Responding to Emergencies: A Skipper’s Guide for Staying Calm

A seasoned offshore seaman offers a philosophy of handling emergencies at sea that everyone can benefit from.

By
Roland Stockham
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During an Atlantic crossing in 2015, Super Storm Sandy hit us about two days out from Tenerife and lasted almost a month with winds between 30 and 40 knots plus big seas. (Photo/ Roland Stockham)
During an Atlantic crossing in 2015, Super Storm Sandy hit us about two days out from Tenerife and lasted almost a month with winds between 30 and 40 knots plus big seas. As always, your first priority is to STAY ABOARD. However, the chains and ropes can be released from in the water and form a scramble net so that if I went over on a tether I had a way of getting back on board when sailing solo. Not my idea, I pinched it from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution RNLI. This is a 55-year-old 32-ft. traditional wooden cutter called a Checkstone 32. I added a square sail which proved ideal for the trades and much easier to handle than a spinnaker or twin headsails. (Photo/ Roland Stockham)

This article is not a “how to” on COB drills or other procedures. There is lots of good training available on that subject and anyway it is best to develop individual systems that suit your boat and crew. Staying on board in the first place should be your main objective. What I have not seen is much discussion on how to prepare yourself to cope when things get difficult so that you can stay calm at sea.

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Responding to Emergencies: A Skipper’s Guide for Staying Calm
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Roland Stockham
Roland Stockham
Roland Stockham got his start sailing Olympic-class 470s and Finns in his native England. He started his journey as a voyager crewing for yacht owners sailing to Europe because he was handy at diesel repair. His first cruising boat was a 26-ft. Folkboat with no engine. He lives in British Columbia and sails a 35-ft. Colin Archer design. He is a Royal Yachting Association certified Yacht Master and is qualified to make trans-oceanic deliveries.

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