THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1982
7
DINGHY SAILING CAN BE FUN, BUT LEARN ALL ABOUT IT FIRST
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PEOPLE WHO WISH TO TAKE UP DINGHY SAILING ARE URGED FIRST TO TAKE A FORMAL TRAINING COURSE IN THE SPORT.
ACCORDING TO MR JOSEPH CHU, CHIEF COACH OF THE HONG KONG YACHTING ASSOCIATION, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ESSENTIAL THINGS ABOUT THE SPORT WHICH SHOULD BE KNOWN BY THE BEGINNER AND WHICH ARE PROVIDED IN A SPECIAL SIX-DAY TRAINING COURSE OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
QUITE APART FROM THE HUMAN FACTOR, THERE IS ALSO THE WEATHER TO BE CONSIDERED, HE POINTS OUT.
FIRST OF ALL, HOWEVER, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO SWIM AT LEAST 50 METRES IN LIGHT CLOTHES BEFORE BEING ACCEPTED FOR TRAINING BY A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION.
AMONG THE OTHER SAFETY HINTS PROVIDED A BEGINNER ARE THE NEED ALWAYS TO WEAR 'LIFE JACKETS', WHICH ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO KEEP A PERSON'S FACE ABOVE WATER AND ARE FITTED WITH BELTS SO AS TO ENABLE HIM TO BE EASILY PULLED OUT OF THE WATER.
THE PROPER CLOTHES, WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE PERSON WARM, AND PROPER SHOES TO PROTECT THE FEET ARE ALSO NECESSARY. AND THE DINGHY ITSELF SHOULD BE WELL CHECKED BEFORE SAILING, MAKING SURE THAT ALL ROPES ON BOARD ARE CORRECTLY TIED UP, THE 'STAYS' ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE BUNGS FOR DRAIN HOLES ARE IN PLACE, MR CHU ADVISES.
AS FOR THE WEATHER FACTOR, PEOPLE MAKING READY TO SAIL SHOULD LISTEN TO THE WEATHER FORECAST, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WINDS, RAPIDS, ETC, HE SAYS.
CARE SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN TO LOOK OUT FOR CHANGES IN THE WIND DIRECTION, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BOOM TO SWAY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BALANCE BY HELMSMAN AND CREW, AND THE BOAT CAPSIZING.
*HOWEVER, A FORMAL COURSE IN SAILING WILL HELP INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE ON HOW TO STEER THE BOAT CORRECTLY AND HOW TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION SUCH AS THIS, MR CHU SAYS.
ON RETURNING, A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE CENTRE, TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY SEARCHES BEING UNDERTAKEN. ABOVE ALL, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GO SAILING AT NIGHT, OR IN FOGGY OR STORMY WEATHER. FURTHERMORE, SAILING WITH THE COMPANY OF OTHERS IS ALSO SAFER.
+SAILING CAN BE GREAT FUN, IF YOU SAIL IN A CAREFUL WAY, MR CHU SAYS.