[ANU Sailing Club] FYI - sailing risks over winter in Canberra [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Pudniks, Kurt MR]

UNCLASSIFIED

Hello all,
 
Please be aware that in winter the water is very cold and the westerly
winds are turbulent and gusty and can be very strong at around 40 knots.
Today is a perfect example.  35 knot westerly gusts and while the temp
is around 7 the apparent temp is sub zero (and it's the apparent temp
that matters).
 
Even if wearing life jacket and full length wetsuit, if the worst was to
happen and required a swim of several hundred meters after you've
struggled with your boat or gear for awhile, there is a significant
safety risk of hypothermia or worse in a shorter time period than you
might expect.

Please ensure if you do choose to sail:
 
Only sail in conditions you've checked on BOM and can definitely handle,
check your gear, arrange reliable backup such as other sailors you know
can assist if required to, ideally a powerboat or in a race with CYC or
YMCA (if any are run over winter?).
 
All the best.
Kurt.


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________________________________

From: sailingclub-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au
[mailto:sailingclub-bounces at mailman.anu.edu.au] On Behalf Of Alexander
Minovich
Sent: Friday, 6 May 2011 16:48
To: sailingclubmembers
Subject: [ANU Sailing Club] shed will be opened on Sunday


Hi everyone,  

I'll open the shed on Sunday from 1 pm. I'll probably take laser II out
and then do some boat maintainable.
Anyone is welcome to come but I would strongly advice to wear a long wet
suit and a spray jacket if you're going to sail. I would also ask to dry
well a boat you use (the temperature falling below 0 at night now so no
water inside the hull should be left).

-- 
Sincerely, 
Alex Minovich.
Postdoctoral Fellow,
Nonlinear Physics Centre
Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering
Le Couteur Building, Building 60
Mills Road, ANU, 0200  Australia
T:  6125 9076
F:  6125 8588

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