Sailing is one of the most exciting and fun filled sports in the world. It has all the elements needed for having a great time at sea. It has many amazing health benefits too. The adrenaline rush that one gets from going on a trip to the sea is known to all. But all the glorious aspects do not mean that there aren’t some risky aspects, when it comes to sailing. Sailing can be dangerous at times and as an aspiring sailor, you should have an idea about it.
Though if you take ample precautions and do not let your focus and attention divert, while you are out at the sea, you can easily enjoy your sailing experience. We will be talking about the different risks that sailing is associated with. We will also be discussing different measures that you can take in order to ensure that you are able to have a good time without getting prone to any kind of injury or mishap. So, let us begin.
The Dangers of Sailing
There have been many studies that suggest that sailing is more dangerous than any other kind of adventure sports around the world. In fact, it has been deemed way more dangerous than skiing and snowboarding combined. When such dangers are associated with a sport, it is but natural that sailing enthusiasts should have an idea about all of them. They should always be on the lookout for any risks that can come their way when they are out at the sea.
The US Coast Guards have reported hundreds of injuries and fatalities among sailors in the period between 2000 to 2011. This is far higher than any other adventure sport. No, we do not mean to alarm you. All we are saying is that as an aspiring sailor, you should not let your guard down at any time. Sailing can be one of the most beautiful and serene experiences of life. The risks posed by it can easily be prevented, and we would focus on them as we tackle the dangers one at a time.
As stated earlier, skiing is far safer than sailing. Adverse conditions can occur anywhere and at any time in the sea. The weather can change in a minute. If you are not prepared for the occasion, it can be a huge risk to both your boat and your own health. This is the reason that you should always take several classes before you are confident enough to take your vessel out in the sea.
Waterspouts
Waterspouts are elegant to look at. However, in the same way, they are as dangerous as they are graceful. There can be no doubt that you should have a look for them and enjoy their beauty. But do not go too close to them. They have so much power that they can easily overturn a small charter boat. So, if you are lucky enough to be able to enjoy such an amazing scenic beauty, you should no doubt have a look, but make sure to steer clear of them and not let their beauty hypnotize you!
Lightning
Being caught up in the eye of the storm, with a large metal stick held up in the air, is always going to work against you. It is always recommended that you check out the weather before taking your vessel out onto the sea. Even if you are not lucky, but sense an unlikely storm heading your way, then you should abort your trip and return to the shore or harbor as quickly as possible. It is also recommended that you take proper lessons to assess the change in weather in order to tackle this danger of sailing.
Dangers Of Sailing The Ocean
Oceans are one of the most aspired destinations of sailors all around the world. Taking out your vessel in the oceans and travelling across them, to the other side of the world, is a very famous prospect amongst sailors around the world. It can be fun, exciting, and a tale to be told for a long, long time. But there are many dangers of sailing on the oceans that you should have an idea about.
Boom Injuries
This is one of the most unfortunate accidents related to the death of sailors. They are perfectly fine one moment and gone in the next. The wrong adjustments of sails, an autopilot error, a freak wave, anything can make the boom hit the cockpit violently. To avoid this, you can use a preventer. Rig it at the bottom of the boom so that it doesn’t move unexpectedly and violently. It is a great idea to make sure that it is always in place before you start your voyage.
Broken Mast
This is a fairly common accident that can occur on the oceans. Freak waves can cause the sailor to get hit by the mast or sometimes thrown overboard. Correct rigging can allow you to avoid this accident. Rigging the mast to the deck will definitely mean less damage. A mast mounted on the floor is said to break less easily. This is a common danger of sailing, and you should always be ready for it.
If you ever face this accident, then you should always be prepared to stay adrift before some form of rescue reaches you. Of course, if there is a part of the mast still standing, then you can easily rig a temporary sail.
Tsunamis
Of course, sailors are always prepared for one or the other kind of adverse calamity. But a tsunami is something that cannot be prevented in any manner whatsoever. All you can do is hope that you do not ever find yourself in the misfortune to be present in a place where tsunamis are wreaking havoc. There is no making sure when or where this can happen. All four oceans around the world are prone to this and there is not really much that you can do about this.
Whales
As a whole, whales are not as dangerous as books make them out to be. In fact, it is us humans who can be dangerous for the mammals of the sea. It is an extremely rare event and just like a tsunami, it can never be prevented. You can use SONAR, but it may well give you many false signals and you may eventually need to shut it off. It is highly improbable that a whale would try to attack you. But even if they come on the surface suddenly, it may cause some unforeseeable consequences.
All you can do if you are in the vicinity of the whales, is to steer clear of them and enjoy these giant mammals, and the company they provide.
Floating Containers
This is another condition in which not much can be done to prevent it. All you can do is switch on your radar and it may pick up such items in heavily trafficked places in the ocean. You should always have a keen out for such items yourself. Always be prepared to be action ready and never compromise on counter measures in case any calamity strikes. As they say- prevention is better than cure.
Sinking
Last but not the least. Sinking is something that should always be prepared for. You should always have a lifeboat on your vessel. You should always have enough radio contact and should always have a life raft that has been built well for offshore cruising. Another thing to be kept in mind is that boats do not sink as fast as is shown in the movies. Sometimes, it takes loads of time, and you should always make sure that the boat is really sinking before going to the life raft.
These are some of the dangers of sailing. You should always keep all of them in mind before going out to have fun in the sea. You should always have a good common sense and presence of mind to make sure that you are easily able to escape from any such mishaps that may occur at the sea. If you keep all precautions in mind, you will definitely have a great voyage!