WELCOME
Dear reader
It’s been a strange summer and autumn for watersports – sometimes delightful and other times frustrating! As we head into what is the off-season for many, this issue of Offshore will help you review and refresh your knowledge and kit.
Read our Need to Know article (page 4) to get the lowdown on first aid kits for different scenarios, then turn to page 16 to consider what you’d do in the case of a head injury onboard.
Irish Sailing’s Dave Garvey looks at how to use anchors and drogues in an emergency (page 14) and solo sailor Freya Terry talks about the usefulness of having multiple communications systems on page 11. Finally, satisfy your wanderlust by taking a trip from Cardiff to Barry – with tips from RNLI people who live there (page 8).
However you’re enjoying the coast this winter, please stay safe, look after each other, and share this knowledge with others.
With warmth,
dunnāco
dunnāco lee-morikū and the Offshore Team
Email: offshore@rnli.org.uk
Winter 2024–25 | ISSUE 101
Chair: Janet Legrand KC (Hon)
Chief Executive: Peter Sparkes
Offshore Editor: dunnāco lee-morikū
Offshore Designer: Andy Perryman CONTACT US
'Tow floats are mandatory at some open water swimming venues'
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are not necessarily those of the publishers. Care is taken to ensure that editorial information is correct at the time of going to press but is subject to change. 2 Front cover photograph: RNLI/Andy Parish (J24843651)
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ON THE RADAR:
TOW FLOATS
Do you have a tow float ready to go for your open water dips this winter and beyond?
Tow floats are high-visibility buoys that swimmers attach around their waists, to tow behind them on the surface as they swim. Water Safety Education Manager Gabbi Batchelor explains: 'Tow floats are mandatory at some open water swimming venues and we strongly encourage you to take one with you when dipping or swimming.'
'Open water carries different risks to a swimming pool and a tow float will help you be seen more easily in the water'
Gabbi Batchelor
'While tow floats are not floatation devices, they can also provide a little extra buoyancy when you need. They come in different sizes, colours and designs, with some providing storage for a whistle, drink, or other personal belongings. Whether you choose one with a dry bag compartment or not, we recommend that you always carry a means of calling for help – such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
'We partnered with Zoggs for 2024, to share essential water safety messages and to provide tow floats in the RNLI Shop –one of which you can find below.'
FIND OUT MORE Refresh your open water swimming safety knowledge at RNLI.org/swimming
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MEET OUR
In this issue of Offshore, quotes, practical advice and lifesaving tips are brought to you by:
GABBI BATCHELOR
RNLI WATER SAFETY EDUCATION MANAGER (SOUTH EAST)
Working with volunteers and partners, Gabbi aligns RNLI education and interventions with our water safety plan.
IRISH SAILING TRAINING MANAGER
An experienced boater and instructor, Dave’s responsible for the development and delivery of Irish Sailing’s training schemes.
PAUL MARCH
RNLI SENIOR ENGINEER (MAINTENANCE)
Paul designs the systems that keep lifeboats and equipment ready to save lives.
JOHN TURNER
RNLI CLINICAL TRAINER
Having started his clinical career in the forces, John later joined the NHS, before becoming Clinical Trainer at the RNLI.
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DAVE GARVEY
FIRST AID AFLOAT: BE PREPARED
This winter, take some time to think about your onboard first aid kit – and skills
If you watch Saving Lives at Sea, you’ll have seen how often lifeboat crews need to deal with medical emergencies, and how well drilled they are. When Offshore caught up with RNLI Clinical Trainer and former Newbiggin Crew Member Marc Kelly to talk first aid onboard, he’d just seen a preview of an upcoming episode of the popular BBC programme.
'Saving Lives at Sea shows a wide range of incidents,’ he says, ‘and the most common that we train for are drowning, cold, and injuries from falls around a vessel.’
RNLI statistics on calls to people who are injured or ill reflect how many more people now use the water and coast for leisure. In the 1970s, most of these shouts were to commercial mariners and fishermen. In 2023, those had slid down the list, with the top three activities resulting in lifeboat shouts to illness or injury being motorboating, walking/ running and swimming. Whatever your chosen sport, it pays to be prepared.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
Your first aid kit for an inshore sailing or motorboat trip should include:
• gloves
• bandages (in a variety of styles)
• sun cream
• sea sickness tablets
• eye wash
• painkillers
• indigestion/constipation relief
• tough cut shears
• tweezers
• rehydration salts
• plasters
• wound dressings
• antiseptic
• pocket mask for resuscitation.
