Safety on the high seas - the ARC safety equipment check

13 November 2013

World Cruising Club take the safety of participants in all of their rallies very seriously, and require ARC boats to carry a minimum quantity and quality of safety and communications equipment. It’s also important that crew on board to have undertaken training in using that equipment, sailing in heavy weather and managing emergencies. 

The safety equipment check is one of the few mandatory aspects of the ARC - all yachts must pass before they're allowed to start the event.  The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that all yachts are carrying appropriate safety equipment that can be used in an emergency situation.  

All skippers have information about the mandatory and recommended safety equipment before they join the ARC, and World Cruising Club provide lots of advice and information in the comprehensive Rally Handbook. Lots of crews contact World Cruising Club by phone or email to discuss any questions, or visit the team at boatshows or training seminars too, which are held throughout the year.

As part of the preparations in Las Palmas, the team of experienced safety equipment inspectors visit each boat and check equipment before the start of the rally, spending time to help crews to talk through decisions about safety and communications at sea and ensuring that boat is well prepared for the ocean crossing.

Rob Gaffney of Hamble School of Yachting has inspected hundreds of ARC boats over the years and explained that, "The safety check is all about helping skippers and crews to prepare for an emergency.  Having the right kit onboard is part of the process, the other is knowing how to use it!  We spend time in the safety check talking about responding to an emergency, and most skippers find the process very useful."

Taking around an hour, the safety check begins on deck, with the inspector checking lifelines and jackstays, guard rails and navigation lights. The safety team have sailed many thousands of ocean miles between them and happily explain to crews what they are looking for, common problems, and plenty of top tips to consider whilst they prepare for the ARC. Liferafts and man overboard equipment are also checked, and the emergency steering is tested. 

Once the equipment on deck has been reviewed, then the inspector will move to the cockpit for a check on the equipment there including checking the dates on all the flares and making sure there is the right number onboard. This is usually followed by asking to see the EPIRB, the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, that will indicate the yachts position in an emergency. Many people have this equipment onboard their boats but do not know how to test it, which should be done at least once a month.

The safety check then moves below where stowage is checked to ensure heavy items are properly secured. The inspector will check over the galley and also review the medical kit onboard, before checking at the lifejackets. There are many different types of lifejacket on the market but they must all be in good condition and have on them: the name of the boat, a whistle, a light, retro-reflective tape, crotch straps, a sprayhood and also a harness line. 

The safety equipment requirements are quite complex, and many yachts fail on one or more aspects during the first check.  Maybe they haven't got enough of the correct flares, or are missing spray hoods or crotch straps from lifejackets.  Lots of these items can be bought from Rolnautic and other outlets in Las Palmas, so it is a simple process for the safety team to come back to check that the extra kit is onboard and installed.  It is rare that more fundamental problems are encountered, as most skippers are well-prepared long before they arrive in Las Palmas.