising in various conditions and in maintaining a yacht. There are good examples of high seamanship skills displayed in supporting Mainsheet Articles under Seamanship and Strong Wind Sailing. Reduce Risks: • choose an anchorage recommended by the Cruising guide but reduce risks by preferring the anchorage least affected by strong tidal flow • use an anchor buddy in strong tidal areas to reduce the risk of fouling the chain on the keel or rudder • Avoid a sudden change of plan without reassessing consequences. In shallow waters you may not have time to recover. • Do not enter port when it is safer to remain at sea. • Do not remain in an anchorage knowing conditions will deteriorate and there is a safer anchorage available. • Secure storage below to reduce the risk of moving objects causing damage. This applies to both open shelving and inside lockers. All locker doors and lids should by secure so they cannot open in a knockdown or rollover. Pay particular attention to heavy objects like batteries, gas bottles and spare fuel and water containers. • Systems should be designed and tested for heavy weather. • avoid tiredness which causes human error CCCA Risk Management 7 20-Mar-15