If you are heading further offshore, or even on an ocean passage, you will need to be more self-reliant. This can mean treating more serious wounds, knowing how to use more advanced kit, or keeping someone stable long enough for help to arrive.
An offshore kit may include:
• splinting equipment
• needles and syringes
• neck collar
• blood pressure monitor
• thermometer
• scalpel
• suture kit
• catheter equipment
• very strong painkillers
• eye and ear drops
• antibiotic cream
• burn dressings
• defibrillator
• oxygen.
WHERE SHOULD YOUR KIT LIVE?
It’s no use having all of this kit onboard if no one can find it when it’s needed. As part of your crew briefing before heading out for a day on the water, remember to let everyone know where first aid essentials are kept. It’s also a good idea
Marc Kelly | RNLI Clinical Trainer
'Are you safe? Don't become a casualty yourself'
A good first aid kit and medical essentials should be part of your sailing grab bag
Be ready to handle minor injuries
Practise using all your kit
NEED TO KNOW
MYTHBUSTER: SEASICKNESS
' The best thing for seasickness is to be back on land'
Marc Kelly
to remind them to bring anything they need to deal with any personal health conditions, such as diabetes or allergies.
Make sure your kit is easily accessible. It’s so easy, when keeping a clear deck, to toss a rope, a bucket or a bag (or all three!) into a locker quickly, just to secure it and get it out of the way. And to find these bulky, awkward things blocking your access to your first aid kit in an emergency. Consider a small compartment or storage pocket to keep your kit separate – and to hand.
You’ll also want to keep your dressings dry. Keep your kit somewhere that’s easy to access, but that doesn’t tend to get wet or damp. Off-the-shelf kits designed specifically for seagoers will tend to come in waterproof boxes. But if yours doesn’t, consider popping it in a dry bag. Even if you’re lucky enough not to use your kit very often, don’t forget about it.
If someone’s feeling queasy, and they haven’t taken seasickness tablets already, that’s the first thing to consider.
Marc says: 'Lots of people swear by ginger – something like a ginger biscuit. It didn’t help my pal who doesn’t like the taste of ginger though – if anything ginger now reminds him of being seasick and it’s put him off more!
‘I’ve seen focusing on the horizon work, and encouraging sleep is also quite good. Or the opposite: getting them busy, giving them jobs to do.
‘But a bad case of seasickness can be massively debilitating. The simple truth is that the best thing for seasickness is to be back on land.’
RNLI Engineer Paul March is responsible for setting up maintenance procedures for lifeboat crews. He says: ‘Create a schedule to regularly open the kit, remove contents, check the inventory and expiry dates, and remove anything that looks or smells damp. Wipe the container clean and dry then re-pack it, marking the outside with the date. If multiple people have access, use a tape or tie that breaks upon opening so it’s easy to see if it's been opened.
‘If kit is opened at sea, check it and allow it to dry before packing it away –especially if using a dry bag. When you use something, make a note and replace it as soon as possible.
‘Equipment like thermometers, heart rate monitors, defibrillators or pulse oximeters may need periodic checks to ensure any batteries are functioning and the kit is ready to use.
If you carry medical oxygen, follow the manufacturer’s guidance on storage, safety and checks.
‘The MCA Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1905 is a good reference for more adventurous sailors!’
TIPS FROM A TRAINER
‘The first thing we teach people on an RNLI Casualty Care course is environmental awareness,’ says Marc. ‘So that’s what’s going on around you. Are you safe? You need to make sure you won’t become a casualty yourself.’ For example, if someone’s injured themselves in a trip, ask another member of your crew to deal with the trip hazard while you treat the wound.
This is also the kind of thing you’ll learn on the RYA’s First Aid course –available at centres around the UK and Ireland. The course teaches a range of
CASE STUDY: CARE IN ACTION
As darkness fell on 3 June, Marc’s former crew mates at Newbiggin heard that two anglers had had their kayak swamped.
