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It is strongly advised that You should acquire a copy of, and follow the recommendations (as a minimum) of U.S. Sailing, Recommendations for Offshore Sailing Handbook for Mono and Multi hulls. It is available from most Marine Supply houses and references are here-in made to it. If, after careful consideration of your and your boats capabilities, you elect to take a serious Ocean Voyage, with all of it's potential dangers, responsibilities, but ultimately--rewards, Then We wish you fair winds and following seas--and welcome to a very exclusive club--those who have voyaged successfully offshore.
Sailing Offshore?
Are you ready. Here are some important considerations and some practical help--including a float plan and limited liability form for your crew.
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only meant to serve as a reminder/guide for those contemplating a serious, offshore voyage. Many books and guides are available on the subject of equipping and safely sailing on offshore voyages. MMA,, Inc., CMM, Inc. T/A Bay Yacht Agency makes no claims, guarantees or assurances about a captains skills or qualifications, the boats capabilities or safety, or the advisability of undertaking an Ocean voyage. There are many variables and it is totally the owner's obligation to insure that his vessel is adequately prepared for any intended voyage.
Eric Smith President
1. General experience suggestions (You and or your crew should have.)
Personal
Safety
1. General experience suggestions...
In general, check off each item as attended to... Don't forget to contact your insurance Company.
To Accompany (as crew) an experienced captain...(For you and/or friends you might take)
1. Minimum experience suggested in order to contemplate an offshore delivery exceeding 10 days is: An Offshore passage that exceeded 2 nights offshore. (Best, a trip of 1/2 the duration contemplated, minimum.)
2. General sailing experiences in a variety of conditions--an accumulation of 30 days or more (minimum) experience. This should have included sailing in conditions requiring reefing in winds of 35 knots or greater.
3. Captaining a boat for 7 days or more where you were solely in charge. Navigating, piloting, hand reef and steering. Tested abilities in reefing, steering, tying knots, handling ships systems and electronics, etc.--comparable systems to the boat you will be sailing on.
4. General knowledge of, including responsibly for handling emergencies (ship and medical) at sea.
5. The ability to budget time which is to include a minimum of 2 days of thorough preparation (assumes all equipment already accumulated, otherwise, allow an extra day at least!), 2 of sea trials (this could be the trip from Annapolis to Norfolk), plus a window of extra time that equals 50% of the time contemplated for the entire trip--to allow for weather delays, break-downs, preparation delays, etc. i.e. for a trip contemplated to take 10 days (Annapolis/Virgin Islands) Plan on a minimum passage time of 15, plus preparation and clean up.
6. Read accompanying article--Overboard at midnight. Are you really prepared for this, or should you simply let the professionals do it? Im not trying to scare you, just be realistic! (Ill have to try to find it again.)
To Captain a delivery trip... (Note: A captain's license doesn't guarantee anything!)
1. All of the above, AND acceptance by your insurance company.
2. Accompany a captain or be the captain on a boat on a similar length/type trip.
3. Having overseen the equipping of a boat for a similar delivery including equipping the boat to the ORC Offshore Sailing Regulations.
4. Proficiency with electronic navigation and dead reckoning. You or a crew member capable of using a sextant, and having a sextant and appropriate tables aboard.
5. Clear, written acceptance of your qualifications with your insurance agent.
6. Copy of ORC regulations and prepare boat per those regulations.
7. Demonstrated proficiency in man-overboard drills, including the use of GPS for Man overboard.
8. Demonstrated route planning including the use of pilot charts and weather information. Ability to interpret weather information.
9. Demonstrated experience in mechanical, electrical, and medical emergencies.
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2.Equipment you should have
Personal equipment...
Personal Safety harness. Strongly recommend Sospenders self-inflating type. (West Marine Brand which is comparable with some improved features is acceptable.)
Personal Strobe light
Whistle
2 piece, offshore foul weather gear + Light weight jacket foul weather gear
Sea boots. Gloves. Offshore wool hat. Socks. Long underwear. (All undergarments of special, available breathable fabrics.) Towel for tucking around your neck.
Personal duffel flashlight w/lanyard and w/spare batteries (To find stuff in your bunk, and for doing small jobs.)
Personal sleeping bag.
Two pillow cases, 2 towels, set sheets
Clothes for period suitable for temps from 32 degrees to 95 degrees. Swim suit.
Plastic laundry bag
Any special medication. Seasickness medication if required.
If used, glasses and a spare. Sunglasses.
Personal toilet kit. Include talcum powder. (Great for warm weather wearing of foul weather gear--absorbs perspiration.)
Rigging knife on lanyard
Chap stick, sunscreen
Hand held VHF. Useful from life raft, but also after arrival to contact the boat at the anchorage from shore.
Passport/Birth Cert. Checks, credit card(s), cash, wallet, airline reservation/tickets.
Reading material, camera, film.
Major ships safety equipment...
This equipment is in addition to that normally carried by an inshore cruising or charter boat. If you need to rent equipment--make arrangements well in advance. One source: Liferaft and Survival Equipment Inc. 1-800-451-2127
Copy of Recommendations for Offshore Sailing from USSA. 1-800-US-SAIL-1
Offshore Life raft rigged to carry all crew members and properly secured
EPIRB. Registered, secured (Preferably 406 MHz)
Adequate bilge pump capabilities and/or rigging engine pump for emergencies.
Emergency grab bag (See Appendix II 4.0)
Emergency rigging cutters--hydraulic preferred.
Emergency steering rig--in addition to emergency tiller. See 10-31 in ORC
Wood plugs to fit all thru hulls.
