Disgrace on the Race Course

In Scuttlebutt 1869 (http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/) there is a story of a racing incident which almost leaves me speechless.

On a windy day on Block Island Sound, during Race Week there, according the Scuttlebutt story, a woman crew member fell overboard off of a Farr395. She was not connected by a harness or wearing a life jacket. Immediately her husband dove in to assist her (good man!) He also was not wearing a life jacket. Their boat, Coyote, conducted itself properly (other than not insisting on the wearing of PFD’s by everyone), and quickly stopped and began the recovery procedure. However, unavoidably, they had sailed some distance after the two persons went overboard. In those conditions Coyote could have easily traveled over 150ft in as little the 10 seconds it probably took to drop the chute and turn around. At any rate, the man and wife were now swimming in cold Block Island Sound several boat lengths away from their yacht, fully dressed and without life jackets

The Sound on that day was a busy scene, with race boats sailing in every direction all around them. The J105 fleet was sailing upwind in the vicinity. One J105 nearly ran over the swimmers, swerving off when the crew alerted helmsman, who couldn’t see them. The crew of this boat then threw floatation devices towards the overboard persons, and, observing that their own yacht was close by and returning to pick them up, continued racing. Another J105 apparently sailed by without stopping. Coyote then did get their two wet sailors back on board, not much worse for wear.

I simply cannot imagine that these two J105's continued sailing leaving two persons swimming in Block Island Sound while their own yacht still some lengths away. When I first heard the story I thought the MOB's were alongside their yacht at the time. Even in that case I personally would have, and, in similar situations, have stopped and stood by until released or waved off, but I could see how someone might decide that the situation was under control, and decide not to stop. But to throw a couple of floatation devices, which didn't even actually reach the swimmers, and then sail away from people in the water, is virtually astonishing. I'm glad the names of the offending boats and skippers were not given, because I would have forever linked their names with an act of extreme foolishness.

I am sure the thinking on the boast which sailed by went something like this:

“We are sailing in windy conditions, with our sails up, and to stop we’d have to jump up right now and drop the sails. This will take some time and move us away from the scene anyway, and then what can we do in these rough conditions, and anyhow, they have it under control already.” It’s a case of denial of the reality that people in the water represent a serious life threatening situation, and no one can predict the outcome. We all like to think that everything will be OK, the situation is under control, but despite the inconvenience and remote likelihood that they will be actually able to lend a hand or are even really needed, all boats who can come to the assistance, must come, at any cost. This is required by law, by racing rules, and by basic human consideration for the lives and safety of others,

I’d like to think that it is just foolish indecision on the parts of the skippers, now much regretted, which led to these shameful acts, not ignorance or callousness and the desire to win a sailboat race at the risk of the lives of fellow seamen and women.

Fred Roswold, SV WINGS, Hong Kong

June 23, 2005-What about Ford & GM?

What about Ford & GM?

What should we think about these two icons of America who are looking lately like they might topple over?

As much as I hate to say it, and as much as I hate to see my favorite car maker fail (I’ve always been a “Ford Man”), they get what they deserve.

When it comes down to it, you cut it or you don’t. There is no one who can carry a car company which does not cut it. The car business itself is not bad; look at Toyota or Nissan. It’s Ford and GM which are bad.

Bad management, bad labor relations, bad workers; I hold the management mostly accountable. They have known, or should have known, that their labor, pension, and health care costs were an overhanging problem. Yet, when the SUV boom came along they latched onto that as their savior, and they neglected to solve the problems with their costs.

Intractable unions you say? I don’t care. The job of management is to solve the problem; they did not. When a few years of heady SUV sales bailed out their balance sheets they stuck their heads in the sand. Now the SUV party is over and the fundamental problems remain.

And what about the sales prospects of their cars now that gas guzzlers are out of favor?

The big US carmakers neglected their sedans while binging on SUV’s high margins. Toyota and other manufacturers, who have continued rapid development of their automobiles, are taking the market share away from the big Detroit corporations.

I say that Ford and GM failed to find excellent managers to manage their business.

I say that Ford and GM failed to develop products that would capture the market when the SUV boom turned bust.

I say that Ford and GM failed to change their labor/management relationship into a partnership.

And I say that the labor force carries some responsibility too. They failed to recognize that their competitors were leaner and meaner, and that fat pensions and easy health care plans, would drag them down.

I say that they FAILED, and so they shall fall.

In the free market system, a company which fails will go down. Can’t be helped. They didn’t cut it and now they might not survive.

To the US industry I say: Make No Excuses. Only Excellence will be sufficient. Get off your asses and solve the problem; or you will die.

The sailor rants.

Privatize National Weather Service? Bad Idea

I am opposed to the bill sponsored by Senator Rick Santorum (S.786) which, while it doesn't actually eliminate the NWS, gives private companies the opportunity to replace it.
As an owner operator of a private sailing vessel. I have long depended on NWS as my basic weather information. It has been invaluable. For example, when sailing from Neah Bay to Newport Oregon, We planned to enter a small harbor on Washington's coast. The NWS weather radio information alerted me to dangerous bar conditions on that entrance and I decided not to try to enter. Another vessel actually did try and was wrecked. The NWS information probably saved my vessel and possibly the lives of my self and my crew.
My concern is that a private company, having difficulty staying profitable, may reduce service or cut costs in ways which result in less information, and that, once discontinued, it may be a budget issue to then resume NWS in that region.

I understand that Santorum would like to help private companies in his region which cannot reasonably compete with government services, but some services belong with the government.

Extract from Scuttlebutt:

Scuttlebutt

* From Emily Decker: Mr. Colloton (Scuttlebutt #1856) and others have brought a potentially dangerous situation to light in the possibility that the National Weather Service could be eliminated. I did some quick digging and here are some facts: The bill sponsored by Senator Rick Santorum (S.786) doesn't actually eliminate the NWS, but gives any company who thinks they can provide the same service the opportunity to replace it in that region. I fully believe that this would compromise the current access we all enjoy from NWS. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce where it will be reviewed and voted before heading to the Senate; then it goes to the House of Representatives for the same review process. The likelihood that all this will happen between now and the end of the Congressional year is very unlikely. However, Senator Santorum could achieve the same means by simply "not funding" it in the '06-'07 fiscal year, thereby effectively achieving the same result. These "budget/ appropriations" bills are must be passed at the end of the year.I join Mr. Colloton and others in encouraging Scuttlebutt readers to contact their Senator to voice opposition to this bill. Your letters would be even more effective by including an anecdote about how the National Weather Service provided you with information that helped you in a potentially dangerous or life-threatening situation. Letters can simply be addressed to Your Senator, United States Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510. You can also cc your Congressman too. For the full language: Click Here