The crew headed out, but in the failing light they couldn’t see much. The next step was to switch off the engine and listen. And sure enough, they heard a call for help. They soon found the anglers in the water. The kayak had sunk.
Marc says: 'In quite hard conditions they brought them out of the water and found they were very cold. They wrapped them in blankets, assessed them, gave them some oxygen, and brought them back.'
practical techniques, as well as how to request advice over radio, and how to help evacuate someone by helicopter.
One thing that lifeboat crews deal with time and again is people suffering from cold. If you’ve recovered a man overboard, Marc’s advice is to get them to shelter. ‘Get them out of the wind, because that’s the thing that’ll cool them the quickest. Then it’s about wrapping them in blankets and extra layers. Be sure to cover the head as it’s true that you can lose quite a lot of heat through your head. That’s because everywhere else in your body, blood vessels can retract from the surface, but on your head they can’t – your skull’s in the way.
‘In UK and Irish coastal waters, hypothermia only really becomes a risk if someone’s been in the water for half an
hour or so. So we see it on some lifeboat shouts, but it’s unlikely if one of your crew’s been in the water for just a few minutes. If someone’s just cold, you can heat them up gently, give them a warm drink, get them moving around.’
Blankets from a bunk will work well. If your boat is not so luxurious, good-value orange survival bags are available online, and won’t take up a lot of room onboard. Finally, remember that the emergency services are here to help. ‘It depends on how far out to sea you are, whether the
situation is beyond your scope, and if the person is going to need further care,’ Marc says. ‘If in any doubt, call 999 and ask for the coastguard. We’d much rather people call for help and end up not needing it than leave it too late.’ ■
Words: Mairéad Dwane
Photos: RNLI/(Nigel MIllard, Newbiggin, Andy Parish, Nathan Williams), Shutterstock.com
Newbiggin crew find their target
RNLI lifeboat crews keep a fully maintained first aid kit to hand, for use in all emergencies
Have fun out on the water, but also ensure your crew know where your first aid essentials are kept
GLAMORGAN VALE OF
From wingfoiling to wild swimming, pier ambles to city trips, the coastline of south-east Wales is brimming with possibility
– FROM KITESURFING AND OTHER WATERSPORTS THERE’S SO MUCH TO ENJOY HERE
TO RESTAURANTS ON THE SEAFRONT
I joined Barry Dock RNLI as LPO in August and I love it. My wife and I live right by Jackson’s Bay and our lives are centred around the sea. We paddleboard and we belong to a group of outdoor swimmers. Wind sports like wingfoiling have become more popular in Whitmore Bay, the main beach. While you’re there, enjoy the best ice cream in town from Marco’s on the promenade – where Stacey worked, from BBC’s Gavin & Stacey. Barry has had a lot of regeneration investment and is lovely, with a friendly warm vibe.
'It gives me a sense of freedom and peace'
Jackson’s and Whitmore have beautiful golden sand – Whitmore is raked pristinely each morning by local legend Russ. Jackson’s is sheltered from the currents of the Bristol Channel, so is popular with paddleboarders and kayakers. I recommend taking a lesson in the harbour with Island SUP and that you stay within the bay. The tidal range is huge here – the second largest in the world – and the strong current can pull you incredibly quickly. For beautiful walks, explore the cliffs to the west.
It’s a lovely stretch of the Jurassic Coast, with fossils and dinosaur footprints right here at Bendrick Rock. And on a clear day our views stretch all the way across to north Devon. A little further east, there are two islands you can take a trip to: Flat Holm and Sully. Flat Holm is a nature reserve because of its rare plants and bird breeding colonies. Watch out with Sully Island – it’s a tidal island and the causeway is quickly submerged.
There’s so much to enjoy here – from kitesurfing and other watersports to
restaurants on the seafront. I swim, paddleboard, sail, and sometimes just sit in Barry Yacht Club watching the world go by with friends. There’s great cruising sailing all the way up the estuary to the Severn Bridge and opportunities for longer trips down to Pembrokeshire or across to Devon. Mooring for Barry is in the harbour.
