Wat gewoonlik gebeur met jou bootveiligheidstoerusting is dat jy die instruksies daarop lees net om dan soort van vergeet te word en net vaagweg weet hoe jy dit moet hanteer. Indien iets ernstigs wel gebeur, is daar normaalweg nie tyd om seker te maak wat jou handeling moet wees nie. Dit kan katastrofiese gevolge hê en dis absoluut noodsaaklik om te wys op die belangrikheid van hierdie saak.

Voor jy weer see toe gaan, maak asseblief seker wat jou te doen staan.

Ek het onlangs afgekom op ‘n artikel in die winter 2012-uitgawe van National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) wat op nog verdere belangrike en baie interessante feite wys. ‘n Goeie idee sal wees om hierdie artikel te bewaar en dit te lees tesame met die normale instruksies soos dit op die toerusting verskyn. Aangesien die artikel in Engels verskyn het, haal ek die nodige uittreksels daaruit aan net om so feitefoute uit te skakel. My dank aan die National Sea Rescue Institute vir die artikel. Ek haal aan:

“Paul (Bevis) then displayed the three main types of flares.

The float smoke flare is very effective during daytime searches if a helicopter has been deployed. It gives the pilot an excellent reading of wind speed and direction, enabling him to make an upwind approach to the stricken vessel.

Then the different makes of hand-held flares were demonstrated. These are good for both daytime and nighttime deployment but care must be exercised in handling and using them. Once the pin has been pulled, there is a delay of only a few seconds before the flare ignites.

Paul emphasised that a burning flare dropped on board would cause a serious fire, one that would be impossible to put out while the flare is still burning. Once ignited, even if dropped overboard into the water, the flare will continue to burn for its full 45-second firing cycle.

A hand-held flare should be held outboard of the vessel and upwind at about 60 degrees, so that no burning embers will ignite the vessel or its sails.

Lastly, parachute flares were discussed.

On a clear night, a parachute flare can be seen from as far away as 35 nm, but in rain and stormy conditions, they can be very difficult to detect, even at close quarters.

When and how the parachute flares should be set off is a decision that would be made depending on the circum-stances of the vessel. If requested by the NSRI during a search and rescue, it is important to set off the flare when it is pointing just off the vertical position, and pointing downwind, as the flare is designed to fly in an arc into the wind. This will ensure the flare deploys overhead your vessel, as this is the position the NSRI vessel will record.

If the flare deploys away from your vessel, this will increase the search area and the rescue time.”

Beskou die detail asseblief as baie belangrik.

Groete,
Seemeeu

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