At the briefing on Tuesday night we learnt about cyclones, how late ones are worst, and how the water temperature is 26degrees, perfect breeding conditions for the buggers, how to get three days warning by looking on the internet site that we cannot access unless we are within range of a phone tower. But not what to do except then worry for three days and apply Buy-Ballots law.
Then we had the medical news. Malaria, Dengue, Rabies. And that was the good news! Rope burns, seasickness, class one drugs and lockable cabinets, it goes on and on. How to call Freo emergency on the sat Phone. What are they gunna do? Because then the man from AMSA, the maritime search and rescue authority, told us they can't use helicopter if we are more than 100km away or at night. As it takes five hours to pinpoint a distress beacon and then 50 mins to mobilise the aircraft the 'window of opportunity' for having a disaster is between dawn and about mod-day. Did I miss something? Oh, practise emergency drills.
So after a rather nice twilight race last night we threw a few things overboard as a Person overboard drill. We got most of the things back. We consider this a success.
And at least we can spell Fremantle.
If we manage to avoid cyclones, whales, asylum seekers, long line fishing boats, short line fishing boats....not to mention broken bones concussion and infectious diseases, we should have a great time.
ReplyDeleteNot to forget crocodiles, although Marty has masterfully fabricated a 'Crocodile deflector' to place accross the transom and prevent them joining us for dinner...shouldn't be a problem!