'It’s unique and there’s always plenty to do here'
May and June are good months to visit – with our Welsh arts and cultural festival Gŵyl Fach y Fro and the Festival of the Sea – known for sea shanties and delicious food.
LISA NEWBERRY LIFEBOAT PRESS OFFICER (LPO), BARRY DOCK RNLI
ANDY GAVAN COXSWAIN, BARRY DOCK RNLI
Barry's Whitmore Bay is patrolled seasonally by RNLI lifeguards
There's great sailing to be found all the way up the Severn Estuary
Wild swimming is popular in Barry and Penarth, with several local groups to join
MARTIN HAYES CREW MEMBER, PENARTH RNLI
I’ve been sailing since I was a kid and I’m into wingfoiling. I work in Cardiff, a 10-minute train journey away, but living in Penarth I have the best of both worlds.
Penarth is a Victorian seaside town with a beautiful pier and dinosaur footprints on the beach near the lifeboat station! At high tide, the beach is pebbly and sandy – at low tide it’s quite muddy. And the coastline varies a lot with the tides so plan your day and be careful not to get cut off.
Wingfoiling is more popular since becoming an Olympic sport. I go foiling here in Penarth or 15 minutes down the road at The Knap in Barry. There’s a yacht club in Penarth and
'Every day down on the beach is different. It’s outstanding. It just keeps you alive!'
one in Cardiff – Cardiff Bay is non-tidal and has a very good sailing scene, with several visitor berths. Mermaid Quay has a visitor pontoon and restaurants. If you’re not under your own sail, you can take a boat trip from Penarth right up the river to the stadium. You’ll find the best Welsh cakes at Cardiff Market and you can learn about our history at the National Museum.
FIND OUT MORE
• swimwildwales.com
• bayislandvoyages.co.uk
• cardiffcruises.co.uk
• dawnstalkers.com
• islandsup.org ■
Words: dunnāco lee-morikū
Photos: RNLI/(Barry Dock, Nigel MIllard, Andy Parish, Nathan Williams), Shutterstock.com
Wingfoiling is growing in popularity since becoming an Olympic sport
The Knap in Barry is popular for windsports
Penarth boasts a Victorian pier with an iconic art deco pavilion
A dinosaur footprint discovered near Barry
Cardiff's Mermaid Quay is a short train ride from the city centre
PINK YACHT, RED ALERT
When young sailor Freya Terry suffered a head injury after losing power and communications during a solo UK circumnavigation, her preparation paid off. What lessons would Freya pass on?
Freya Terry has been sailing since she was 12. But until now, she has never attempted a voyage like this one – Freya is in the middle of circumnavigating the UK and Ireland, solo, to raise awareness of mental health. As someone who’s struggled with mental health, sailing has helped her and gives her confidence. This confidence was needed when, just 2 days into her trip in May, Freya and her 10m yacht – Pink Delta –ran into trouble.
‘Things can go wrong at sea, regardless of someone’s experience’
my leisure battery had lost its charge, and I only had a little power in my engine battery. I decided that I could still sail to Padstow, the next leg of my trip, as it was only about 20 miles away. Unfortunately it took me a while to lift the anchor and I set off later than planned, missing the tide by a bit – the tide in the Bristol Channel is very strong and it was moving against me.
OLD-SCHOOL NAVIGATION
‘I was off the north Devon coast, heading to Lundy Island, where I planned to anchor for the night,’ says Freya. 'I'd lost engine power and the wind had died, so it took ages. Things went from bad to worse the next day, when, after trying to fix the engine, I discovered that
‘With no instruments, I was navigating by pen and paper – something I’m glad I learned how to do on my RYA Yachtmaster theory course. It’s hard work, and there’s a lot of maths involved, but when your tech goes down it’s a crucial skill to have. At about 10pm I was
of Padstow
Solo sailor Freya Terry aboard Pink Delta
Freya Terry
below, working on my charts, when something slammed into the boat – I assume it was a wave – and the yacht tipped over. I was thrown about, and smashed my head on the bulkhead. Some water came through the hatch, but thankfully the boat righted itself. I was sick twice – I’m not sure if it was because of the shock of banging my head or the yacht keeling over.’
