Wednesday, 30 June 2010 14:08
In light of advancing technology, Sam Jefferson considers the RYA’s revised standpoint on the use of flares at sea.
As the organisation that styles itself ‘the governing body of boating’, the RYA is always going to have its detractors, but it remains pretty useful when it comes to handing out advice on boating matters. And I’m not talking about knee-jerk ‘common sense’ but the kind of advice that takes an age of chin-stroking and beard-tugging before a properly considered opinion emerges. Naturally, most of us just want to get out there and enjoy the water, but the RYA is fully prepared to settle back in its chair at very great length until the right answer is found - and it’s just as well too. After all, RYA courses have defined our safety standards for years so when it embraces a fresh direction, you need to sit up and take notice. Just such a re-think has now occurred with regards to the carriage and use of flares . . .
The revised advice
Flares have always been a vital part of your distress alerting kit, but the fact is that new technology has brought along far more sophisticated alerting and locating devices. In fact, you could argue that the arrival of EPIRBS and VHF DSC units has lessened the importance of flares and it is with this in mind that the RYA has opted to revise its guidelines. The new guidelines (for skippers of pleasure craft under 13.7 metres) are explained by the RYA Cruising Manager, Stuart Carruthers:
“Our revised guidance will allow boaters to make informed decisions about the types of equipment they choose to carry. We are not saying don’t carry flares, but combined with modern devices you might not need to carry as many as previously recommended. Think about what you want on board as you may prefer other methods for alerting attention.
“EPIRBs and VHF DSC are both reliable alternative alerting methods to the use of parachute flares to indicate distress. However, the alternatives to flares for pinpointing vessels in need of assistance may be less reliable. Therefore flares remain the recommended means for location in the final mile until these devices are properly tested by the SAR authorities.”
So what should you be carrying?
What follows is a checklist of distress-alerting equipment the RYA recommends for any boater heading not more than three nautical miles offshore:
Portable VHF: Highly recommended where fitting a fixed VHF DSC set is problematic.
DSC VHF: Highly Recommended. Make sure your batteries are charged.
PLB/EPIRB: PLB attached to the individual in small craft is advisable, particularly if only a portable VHF is carried.
Mobile phone: To be used as a last resort. Do not rely on it as your sole means of communication.
Parachute flares: Four are recommended if portable VHF, fixed VHF DSC or PLB/EPIRB are not carried.
Red handheld flares: Three are advisable unless an alternative day/night locating method is carried.
Smoke signals (buoyant or handheld): Highly recommended for day boating where no other locating device is carried. Valuable for ‘final mile’ locating in daylight and in reasonable visibility. They must burn for a minimum of three minutes.
Day/Night flares and mini signal personal survival flares: Recommended as an alternative where space is tight. They can be carried on the person on smaller craft and personal watercraft.