Night time passages

gavin · 10 November 2002, 21:56

Both myself and Tim have been out recently at night in the Hysucat, we mostly travel up a river near Dun Laoghaire, we certainly keep a good watch at night have the usual compass , flares,killchords,vhf,we use a plotter at night aswell, we make a definate effort to keep the speed down at night, from time to time we come across floating debris mostly small wood or branches, we have seen a couch and gas cylinder floating,does anyone else venture out at night? Its great practice reading instruments, keeping watch using the compass etc, I would like to feel it is safe but with reduced visibility and no radar it cant be 100% safe , however we take it easy we also have good work lights and of course nav lights,does anyone have any feelings as to what other sort of precautions should be taken at night,or experiences people have had at night out in Ribs.Or should we speak to psychiatrists can anyone recomend a good one in Dublin,is this foolhardiness or valuable necessary experience, afterall we can all be caught out after dark, our own lifeboats in Dublin reguarly excerise at night so what do you guys think?

Alan Priddy · 10 November 2002, 22:10

Whatever hazards are about in daylight are there at night as well.
They do not go away when the sun goes in. The same amount of attention should be paid at night as you would in daytime. The hazards only seem to be worse!! Trust me on this one,I have just done 12,000 miles in the dark! Alan P

sunrider · 10 November 2002, 23:26

Like Alan P, I've spent a lot of time at night in coastal and open ocean environments in a RIB. The three greatest new challenges for me were trusting my instruments, deciphering the seemingly endless combination of nav lights encountered, and recognizing the correct nav aids and range lights coming into a port. It can be very confusing, even in waters you've sailed for years. However, once you get familiar with it (and the further from shore you are!) you may find you even prefer it in some ways to daylight.

Assuming you are keeping as good a watch as possible, the only points I would emphasize are: practice MOB drill and ensure that everyone has a light attached to them in case they go over (it's very different at night); reduce glare from instrument and nav lights to enhance night vision; have a plan and appropriate equipment for typical emergencies, know where everything is, (just as you would for a daytime voyage) and add multiple waterproof lights and batteries to your inventory. For example, changing a prop in deep water at night takes some pre-planning and practice. And, finally, be sure you have up-to-date charts and tables - it's even more critical at night.

Mike Garside · 11 November 2002, 07:20

Good stuff from both Alan and Bryan above. The only thing I would like to add is that passage making at night is an essential part of the fully experienced skipper's log book.

This is simply because every conceivable difficulty in daylight hours becomes many times more problematic in the dark. And only practice will make perfect.

I would also like to add that gaining night time passage making experience while you are young - and all your senses are still sharp - will make the learning far easier.

These days making a landfall on a moonless night is, I confess, more stressful than it used to be. It's not now much fun to pore over the chart with rain splattered reading specs which constantly have to be dragged off my face so that I can squint into the blur of lights to try and make sense of what could be nav marks, ships, buildings and cars.

But if I hadn't done that sort of thing countless times before, it would scare the pants off me to start learning now.

Keep clocking up those miles in the dark, Gavin!

Charles · 11 November 2002, 07:30

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Garside

gaining night time passage making experience while you are young -

Hey Mike, is that why you and Brian Elliott, never go out at night...

Gavin and Tim, you guys have to be even more vigilant as with the Hysucat, I hit something, no idea what, and ripped the entire foil off. It was also fun 'decapitating' old cray pot bouys.

Mike Garside · 11 November 2002, 07:36

Right on, Charles. And you won't catch me doin' the boogie much anymore, either. Knees, as well as the eyes, are totally shot...

Julian · 11 November 2002, 08:07

Morning All

Passage making at night is great as long as you keep a good look out and keep the speed down a bit as you may have to make a sharp turn etc. Cutting Lobster pots of in the dark is fun as i found out in Dartmouth. Just make sure you have planned the route and know what you are looking for and things should be fine. I now keep a knife strapped to my leg. Keep things like flares , knives etc in a place that is easily accesable. I find that its far better to run offshore at night to avoid things like lobster pots and those stupid fishing net bouys that float just under the surface.