Little did Freya know that because she had earlier entered her ETA into SafeTrx – a tracking app – the Padstow harbourmaster became aware that Pink Delta was overdue,
‘Don’t be too proud to ask for help’
Delayed but undaunted – Freya, who had her boat painted in tribute to record-breaking sailor Jessica Watson’s yacht Ella’s Pink Lady, is continuing her circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland
and had already alerted the Coastguard. Padstow RNLI were tasked to Freya’s last known position, but after finding no trace of the yacht, had returned to the station. ‘After I’d hit my head, and with my communications down, I knew I needed help. I could’ve set off a flare but there was no guarantee that someone would’ve seen it.’ Instead, Freya activated her personal locator beacon (PLB), and Padstow lifeboat was tasked to Pink Delta a second time, along with a rescue helicopter – both now had a fix on her new position. ‘When I saw the helicopter’s lights, I knew help was coming. Soon after, I saw the lights on the lifeboat. It was such a relief.’
BACK ON TRACK
Two Padstow lifeboat crew went aboard the yacht to assess Freya. To watch for any changes in her condition, they stayed onboard with Freya while the rest of the Padstow crew towed Pink Delta to safety. At 3.33am, the yacht was moored in the Camel Estuary and Freya was taken back to the lifeboat station, where paramedics assessed her before taking her to hospital for observation. Freya has since resumed her circumnavigation, determined to finish what she started.
‘I was below, working on charts, when the yacht tipped over’
‘I’m confident I did everything I could to keep myself as safe as possible but there are always lessons to be learned. If you suffer a head injury, calling for help while you still can could make all the difference. I’m glad to know that even when I was experiencing communication problems, the systems I’d put in place worked. I’m so grateful to everyone involved in the search, and to Falmouth Coastguard and Padstow RNLI for their support.’
Pink Delta is eventually located 16 miles north-west of Stepper Point, off Padstow
The two crew members put aboard the yacht remain there to assess the skipper’s condition
Padstow RNLI towing the yacht to the Camel Estuary
THE COXSWAIN’S VIEW
RICHARD PITMAN | COXSWAIN, PADSTOW LIFEBOAT STATION
‘We don’t see many bright pink yachts, and I’d like to say that that’s what helped us find Freya. But we had gone to her last known position, 30 miles off Padstow, and there was no sign of her. After heading back to the station, we were about to re-house the lifeboat when the Coastguard informed us that her PLB had gone off. Thanks to that and the Coastguard helicopter, we located the yacht, put two crew members aboard and towed it back. PLBs are more affordable these days, and it’s great that the skipper had the means to call for help. She was just unlucky, and we’re glad we could be there.’
‘Tell someone where you’re going. And stick to the plan’
SafeTrx apps record your starting point, destination and ETA. If you overshoot your ETA, your app sends SMS messages to your emergency contact(s).
SHARE YOUR STORY
WHY A PLB IS A GOOD IDEA
There are three types of safety beacon:
PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB)
A PLB sends a mayday signal to search and rescue services. It must be activated manually and will transmit for 24 hours. Once activated, it sends a message via the 406MHz frequency, which is relayed via satellite, providing worldwide cover. A PLB is registered to the individual, so it’s ideal not just for solo sailors, but for crew who transfer between vessels.
EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACON (EPIRB)
Unlike a PLB, an EPIRB is registered to a vessel, not the individual. It transmits for at least 48 hours.
AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM BEACON (AIS)
Sometimes referred to as a man-overboard (MOB) device, most are designed to fit inside a lifejacket and activate automatically upon inflation. An AIS beacon relays the wearer’s location to AIS-equipped vessels within range – usually 4 to 5 miles. ■
Words: Darren Crew
Photos: Stephen Duncombe, RNLI/Padstow, Freya Terry
Offshore is a community to share our experiences and broaden our horizons. Do you have a story you can share about ways you’re advancing a watersport, or about a time things went wrong on the water? If so, please email offshore@rnli.org.uk
The Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Spirit of Padstow towed Pink Delta to safety
HOW TO: STAY PUT
Staying put can buy time and help prevent an emergency from escalating. So when and how would we do it?
