On 1 January 2023, a Dutch sailor was killed by a malfunctioning flare during a passage in the Pacific Ocean.
The sailor fired the flare just after midnight to celebrate the New Year. Unfortunately, despite being deployed correctly, the flare malfunctioned and, despite the efforts of the crew, the sailor died shortly after the incident.
The flare was manufactured by the Spanish company LECEA and was a rocket parachute flare (model L-35) from a batch manufactured in 2021. These flares are only sold in Spain and the malfunctioning flare was most likely purchased in Gran Canaria before the start of the ARC in November 2021. LECEA has issued a recall of these flares. The Dutch water safety board has also issued a warning.
RATS recommends that CA members check that they are not in possession of the recalled flares. In the UK, pyrotechnic flares must be carried as a legal requirement if your boat is longer than 13.7m. Otherwise, owners can decide if flares should be on board. Other means of communication, including VHF radios, mobile phones, internet phones and EPIRBs or PLBs, should generally be used in emergency situations. And certainly flares should never be fired to celebrate the New Year.
About RATS
RATS work on behalf of members to advise and campaign on subjects affecting cruising. This group advises and campaigns on matters affecting those cruising in small boats – sail or motor, offshore, inshore or inland. RATS’ knowledge of technical and regulatory subjects is deep and they use it to liaise with harbour authorities, local and national government, international bodies and other organisations on behalf of members. Find out more about RATS here.
3 February 2023
The Regulatory & Technical Services group (RATS) is an executive committee of the Cruising Association (CA) made up of CA volunteers. RATS gives advice and assistance to CA members and others on a voluntary basis but this is subject to the following Disclaimer and should not be regarded as a substitute for appropriate professional advice.
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