Safety in extremis

Different countries have varying regulations, but at the time of writing it is legal to sail into a wind farm within UK territorial waters, so long as you don’t anchor or come closer than 50m to an upright. The idea of yachting amongst the pylons might not generally appeal, but such hazards are proliferating. If an engine fails and the breeze is too light to beat the tide, it could easily happen. The 50m exclusion zone might then become academic. Anyone caught in the turbines will be reassured to learn that the clearance height for rotor blades is 22m above HAT (the top of the biggest tide). Thus, for most yachts, the danger consists mainly of hitting an upright or any surrounding debris. It is unlikely that a summary dismasting will add insult to injury.