Irish Sailing Training Manager Dave Garvey says: 'Stay put if you’ve lost power or steering, if your boat is not under control and you’re being pushed towards a hazard – such as breaking waves or cliffs. Holding your position also reorients your bow into the wind or current for greater stability and comfort, so you don’t drift and pitch sideon, risking swamping.
'The two key bits of kit are your anchor and drogue (or sea anchor). Drogues are easy to stow and I recommend all boats carry one. Deployed over deeper water, they can slow your drift.
'Over shallower water, your anchor is your go-to. Choose an appropriate anchor for the
topography and your vessel. For example, often in smaller boats we see folding grapnel anchors which work better in a rocky seabed than in sand or mud, where you’d need a heavier anchor. With these, ensure there is 2–3m of chain connected directly to the anchor and an appropriate length of sinking line. As a rough ratio, allow 6 times the depth – but be aware that the less effective your anchor for the seabed, the more line you’ll need for the same depth of water.
'All of our training schemes cover anchoring skills and discuss anchoring by necessity. The procedure is the same, so if there’s an emergency you’re already familiar with what to do.'
1 2 3 4 5
IRISH SAILING TRAINING MANAGER DAVE GARVEY SHARES HIS TOP TIPS FOR ANCHORING
Is it big enough? Do you have the correct length of chain? Are the connections secure between anchor and chain, chain and rope, rope and boat? Check where it secures inside your boat –the 'bitter end'.
Stow it ready to be deployed every time: not buried under cushions or other items, line coiled properly, chain on top of line, anchor on top of that. Check the boat end is secure.
Are you prepared to stay put with an anchor (above) and drogue – or sea
Face your bow into the wind or current and ensure the anchor is ready to be deployed. With fingers and feet clear, drop it – don’t feed it hand over hand, let it run.
When you know your depth to line ratios, you can easily determine whether it’s feasible to anchor in your location or you need to deploy your drogue.
Once deployed, line up two fixed points perpendicular to your boat to check it’s holding – if it’s not, pay out more line.
Learn anchoring on an Irish Sailing or RYA course and practise it regularly. If you’d like to practise with an instructor, most training centres will facilitate this.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO NEXT?
DO YOU SCENARIO
A group of you are participating in a sailing race, a mile from shore, when the spinnaker gets wrapped around the mast and one of your crew suffers a head injury.
EXPERT ANSWER
JOHN TURNER RNLI CLINICAL TRAINER
The best and safest action is C. The significance of a blow to the head is difficult to assess without expert knowledge and equipment, so it is important to seek advice early on.
The extent of internal damage is not always obvious from external signs such as bruising, and in many cases, problems can progress over time. The most important factor is the responsiveness of the casualty. In the RNLI we use a four-stage process: Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive. Is the casualty alert (responding normally to what is going on around them)? If not, do they respond to voice (speaking to the casualty loudly and clearly)? If not, do they respond to a painful stimulus (a strong tap on the shoulder)? If they do not respond to any of these, the casualty is unresponsive. If the casualty is anything other than alert, the coastguard or an ambulance should be called immediately.
Return to shore as quickly as possible?
Tend to the injured crew mate, instruct someone to try and unwrap the spinnaker, and carry on?
Call 999 or 112 and ask the coastguard for help?
Bembridge lifeboat crew were quick to launch
'When someone has a head injury, it’s important not to leave them alone'
HEAD INJURY CAUSES RETHINK
When the crew of a 10m yacht got the spinnaker wrapped about the mast during the JOG race around the Nab Tower in the Solent, that wasn’t their only problem. One of the crew had suffered a head injury. Arriving on scene, Bembridge lifeboat volunteers escorted the yacht to Gosport Marina, where the injured person was placed into the care of an ambulance crew. ‘When someone has a head injury, it’s important not
to leave them alone,’ says Bembridge Coxswain Guy Willing. ‘Just because there’s no blood it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re OK. Our casualty care training puts us in good stead. We sit them down in the wheelhouse and keep talking to them to observe any changes in condition. If they start to go quiet or show signs of slurred speech, it’s best to get them into the hands of medical professionals as quickly as possible.’ ■
Photos: Dave Cross, RNLI/(Richard Adams, Laura Campos)
Bembridge Coxswain Guy Willing