Safety Articles
In an extensive sector-wide survey, the myriad challenges faced by the yachting workforce have been rolled into focus. The study sought to establish a baseline for safety culture and mental health within the industry. With over 75% of respondents belonging to yacht crew and nearly 80% navigating yachts of 500gt or more, the survey offers a robust look at the operational landscape.
Interestingly, this snapshot of the industry reveals a workforce composed largely of established professionals with a tenure of more than ten years. This pool of experienced respondents indicates an in-depth understanding of the industry’s depths, both the successes and the challenges. And challenges, it would seem, are not in short supply.
Every sailing adventure should commence with a meticulous pre-departure checklist. From ensuring all safety equipment is in place, checking the weather forecasts, to examining the charts, these steps are undeniably important. Nevertheless, one check seems to be more important than the rest, yet often overlooked by sailors - the rig check.
Many sailors might believe they can avoid potential accidents by just having safety equipment onboard and a functioning engine. However, ignoring rig checks can create dangerous situations, leading to rig failures that put everyone onboard in immediate danger. Rig failures are not only risky but also astronomically expensive to repair.
The importance of rigging checks got highlighted by John Keane of Oyster 595 Alpenglow, currently on the Oyster World Rally. He confirmed that knowing their dock tune was accurate took a great deal of stress off their preparation for the rally.