Extra flares. Including double the required number, plus an emphasis on Solas parachute and/or 25MM launched flares.
Separate emergency water supply.
Major tools including: mechanical (drill), electrical. Sail Repair. Damage control kit. Abandon ship kit. (See ORC regs.)
Spare parts: Engine-belts, impeller, etc. (consult eng. mf.), mechanical/rigging-shackles, cotter pins, bolts, spare line of various sizes incl. 1/4" (200') for tying things down; electrical: fuses, if req. bulbs, etc. Spare batts (1 spare set for each 2 days at sea for each light), rigging tape, duct tape, underwater epoxy; Sail repair: patch material, needle and thread, waxed twine, sailing palm, sticky back, etc. (Consult your sail-maker.)
Major medical kit (Consult your doctor).
Rig jack lines on both sides for safety harnesses.
Man overboard horseshoe with dye mark, drogue, whistle, and overboard pole and/or MOM unit.
Life Sling or equiv.
Heaving line.
Specially prepared drogue (sea-anchor)
SSB receiver for offshore weather Grundig or equiv. Available from most Marine Supply.
- Offshore, certified life raft.
Recommended...
Storm Jib. & Storm Trysail w/spare halyards and separate means of attachment
Parachute sea anchor. (Strongly recommended on Catamarans)
Weather and Navigation...
Strongly recommend carrying a separate, portable GPS unit.
Have appropriate Ocean charts, light lists, cruising guides.
List of broadcast times/stations for SSB
Review pilot charts.
Detailed shore charts of all areas which may become harbors of refuge in adverse weather.
Secure detailed weather charts starting 72 hours prior to trip. Start plotting systems on a Ocean chart using SSB in addition to any shore weather support. (Strongly urge the use of Bob Rices Weather Window service.508-365-3800 FAX: 508-368-7686)
Advance planning can be done from our WEB site. Use this address: www.bayacht.com/race1.htm
Plot way points (enter) in advance--GPS
File cruise plan with responsible parties (Sample, attached).
To Do list...
Contact your insurance company and alert them to your plans.
Acquire and install equipment. Special attention to safety equipment and rigging of jack-lines.
Practice sail. Include man-overboard drill (Include use of GPS, MOP). Putting in all reefs individually. Work with safety harnesses attached.
Provision boat.
Top off tanks.
Get crew waivers signed from each crew member and file with your cruise plan with a responsible party.
Safety meeting with full crew, prior to departure and during first hours.
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>
3.FLOAT PLAN/CREW LIST/DISCLAIMER
Bay Yacht Agency and/or its agents provide this paper for information purposes only, and are not responsible for the use made of this paper or the information obtained in it.
Boat, SZ:____YR:___Desc:____________________________________________________
Hull color:____________DeckColor:___________Number/features:_________________
______________________________________________________________________
The following Float Plan is a fair representation of our plans...
OWNER:_______________________________________PHONE:________________
If I, the owner, am not to be the captain, the captain is designated below.
ROUTE 1:
DATE TIME LEAVE FROM: DESTINATION EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME
________________________________________________________________________
ROUTE DESC:___________________________________________________________
ROUTE 2:
DATE TIME LEAVE FROM: DESTINATION EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME
________________________________________________________________________
ROUTE DESC:___________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER
The following crew on this planned trip by signing below acknowledge the dangers inherent in offshore sailing and accepts full responsibility for their own safety for the impending voyage. This includes holding the owner and/or captain harmless against all manner of dangers, damages, financial loss of services or injury claims whether caused directly or indirectly as a result of their or my decision(s).
As a member of the crew I hereby certify that I interviewed the prospective captain, and examined the boat, and I hereby accept the captains qualifications and the boats condition, and the condition and availability of her safety equipment and state that I am qualified to make such judgment, or I consulted with someone else qualified to make such judgment. Further, I have made myself familiar with the boats insurance and liability provisions, and am agreeing to accept them as they are in effect as of the date of this signing. I hereby attest that I am making this trip of my own free will and that I will abide by the instructions/judgments of the authorized captain. I will not carry any restricted substances, drugs, fire-arms, etc., and I agree to abide by all laws and the rules and regulations of all authorities encountered during this trip. I hereby accept these terms on behalf of myself, my heirs, representatives and/or assigns.
Please print, then sign your name.
CREW LIST:
Captain:______________________________________________________Date:______
Address/Phone:__________________________________________________________
As Captain, I, or my agents have inspected the vessel and accept her condition. I have reviewed the insurance and liability policies and accept them. I have interviewed and appointed the crew members listed here as qualified for the float plan intended. I hold the owner harmless per the above statement.
Crew:________________________________________________________Date:______
Address/Phone:___________________________________________________________
Crew:________________________________________________________Date:______
Address/Phone:___________________________________________________________
Crew:________________________________________________________Date:______
Address/Phone:___________________________________________________________
Crew:________________________________________________________Date:______
Address/Phone:___________________________________________________________
Note on separate sheet person to notify in case of emergency (w/phone number)
Leave this crew list with crew waivers with a responsible third party, listed below.
In the event of an emergency, or change of plans, this float plan and all information shall be cleared through the following party:
Name:____________________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________________
City:_______________________________________________ST:_____Zip:___________
Home Phone:__________________________Business Phone:_______________________
E-Mail:_______________________________
Good luck. Have fun--send pictures! (If you're on one of the brands of boats we sell, we'll enter your pictures in our annual photo contest. Send us an email with pix attachments below. Sending them implies that we may use them for advertising and promotion.
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888-995-BOAT
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