SAFETY AND CAPSIZE

Having read the Winter DCA bulletin I would like to comment on a couple of the articles.

First - Liz Baker's 'Getting to know Tessa.'

Having seen a couple of Cormorants I must say that I am not very impressed with the mast and centre board being so far forward of the point of maximum beam, which to my mind makes the boat seriously unstable when running downwind in anything of a blow especially if running with the plate down. (Being so far forward, raising it could be a bit of a problem when single handed). Liz herself says that replacing the wooden centre board with a metal one is not wise as it would upset the trim and make the boat unstable. Yet where can she stow most of her gear but under that cavernous foredeck.

It is my opinion that it needs a couple of hefty bods to trim the boat properly, or failing that, the equivalent of one bod should be put in sandbags and fixed firmly into place under the bottom boards. This would give greatly increased stability and reduce the risk of capsize and in the event of which it should help to prevent inversion, make the boat easier to right and be more stable to get back on board.

I suggest sand as ballast because it is easy to put into bags of manageable size, can be put on board after launching and removed before recovery. Also if the launch site is a sandy beach it doesn't even need to be transported in the car.

Having made my point I would like to wish Liz. many hours of happy and safe sailing.

Second - Roger Barnes' “Lundy Island”

Roger as president of the DCA was setting a poor example to newer and less experienced members when he set out to go to Lundy. He says himself that everyone knows that you don't go to Lundy in a northerly. That is everyone except Roger and Alan. To my mind it was an example of poor seamanship, particularly on Roger's part to even contemplate setting off in those conditions in an undecked twelve foot dinghy. Roger then compounded his decision to sail by attempting to land on Lundy. Then having got himself off the beach they found that the only escape route was to head south to Clovelly. Had they considered this before setting off?

I do not question either Roger's or Alan's obvious ability as sailors. This is more to do with seamanship and I hope that having frightened himself rounding Morte Point in the race at 'slack' water (perhaps local knowledge was needed there) that he will give more thought to the implications of such trips.

Before anyone says it, I know that some people think that I am quite mad to undertake some of the cruises that I do, but I try to make adequate preparation and only take 'calculated risks' which I think is slightly different to gambling. Sabine is a well found little yacht and is capable of coping with the severe conditions in which I have occasionally found myself when the weather forecast has gone pear shaped.

These comments aren't intended to give offence and I hope Roger and Alan learn something from them and I wish them many happy and safe cruises in the future.

Edwin Dewhurst