Safety First
Dec 6, 2018
Looking for a great Christmas gift for the Offshore sailor on your list? This being a Marblehead to Halifax Race year it’s a good time to check out a few of the latest lifesaving devices available. The Binnacle’s Mac Morrison sent us these suggestions:
Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1
If you are unlucky enough to fall overboard, even in moderate conditions, it can be extremely difficult for you to be seen by those searching for you. Many sad stories relate boats retracing their course in a fruitless search a lost crewman. Today the technology is easily available to ensure you are found as quickly as possible.
The world’s smallest AIS MOB device with integrated DSC – the rescueME MOB1 from Ocean Signal. The MOB1 is compatible with even the most compact inflatable life-jackets.
The MOB1 is intended to be installed within the life-jacket and will activate automatically on inflation, sending the first alert within 15 seconds. The MOB1 is waterpoof to 10 metres. An integrated strobe light ensures maximum visibility in low light conditions.
The MOB1 communicates with the vessel you have been separated from and other vessels in the vicinity (up to 5 miles range dependent on conditions). To alert rescue authorities, an alternative product the rescueME PLB1 communicates directly via a dedicated search and rescue satellite network.
In an emergency rescueME MOB1 provides 2 methods of rapidly communicating your position, accurate to a few metres, back to the vessel, plus providing visual indication via its built-in strobe light.
Once activated your MOB1 will transmit an alert to all AIS receivers and AIS enabled plotters in the vicinity. The integrated GPS ensures precise location is sent to your vessel and any others that may be assisting.
More information at www.oceansignal.com
Spinlock VITO
This serious piece of kit was developed by Spinlock in 2017 cooperation with the Volvo Ocean Race teams. These boats sail in the most extreme conditions. While most will never experience the roaring 40s, sailors on something like the Route Saint Pierre or even the Marblehead Halifax Race can be exposed sailors to extreme cold and rough seas.
Key features:
Structured Sprayhood to prevent secondary drowning.
One size fits all.
Optional upgrade to Harness Release System which allows user to release their tether if they are bringing dragged by the boat on the lee side underwater.
Consumer can order vest with Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 (see below) pre-installed from Spinlock
More information at www.spinlock.co.uk
Wichard #7008 Double Tether
The snap shackle attachment allows the wearer to quickly detach from the tether, even under load. This is important because you could be dragged underwater after falling off the lee side of a sailboat underway.
The double tether design allows the wearer to always be attached to a jack line or hard point while moving from one station to another.
More information at www.marine.wichard.com
Thanks again to Mac Morrison at The Binnacle in Halifax.
www.binnacle.com
