Much of Boating is Anticipation

We have talked about the benefits of staying in the channel before. A recent incident involving a sailboat and overhead power lines has prompted me to revisit this issue.

It appears that a small sailboat was in the vicinity of a railroad bridge that had a series of power poles alongside it. The power poles carried overhead lines adjacent to the railroad tracks running to and from the bridge. The power lines were brought under water below the channel passing through the bridge opening.

In this case, there were no overhead lines above the channel itself, but it was possible to travel on the water alongside the tracks on either side of the bridge. The bottom line is that the power lines were overhead in an area where a shallow draft boat with a mast was able to end up. Unfortunately, the mast came in contact with the power lines resulting in two fatalities.

You might ask what a sailboat would be doing there, out of the channel and alongside the railroad tracks. There are many ways in which that could happen. A boat powered by an engine could abruptly lose power and drift out of the channel. A boat under sail could have unexpected problems with the rigging and lose its wind power. A sudden shift in the wind direction or change in the wind speed can change a sailboat's course without warning.

There are many other ways to lose control of your vessel, including health problems, injuries and collisions, just to name a few. We have all been there at one time or another. It is not a situation that we end up in on purpose, but the possibility always exists.

I don't know how the sailboat ended up in the vicinity of the power lines. However, the reason is not important to the point that should be made. That is, any time we are outside of the marked channel or fairway, THE RISK OF SOMETHING GOING WRONG INCREASES. The marked channel has adequate water depth for the expected boat traffic and is generally free of hazards.

When we leave the channel, and the risk increases, our safety precautions should also increase. For example, you should be prepared to deploy your anchor on short notice. That alone can prevent you from drifting into danger. 

If your anchor is always at the ready, you not only reduce your chances of drifting into trouble, you give your self a breather from whatever calamity is going on. Whether it is engine trouble, a leak in the hull or a medical emergency, "dropping the hook" can put everything else on hold while you deal with the situation.

Another precautionary measure is to constantly familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Make yourself aware of potential hazards along the route that you are on. Reading your navigation chart and maintaining a proper lookout are the two primary ways of keeping yourself informed. While you never intend to steer a course into danger, you always want to know what potential problems may be nearby.

Much of boating is anticipation. Since you always have the potential to drift off course, it helps to know what's out there ahead of time.

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!