Julian

Keith Hart · 11 November 2002, 08:28

Quote:

now keep a knife strapped to my leg

Hey, I go out at night in places like that!

(hide inside brackets)

thewavehumper · 11 November 2002, 12:00

I am sure taht we all have this in our lifejackets, but I think a strobe is an essential component in your lifejacket for night time use.

Alan Priddy · 11 November 2002, 13:20

Keith, does this have anything that is going on in the Royal Household at the moment?

Alan P

gavin · 12 November 2002, 18:14

Thanks for the advice certainly some food for thought there,the strobes are definatly a good idea cheap and effective!

Brian · 12 November 2002, 19:00

Can anyone recommend any particular strobe?
These strike me as a really good idea-stowed somewhere on the boat and grabable. Also, if waterproof and small enough, a required "pocket" item in case one goes overboard at night.

Mike Garside · 13 November 2002, 06:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian
Can anyone recommend any particular strobe?

Brian, as you know, I have frequently extolled the virtues of strobe lights at sea. I have always carried one because they are unmissable in the dark. With a low base the light bounces off the bottom of clouds and can be seen well over the horizon.

In my considered opinion, no night time RIB passage should be made without one attached to the lifejacket of each crew member.

The one I currently use and over the years it is the best I have come across is the Jotron AQ5. It retails at £47.95 and I bought mine on-line from Shamrock Quay Chandlery. The web address is...

www.shamrock.co.uk

I like this light because it is waterproof to a military spec and is a sensible shape (about the size of a pack of 20 Malboro!) with a clip for attaching to a belt or life-jacket.

Good bit of kit.

Cheers

toby.budd · 13 November 2002, 09:15

The only thing I would add is try to reduce reflection from lights on board, inst, nav etc.

I use tinted seathrough plastic over my instriments as they cant be dimed and have painted everything in front of the helming posistion grey or black, especially any stainless as it will easilly reflect light from your nav lights, the moon, other lights on board and other background light. This greatly increases your night vision.

Also, preperation, PPPPPP, a good simple pilotage plan with Courses to run, flashing sequences, referance points etc will go a long way to your safe passage.

(Enjoying night time passage making whilst young)

Toby

thewavehumper · 13 November 2002, 11:57

Toby's point is V sensible, for those of you who are gadget orientated then beware the Led type of fuel guage as they get very bright at nighttimes and I wind up switching mine off, which defeats the objest of having them really

If you can't run to 48 quid for a strobe, you can get a cheaper and probably inferior torch/strobe form Compass .co.uk it's waterproof to 20 M and flashes a lot before the batteries run out 12 hours?. If you want more info have a look at the site

DJL · 13 November 2002, 12:17

My life jackets have a little water activated strobe folded up inside. It makes locating people a lot easier, especially if they were knocked unconscious while exiting the boat.

I would also recommend reporting your passage to the coastguard at night.

Alan · 13 November 2002, 13:32

All very sensible advice. Particularly important is working out how to turn down the brightness of your chartplotter before you are out at night and need to do so!

For the ultimate in night timing ribbing accessories howabout a pair of these:

http://www.nightvisiongear.co.uk/Nig...les-NVS7-2.htm

A snip at Euro 3690!!

Alan

Alan Priddy · 13 November 2002, 14:05

Alan, I have used these a lot and the really good thing about them is when you hit something you can be honest and acurate when you fill in the insurance claim documents

Alan P

Julian · 13 November 2002, 15:08

Hmmmm there cheap. Bloody hell. Thats about £2k

toby.budd · 13 November 2002, 16:51

Night vision for £400. Thought about it for the taxi.

http://www.imsplus.com/ims11.html
http://www.imsplus.com/ims11.html[/URL]

Also they are now developing wproof 12 volt infra red camera cctv and monitors for marine craft. That way you can record the semi submerged object that you hit, and then show it to the ins company! Would also make some riviting home video, ''the solent by night''.

Toby