The delivery home from a race is just as long if not longer than the race itself and sufficient planning needs to go into the delivery to ensure the yacht and its crew get home safely.

Planning the delivery home or to a yacht race is equally as important as planning for the race itself. There are several factors that can make for a gruelling delivery and need to be planned for before docking out.

Safety Briefing:
As with any time the boat leaves the dock a safety briefing should be given to all crew members, new and experienced.  Take the time to explain not just where the equipment is kept but how it is used or deployed.  Discuss, and better still undertake a Crew Overboard drill after leaving the dock.

Safety Equipment:
The boat will have all the safety equipment it requires to complete the race – leave it on board and use it in the same manner as the race. Checks need to be made that all safety gear is still fit for purpose after the race. Do batteries need replacing, any first aid supplies that need topping up. Wear a lifejacket sunset to sunrise, make sure the PLB’s are registered to the correct person and their emergency contact details are recorded.

Crew size, experience and safety training:
Traditionally boats are sailed with about half the normal complement of crew for a delivery and with less experience than the race crew.  It is important though that there is a mix of experienced and new crew. Deliveries are an opportunity for new crew to gain valuable offshore experience, however the Person in Charge needs to be mindful that they are less experienced, for example shortening sail well before the squall hits rather than last minute as with a race crew.  Lessons have been learnt from delivery incidents that it is valuable for new crew to have undertaken the Safety Sea Survival course giving them valuable information for if an incident does occur. Another factor to consider; are the experienced crew fatigued after the race.  Allow enough time in port for recovery and catching up on any sleep deprivation from the exertions of the race.

Weather:
The delivery is the same length or possibly longer than the race itself so there is a chance that your passage could be affected by an intense weather system.  Plan for the departure to be in the correct weather window, a crew member may need to be home for a meeting Monday morning but that does not mean the boat and crew should be put in jeopardy. 

Check sails, engine, fuel, keel:
Whilst the racing sails will not be used for the delivery it is important that the inventory of delivery sails on board are suitable and in a good condition capable of withstanding any intense weather.  An engine check should be carried out prior to departure, with spares and the correct tools on board to do repairs, spares could include but not limited to; impellers, fuel filters, and engine oil.  A check of the boat itself should be done; lifelines, keel bolts, electronics, radios to name a few.

Stop Overs:
A passage plan with potential stop overs for refuelling, supplies and sheltered anchorages needs to be made.  This should be relayed to a suitable person including an expected arrival date/time.

Communication, Sail in a convoy
Potentially there could be a few boats heading back to the same port, arrange the same departure date/time with them and keep in convoy, this will provide a safety network at sea if an incident were to occur. Ensure the boat’s departure is logged with the relevant port authority and radio communication is updated along the coast. Keep in radio contact at regular times with the boats you are in convoy with.

These are a few of the factors to be mindful of and prepare for when delivering a race boat.

For more information on the Safety Sea Survival course go to this link https://www.sailingresources.org.au/safety-sea-survival/
Information on the Special Regulations can be found here https://www.sailingresources.org.au/safety/specialregs/
A Safety Information Notice on briefing crew can be found here https://www.sailingresources.org.au/safety/safety-notices/

By Melanie Peasey https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/