The world has become less safe

January 9, 20202min read

We offer you a review of Vasily Senatorov published in No. 126 of magazine Yacht Russia, under the heading “From the publisher”.

Here’s a personal experience from a class “Dragon”. Ten years ago 80% of the days in which it was impossible to hold the race, had the calm weather. Season 2019 demonstrated the reverse: almost all of the fallout from the graphs regattas were associated with very strong wind and waves. Cannes, Cascais, kühlungsborn, Medemblik, Mallorca, the South, West and North of Europe.

The August calm of the Western Mediterranean gave way to lingering storms, and harsh winds and wave in the Bay of Biscay has forced almost two weeks to postpone the start of the race Mini-Transat.

And here is what they write… meteorologists climate Change began to have an adverse impact on sailing. The temperature rise of the oceans and the air have led to increased frequency of hurricanes. In the entire history of observations 2016-2019 become the most prolonged period in which every year has witnessed the most devastating hurricane of the 5th category. Most still in memory “Irma” and “Maria” that destroyed the yacht is moored and destroyed the Charter fleet in the Caribbean.

Famous Navigator, transatlantic ARC race organizer Jimmy Cornell has analyzed the General trends in the long sailing journeys: “Information gathered from 50 of the most attractive destinations for boaters, show that the peak long-distance voyages was in 2010. The number of boats crossing the Atlantic and going through the Panama canal, is reduced. The same trend is observed in Australia, New Zealand and in Tahiti.”

The safety of navigation is threatened not only more rigid weather conditions. The world has become in General less safe. Risks are now not only with the passage of the Northern Indian ocean and the red sea, but the danger comes from the shores of Venezuela, Brazil, Honduras, and East and West Africa, from certain regions in the Caribbean.

However, increased number of boats, enveloping Cape of Good Hope, and increasing popularity of the routes in the high latitudes. So, if in 2010, 55 yacht dared to make the voyage to Spitsbergen, in 2019, there were already 72. And the number of voyages through the Northwest passage over the years has doubled from 7 to 14.

There are other good news. The quality of the weather forecasts and satellite communications improved markedly, gaining popularity around the world collective rally. Hiking in the fleet, which takes care skilled onshore team, significantly reduces the risks.

In any case, the basis of the security in good marine practice to master that we wish all the readers of our magazine.

Peace and a happy 2020!

Vasily Senatorov,
publisher