FIRE NEEDS:- HEAT, FUEL AND
OXYGEN cut out any one and the fire goes out.
But, as always prevention is better so:-
NEVER —
smoke while refuelling or in a bunk
NEVER —
discard matches carelessly
NEVER —
let oil, waste paper etc accumulate
ALWAYS REPORT SMELLS OF GAS
and use the cooking stores properly (see
page 17)
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
There are two main types:
DRY POWDER (colour
coded blue) and HALON or BCF
(colour coded green). Both can be used on any fire onboard a boat.
LEARN HOW TO USE THEM CORRECTLY,
AND USE THEM FAST.
ALWAYS USE AN
EXTINGUISHER UPRIGHT
The tube nozzle type can be used
upright yet still get to awkward places.
(A)
The tube nozzle type can be used upright yet still get to awkward places. As on its side (to under a door etc) only half gas or powder will come out.
As on its side
(to get under a door etc) only half the gas or powder will come out.
The tube nozzle type can be used
upright yet still get to awkward places.
(B)The tube nozzle type can be used upright yet still get to awkward places.
The tube nozzle type can be used
upright yet still get to awkward places.
The tube nozzle type can be used
upright yet still get to awkward places.
FIRE BLANKETS
Fire blankets (or wet dish cloths) can be used to smother a galley
fire.
•Hold it like this to protect your hands and push it over the
flames.
•If a person's clothes catch fire;
1. Push them over so the flames rise away from the face
2. Smother the flames away from the face
<
SMOKE
If the modern plastics in a boat catch
fire they can give off VERY poisonous fumes.
SO, NEVER BREATHE IN
THE SMOKE.
VHF RADIO DISTRESS CALL
A distress call is sent when
there is GRAVE AND IMMINENT danger to a vessel or person and IMMEDIATE
ASSISTANCE is required.
HOW TO SEND A DISTRESS
CALL.
Switch on power, switch on radio, select
CH16. Turn to high power. Push press-to-transmit switch and speak
slowly and distinctly.
Switch on power, switch on radio,
• MAYDAY, MAYDAY,
MAYDAY.
• This is (yacht name 3
times)
• MAYDAY (yacht's name)
• Position (see below)
• Nature of distress
• Any extra information which might help
• Over
• Release transmit
switch
Turning on the set etc can
be forgotten in an emergency so make up a reminder card and stick it up near
the radio.
MAYDAY is the international
distress signal.
The name and the word
yacht helps the searchers know what they are looking for.
See below
'I require immediate assistance'
and include number of
people on board, whether you are going
to abandon ship or have fired flares etc.
'Over' means please reply.'I require immediate assistance'
and include number of
people on board, whether you are going
to abandon ship or have fired flares etc.
'Over' means please reply.
AN URGENCY CALL
An urgency call is used when you
have a very important message to send covering safety.
PAN
PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN, Hello all stations (3 times) this is (yacht name
3 times)
• Position
• Nature of urgency
• Assistance required
•Over
The advantage of
an urgency call is that it lets the world know you are in some sort of
trouble without launching all the rescue services at that moment.
The advantage of an urgency call is
that it lets the world know you are in some sort of trouble without
launching all the rescue services at that moment.
POSITIONS MUST BE GIVEN IN LAT.
LONG. OR TRUE HEARINGS FROM A WELL DEFINED CHARTED POSITION WITH DISTANCE OFF. (e.g.
Position 255" from South Head, 5 miles.)
If it is onboard, an Emergency Position
Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) should be activated to raise the alarm and help
the rescue services home in on you.
FLARES There are three main types of
pyrotechnic distress signal
1 Hand flare 2.
Orange smoke .3
Parachute rocket.
1 & 2 have
to be in visible range 3 can be seen over the horizon.
LEARN HOW TO
FIRE THEM ALL HAND FLARE OR HAND SMOKE
PARACHUTE ROCKET
KNOTS
BOWLINE
The bowline is the best knot for forming an eye
or loop, it doesn't jam and can be undone easily.
The first loop must be like this
It can be tied in several ways and many people
still think of it as 'the rabbit comes out
of his hole, round the tree, and back down the hole again'.
On slippery rope an extra half hitch adds
security.
It can also be tied by twisting ...,
CLOVE HITCH
Quick release loop
SLIDING NOOSE
TEMPORARILY ATTACHING FENDERS
ROLLING HITCH
Clove hitch with extra turn.
SLIDES THIS WAY
Taking the strain off another line
JAMS UNDER LOAD THIS WAY
ROUND TURN AND TWO HALF HITCHES
Very secure and can be let go under tension.
SHEET BEND
For quickly
joining two different sized ropes. A double sheet bend B is more secure.
Joining lines
REEF KNOT
Not a very secure knot, only used for tying in reef points.
FIGURE OF '8'
Used as a 'stopper' knot
so the line doesn't escape through a fitting. Doesn't jam and can be
undone easily.
The best way to learn knots is
to get someone to show you - then practise, practise, practise!
LINES UNDER LOAD
The sailor like the cowboy can control
quite high loads by TAKING A TURN AROUND SOMETHING The sailor's
equivalent to a saddle horn is called A CLEAT. They come in many shapes
and sizes but all do the same job.
1. To control the line take a turn around the back of the cleat and pull.
2. To secure the line, start wrapping 'figure of eight' turns around the
cleat.
3.
Several turns produce enough friction to hold the line.
4.
A 'twisted' locking turn can be added for extra security but should not be which
might have to be released quickly.
Go around the back of the cleat and
add 'figure of eight' turns to increase friction.
Take several turns for friction and finish
off like this.
Various patent cleats use a 'wedging' action to
hold the line. They grip with either a 'vee' notch or clamping jaws and are
released by pulling, lifting or springing a catch.
COILS
A regular rhythm of say an
arm's width creates an even coil.
Laid rope needs to be coiled clockwise
and given a right hand twist in each turn. Then stowed like
this.
A halyard can be stowed on a mast cleat like this.
Although some plaited lines tend to form 'figure'of eight' coils rather than
neat circles.
THROWING A LINE
Coil the line as above and divide it in two. Swing and throw one coil
underhand while releasing the other coil as you do so.
