Chris Goes Sailing

In January, thanks to Elin, I took the RYA Basic Sea Survival Course at Pembrokshire Performance Sailing Academy (link:- https://www.ppsa.co.uk/) An excellent course which brings together and refreshes all those elements one hopes you will never need. If all else has failed, being forced to evacuate the boat to the sea or a liferaft.

The morning sessions go through the theory: Starting with the horrific statistics from WW2 and subsequent reports which found that most RN sailors who died, died of exposure after leaving their ships. More recent examples including the 1979 Fastnet Disaster reports hammered home the point. Stay with you ship as long as you can. The course went on to explore the physiology of exposure, cold water shock and hypothermia.

Aids to survival were explored starting with clothing and Life Jackets. A quick check of my life jacket revealed the auto firing mechanism was due for replacement within the next few months. Another thing for the shopping list and to check with the rest of the crew. Then Life Rafts and their content. With our life raft away for its 3 yearly service another useful run through and some ideas on what to add to the Grab Bag. Flares, VHF Radios and other electronic devices for calling assistance were covered in detail.

The “Will to Survive” is a critical factor, the course explored this difficult area, in general terms out of a team of 6 one is likely to act inappropriately which can affect the survival chances of the others. most will be stunned, bewildered and need persuasion to undertake tasks, one is likely to remain calm, aware of the situation and respond appropriately. The accompanying RYA Sea Survival Handbook then goes onto explore the longer term impacts of survival.

Abandoning Ship was a major part of the course; preparation, launching and entering the life raft (ideally dry from the boat), Entering the water without a raft, then how to get from the water into a raft,possibly with a casualty. Primary Drills on entering the liferaft, Cut the painter, Stream the sea anchor, Close the door, and Maintain the raft. then secondary actions. Getting dry, keeping dry, first aid, keeping warm, raising moral, calling for help, and keeping watch, protection, water and food.

Rescue looked into the various ways a Mayday call can be responded to, who may respond and how they may recover survivors. The RYA Sea Survival Handbook then goes onto explore a lot more details than can be covered in a one day course.

The Practical Session was held in the local leisure centre pool. Two hours of strenuous activity wearing exposure suits. The zip on mine broke so it flooded and made movement much more difficult, particularly pools side. I should have worn my usual foul weather gear which at least would have drained. Fitting the inflated life jacket then stepping into the water, bracing for impact then pulling the spray hood over my face before swimming back stroke away from the landing area. I found the spray hood very enclosing, stiflingly hot and apparently suffocating when swimming hard. Removing it I was hit by a jet of water from the fire hose. I got the point. Drills followed working as a team to huddle together for warmth, then swim as a crocodile with and without a casualty.

Next the life raft, first launching it, dry entry then entering from the water. Grab handles and two large policemen hauling me in helped. Thank you guys. Next how to work as a team to get a casualty into the raft. Then the capsize drill, individually righting a capsized raft so that the door when righted faced down wind and avoiding being hit by the gas canister and being buried under the raft. The final exercise pulled the individual drills together: Swimming two lengths of the pool as a crocodile with a casualty, getting the whole team and casualty into the raft then paddling it up the pool. Liferafts are not designed to be paddled long distances. All with the fire hoses being played with glee by the poolside attendants.

Taff and his team at PPSA run this course very well, I thoroughly recommend them and the course. I hope I never need it for real.