will also give you a Cold & Hypothermia is to be avoided at all costs.
dramatic low after only It is easy to make the mistake of leaving for sea without
a short time. This can putting on your sailing coat or trousers. Then you find that
leave you feeling weak conditions at sea are more lively and cold than you thought.
and even depressed, By then you may too busy setting sail or avoiding obstacles
which makes you to get your gear on. In port you can spot the newcomers
reach for the next to sailing as they head out to sea in their T shirts and
sugar hit. shorts. Skippers should encourage crew to dress up well
before heading out. When you are so cold that you cease
Seasickness affects all people differently. The lucky to shiver you are in real trouble. Try to spot the signs in
ones are completely unaffected. Others have headaches fellow crew members, as they may not realise it themselves.
and nausea and those worst affected have a real bad time. Seasick crew are especially vulnerable, and will sometimes
The trigger for each person may be different. For some it be reluctant to take to their bunk, preferring the fresh air.
may be a particular motion, for others it may be just being in However, once in their bunk both conditions will improve.
the cabin while underway. Others may be affected by fuel or Hypothermia and drowning are both possible consequences
cooking smells. In general it helps to eat regular wholesome of falling overboard, so it is important to try to stay aboard
food and to get enough sleep. the vessel. Use harnesses if needed.
Sea sickness is usually brought on by conflicting messages
to the brain from the eyes and the ears. The ears are the
balance centre of the body and they work together with the
eyes in establishing which way is up. If you are affected,
try steering the boat for a while. The concentration on
the horizon up ahead is sometimes all that is needed for
the feeling to pass. Alternatively a spell in your bunk with
your eyes closed (shutting off one of the senses) can help
enormously. Sea bands, (which use pressure points on the
wrists), motion sickness tablets and ginger are all remedies
that can help. Use whatever suits you. Once you are over
the worst, try porridge as your first food. It is easy to eat and
digest and is often a great help.
Energy Conservation is important. Long passages, night
watches, bad weather, minimal sleep will all take their toll
Copyright Volvo Ocean Race
on your energy levels. Try not to sit or stand in positions
that keep the muscles tense. If you do the muscles will Injury is to be carefully guarded against at all times.
eventually lock up. Find a comfortable place to totally relax Sunburn can be a real hazard at sea. You may not realise
whenever possible. Warm clothing is more effective if you the strength of the sun if you are being cooled by breeze
put it on before you get cold. For the skipper it is perhaps from the sails. Scalds and burns can happen in the galley.
more important that he/she keeps fit and rested as the Rope burns are common when sail handling. Stubbed toes
responsibility for the boat and the safety of the crew is totally and falls can do real damage. Gloves and good anti slip
theirs. If the boat is to make land fall after a long or tiring footwear will help. Fingers can get trapped in winches and
passage it a good idea for the skipper to get some rest just blocks, and when anchoring it is easy to break fingers or
prior to arrival, as it can be a demanding time with difficult sustain other nasty injuries. Technique and training is the
decisions to make on the approach. key to keeping safe. Head injuries caused by the boom
are a common occurrence. Use a preventer rope to tie the
boom down. There are many other opportunities to damage
yourself and others on board. Think through every action and
assess the risks.
If the boats crew work as a team and sleep and eat well, the
experience of being at sea can be very rewarding. Often crew
that have just spent 3 weeks crossing an ocean are in no
hurry to landfall and would be happy just to carry on sailing.
Next month, we look at 
communication with the crew, the 
importance of adequate briefings and 
safety related topics.
An exhausted Richard Mason onboard Ericsson 3 as they head
towards Taiwan after taking on water due to structural damage
Copyright Volvo Ocean Race
16  MULTIHULL REVIEW : OCTOBER 2009
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