Don’t carry flares
I read with interest and apprehension Disposal of Flares (YM, April 2021) and the June issue’s Skipper’s Tip on firing flares. Based on facts, my tip is don’t carry flares:
■ Unless your leisure boat is over 13.7m and British registered there is no legal requirement to carry flares. This includes sailing abroad. You may, however, be fined if you are found with out-of-date flares in places like France.
■ Pyrotechnic flares (PFS) are commonly ignored or not seen. Since the Titanic we have known that radio communications are better.
■ PFS are classed as explosive devices, not permitted on airplanes. Why carry them on a boat containing hundreds of litres of fuel?
■ PFS cause injuries. Duncan Wells had a life-changing injury when a flare exploded into his abdomen. The medical publications website Pubmed.gov has other examples.
■ Protective clothing is required. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) cannot get insurance to fire PFS and teach the safe use – it’s too dangerous. In an emergency, or at night, it could be hard to read the instructions.
■ The RYA has stated that PFS are obsolete. The reliability of PFS is susceptible to significant variations in ambient temperature.
■ PFS have a short life – three years – and their toxic contents have to be disposed of. They’re non-recyclable and usually exploded.
■ Familiarity and testing with PFS is not possible. Once they are fired they are gone.
■ If you are going to carry them on board they need to be readily available. YM’S May edition was all about family sailing. My grandchildren enjoy exploring the boat. Do I really want them finding a PF and setting it off? The consequences would be horrific.
Alternatives? Most of them are found in your June edition: lifejacket flashing strobes, personal locator beacon (PLB), seawater dye, handheld VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio, satellite messengers and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBS). You can add to this list AIS MOB lifejacket alarm, torch, CD mirror for signaling, electronic visual signaling device and spare batteries. Plus the humble mobile phone.
Just because the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is behind the times does not mean that YM should use this as an excuse to promulgate the old, dangerous, inefficient and expensive use of PFS. Dr Gilbert Park The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
responds: Flares are one method of attracting attention in a distress situation, but to ensure a distress signal is received by a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, it is recommended that a vessel user should also carry a correctly registered EPIRB and have a Dsc-equipped radio.
The RYA responds: The RYA always recommends that recreational craft carry a means of distress alerting and indicating their location should search and rescue services be required. However, we believe that modern technology provides reliable, accurate and timely distress alerting methods without the need for pyrotechnic signals. Modern electronic distress alerting devices (EPIRB, PLB, VHF DSC, etc.) are readily available at an affordable price and their use avoids the dangers associated with the operation of pyrotechnic flares and difficulties encountered in disposing of time-expired pyrotechnics. Above all, modern methods alert the search and rescue services directly to tell them you need help and where you are without relying on a third party to act on your behalf.