SER Questions

[dolfinbill]

My question is regarding the flare requirements. Section 3.6.2 lists the same 10 flares as section 3.39 although they can't be used to satisfy 3.39. So are we really required to carry 20 SOLAS flares, 10 in the life raft and 10 additional? If so, can we use our old expired flares to satisfy 3.39 since the expiration date shown is 2014 or is this just a typo?

Bill Meanley
s/v Dolfin

 

[AZ Sailor]

Good questions. While we're talking about flares, are the two orange smoke flares called for in 3.6.1 in addition to the two orange smoke flares listed in 3.6.2, or is that a typo?

 

[DaveH]

Thanks Bill and Lee -
to Clarify-
The requirement is the number and types listed in 3.6.2
Four SOLAS red parachute flares. [ii] Four SOLAS handheld red flares. [iii] Two SOLAS orange smoke flares.
with expiration dates not earlier than the last day of the race (7/14/2018).

The intent of 3.6.5 is to prevent people from storing them in the raft container.
what we want to prevent is someone having to dig thru and/or deploy the raft to access them in a situation where the boat is not sinking.

SO, if you own your own raft, feel free to package the 10 flares above in a water proof container and attach that securely to the raft.
If, however, you are renting a raft with flares included, or the flares are part of the raft service pack, you can't use these against the requirement.

The 2014 dates and the extra 2 smoke flares are indeed typo's, We'll get that corrected ASAP.

DH

 

[AZ Sailor]

Thanks for the quick response, Dave. That all makes sense.

And for another clarification, the "OR (see 3.33.4)" added at the end of 3.33.3 in the current draft means we need EITHER a heavy weather jib 13.5 % or less of I squared, OR a 5% storm jib, but NOT BOTH?

 

[DaveH]

the "OR (see 3.33.4)" added at the end of 3.33.3 in the current draft means we need EITHER a heavy weather jib 13.5 % or less of I squared, OR a 5% storm jib, but NOT BOTH?

That is correct, you are not required to carry both.

DH

 

[SeanRhone]

I still have hopes, so here is a question.

3.16.1
A boat shall carry a 406MHz EPIRB that is properly registered to the boat. This device shall
have an internal GPS ( for self-location ). MMSI for this device must be supplied to the Race
Committee. A Personal Locator beacon (PLB) may also be carried, but does not satisfy this
requirement. SSS Change

Does this mean I cannot rent a epirb from BoatUs? The wording "Properly registered to the boat" is what concerns me.

 

[DaveH]

Boat US will take care of routing the information to the Appropriate authorities;
See below exerpted from the Boat US website page here

How do I provide my vessel information?

When you rent a beacon, Foundation staff will ask you for the same information you would provide NOAA in their registration along with a trip itinerary and emergency contact information. We have provided NOAA and the Coast Guard with a toll-free number to our Emergency Dispatch Center that is staffed 24 hours/7 days a week by trained emergency response staff. In the rare event that you may need to activate your rental beacon, BoatU.S. Emergency Dispatch staff will forward your rental information to the Coast Guard or Air Force, and other search and rescue teams.

While it is indirect, effectively you would be considered "properly registered".
We would ask that you include the RC on the contact tree with Boat US (if possible) and to supply a copy of the rental agreement showing the MMSI and that for the rental period the beacon is assigned to your boat.

DH

 

[Gamayun]

Are we collecting SHTP questions/answers in an FAQ we can post to the website? Just a thought because some of these might still provide helpful info in future races...

 

[DaveH]

I do have a tracking list...
I'll clean it up and send to you later today

DH

 

[dolfinbill]

Thank you David for your clarifications. While we're at it, there are some other requirements in this new spreadsheet format that could be confusing or maybe just don't apply to singlehanding. For example 3.15, the ability to mark the location of a MOB within 10 seconds. Good luck with that. Or 3.24.2, an additional flashlight for each crew member. Or 3.28, a waterproof safety diagram which I think is a new requirement and perhaps would be more useful with a crewed boat where some crew may not be familiar with emergency equipment locations. Skippers in this race hopefully don't need to refer to a diagram to learn where their fire extinguishers, flares or even that emergency bottle of Jack Daniels is stashed. The more we can simplify and tailor these requirements to singlehanded offshore racing the better and safer we will all be. Just trying to be helpful.

Bill Meanley
Dolfin, Pacific Seacraft 37

 

[DaveH]

There is a fresh cut of the SER document on Jibeset.
It took some concerted effort with the *&*# google dox to knock all the versions together.
To Bill's general point, there were legacy items from the Long Pac doc that don't apply to Singlehanded races.
I think we are finally there with the Tailoring To Fit.

@ Bill - most, but not all, of your crits have been cleaned up, specifically the MOB, the some bits about required Man Overboard Drills, etc.
specific to the diagram - that was actually in the documents from 2016 and is left in.
Why? yeah, I'm sure we all remember where things are when we leave the dock.
Personally, me, not so much when I've been up for 2 days, it's 3am and the boat is leaking.
Speaking from personal experience, it also comes in handy when the USCG want to find the safety equipment while in the same sentence (with their hand on a holstered sidearm) instructing you not to move from your seat.

DH

 

[jamottep]

Putting aside the PHRF consideration I couldn't find a requirement for an alternative mean of powering the boat aka engine but I recall reading something about that somewhere. Did I miss it?

 

[DaveH]

Putting aside the PHRF consideration I couldn't find a requirement for an alternative mean of powering the boat aka engine but I recall reading something about that somewhere. Did I miss it?

Nope -
there is a requirement in the seasons NOR and Standing Sailing Instructions for an "alternate means of propulsion", but not in the requirements for the SHTP.
you didn't miss it.
As you mention, there is a Rating requirement for the O30 that they sail with the outboard on the boat, though not necessarily on the transom. I think that is rooted in the class rules which the PHRF # is based on; could be wrong about that.

DH

 

[AZ Sailor]

A couple of minor questions:

SER 2.03[c] calls for "A completed sailing experience form noting offshore experience, evidence of
seamanship." Is there an actual for to fill out for this, or do we just write up basic narrative of our experience?

SER 2.03[j] calls for proof of completion of SAS course, but there doesn't seem to be any specific place for this on Jibeset. Should the course certificate be uploaded somewhere on Jibeset, or emailed to RC, or what?

 

[dolfinbill]

Lee,

If you look at the SHTP 2018 link and then click on SHTP 2016 site, then race documents, you will see templates for some of the forms, including sailing experience. As for where you post the SAS course - I forget.

Bill
s/v Dolfin