Unassisted sailing
Encyclopedia
Unassisted sailing is a form of sailing
, usually single-handed
, where sailors are not given any physical assistance during the entire course of the voyage. Sailors may not call at a port
, dock with other ship
s at sea, or be passed any physical objects from a passing ship or aircraft prior to reaching the end destination of their voyage.
rule 21e. Essentially this and the related 21h and 21i rules require that during the voyage:
The exceptions allowed by 21h and 21i are:
is a race, solo around the world non-stop from France. It has its own more strict rules. The paricipants can be given generally available weather forecasts, but not individual advice about weather or routing. All kinds of repair advice over radio is allowed, for the reason it is a sail competition, not a repair competition. Medical advice is also allowed, with some limitation.
was rescued by the Australian Navy after 5 days under a capsized yacht far from the Australian mainland. A few decades earlier this situation would have had a high probability of resulting in his death. EPIRBs greatly increase the chance that the sailor will be found. They have been credited by sailors as being "vital for sailing boats" and "without question" have saved lives.
who complete long unassisted voyages are commonly accorded a considerable amount of respect, because the sailor still faces for a long period the prospect of death at sea. This respect usually extends to single-handed sailors such as Francis Chichester
and Joshua Slocum
who completed round-the-world
voyages with far less assistance and considerably more risk than today's record holders, but which are regarded under current rules as "assisted" because of port stops during the voyage. Jessica Watson
became the youngest person, at age 16, to sail unassisted around the world on the 22nd of May 2010.
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, usually single-handed
Single-handed sailing
The sport of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember . The term is usually used with reference to ocean and long-distance sailing, and particularly competitive sailing....
, where sailors are not given any physical assistance during the entire course of the voyage. Sailors may not call at a port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
, dock with other ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s at sea, or be passed any physical objects from a passing ship or aircraft prior to reaching the end destination of their voyage.
Definition
Unassisted sailing definition and rules are widely recognised as those set by the World Sailing Speed Record CouncilWorld Sailing Speed Record Council
The World Sailing Speed Record Council, founded in 1972, is the body authorized by the International Sailing Federation to confirm speed records of sailing crafts on water . In the early years the council only dealt with claims of speed records on a one-way leg of 500 metres...
rule 21e. Essentially this and the related 21h and 21i rules require that during the voyage:
- No assistance of any kind be given except as allowed by 21h and 21i.
- No supplies be taken on board (other than the "harvest of the sea").
- A boat may be anchored or beached for repairs, but such repairs must be done entirely by the boat's crew with the tools and materials already on board.
- The boat may not enter port.
The exceptions allowed by 21h and 21i are:
- All forms of navigation equipment and communication are permitted. The sailor may receive advice, but must operate all equipment themselves. There must be no physical remote control
- If the boat runs afoul of another vessel or structure, it is permitted for that vessel's or structure's crew to lend assistance in getting clear.
In practice
In practice such sailors can receive financial and electronic assistance, especially when sponsored to attempt records, which reduces the burden of lack of physical assistance significantly. The Sydney Morning Herald said in this context:Vendée Globe
The Vendée GlobeVendée Globe
The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years....
is a race, solo around the world non-stop from France. It has its own more strict rules. The paricipants can be given generally available weather forecasts, but not individual advice about weather or routing. All kinds of repair advice over radio is allowed, for the reason it is a sail competition, not a repair competition. Medical advice is also allowed, with some limitation.
Danger reduced by EPIRBs
The dangers of unassisted sailing have been reduced in recent years by the widespread use of EPIRBs that allow the sailor to summon help even when far from land. One such case occurred in January 1997 when Tony BullimoreTony Bullimore
Tony Bullimore is a British sailor from Bristol.He is most famous for being rescued during the 1996 Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. The race was marked by a number of incidents including the death of another contestant, Gerry Roufs...
was rescued by the Australian Navy after 5 days under a capsized yacht far from the Australian mainland. A few decades earlier this situation would have had a high probability of resulting in his death. EPIRBs greatly increase the chance that the sailor will be found. They have been credited by sailors as being "vital for sailing boats" and "without question" have saved lives.
Respect accorded unassisted sailors
People such as Kay CotteeKay Cottee
Kay Cottee, AO was the first female sailor to perform a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. She performed this feat in 1988 in her yacht Blackmore's First Lady, taking 189 days.-Early life:...
who complete long unassisted voyages are commonly accorded a considerable amount of respect, because the sailor still faces for a long period the prospect of death at sea. This respect usually extends to single-handed sailors such as Francis Chichester
Francis Chichester
Sir Francis Charles Chichester KBE , aviator and sailor, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for becoming the first person to sail single-handed around the world by the clipper route, and the fastest circumnavigator, in nine months and one day overall.-Early life:Chichester was born in Barnstaple,...
and Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Canadian born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he told the story of this in Sailing Alone Around the World...
who completed round-the-world
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
voyages with far less assistance and considerably more risk than today's record holders, but which are regarded under current rules as "assisted" because of port stops during the voyage. Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson
Jessica Watson is an Australian sailor. She resides in Buderim, Queensland. In May 2010, she unofficially became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world, although her route did not meet World Sailing Speed Record Council criteria for circumnavigation of the...
became the youngest person, at age 16, to sail unassisted around the world on the 22nd of May 2010.