The safety Briefing!

21 May The safety Briefing!

(this was written by Clay Hutchinson)

“M/V Starr” Co-Captains Don and Patrick are very serious and patient about
reviewing and explaining general emergency equipment and procedures and those
specific to this voyage. Before departing Otaru we busted out all the safety gear and
discussed the use of each piece and situations that might necessitate the use of the
equipment. Completing that was a comfort and a confidence boost. These are
unpleasant subjects that must be discussed and clearly understood. Patrick reviewed
Man Overboard, firefighting, abandon ship, radio calls, and several other safety related
topics. We went through the contents of the First Aid Kit and the Medicine Kit and
reviewed deployment of the Life Raft and the EPIRB.

                                            Patrick showing the US “Pre-hospital Emergency care” Manual

                                                                                                         Patrick explaining the contents of our Med kids

We all went to the top deck to choose and squeeze into our Exposure
Suits. We labelled each suit with a name and lashed them into the Polaris
Inflatable boat, which we will board in an abandon ship situation. The auto-deploy
Life Raft will be lashed to the Polaris boat. Getting into an Exposure Suit is a
challenge, even on a boat comfortably berthed in a marina. Good practice to
know ahead of time what it takes. We learned that we need to work as a team to
get it done.

                                                                                                  The crew gathered in their immersion suits

                                                                                              Attaching the immersion suits into the tender.

Don gave a good briefing about the various types and uses of flares.

                                                                                                      Don talking about the flares aboard M/V Starr

We discussed the use of a “Farthing Blanket,” something that I had never heard
of. Google tells me that Capt. Cook used a Farthing Blanket to plug a hole in the
hull after a collision in Australia. This is one of those topics that needs some
research and reader input. Anyway—Don broke out an old heavy (maybe 12-14
oz cloth) North storm sail that can be dropped over the bow and then lashed from
the three corners to cover a hole. The challenge will be how to get the blanket
over the bulbous bow without having to put someone in the water. It was a lively
discussion and I’m not sure we reached consensus. I think it will work, having
done the same thing using an old mattress to save a sinking barge in Pearl
Harbor.

                                                                                The “Farthing Blanket,” something we hope to never have to use!

We discussed the route to the Aleutians and studied the electronic and paper
charts. Assuming a favorable weather forecast, we planned to sail over the top of
Hokkaido, then a bit southeast to avoid Russian waters, turn Northeast and
proceed along the western side of the Kuril Islands of Russia, staying in
International waters and then proceed through the northern most gap in the Kuril

                                                      The course of our path up the Kuril Islands

Islands, which has a narrow channel that is International water and onward in
open water to the Aleutians. I am writing this on May 21 and that plan is working
well. We are making good progress up the west side of the Kuril Islands. Knock
wood that the fine weather continues. Here are photos of the general area and a
photo of Don and Patrick cogitating Predict Wind and doing some route planning.

                                                                        Don and Patrick Discussing the wind and weather we are going to face.

That’s about it for now. Oh, one more photo for general interest. This is John
holding a Rhinoceros Auklet that somehow flew or walked aboard and got
trapped in the port side deck. John set her/him free.

                                                                         John holding a Rhinoceros Auklet

Related posts:

1082nm from Los Cabos, 09d 55.00 N, 122d 54.00 W – Friday, 23nd March, 2001 Mainland Coast of Mexico: Puerto Vallerta to Barra de Navidad – December 17, 2000-January 18, 2001 Seattle to Mexico – November, 2000 Seattle, Washington – September, 2000