Safety At Sea For Captains and Crew



Chuck Hawley is a life-long sailor, having grown up on the California Coast. He has sailed approximately 40,000 miles on vessels ranging from ultralight "sleds" to single-handed sailboats to the maxi-catamaran PlayStation. Chuck has worked for West Marine for 20 years, and is responsible for the West Advisor articles that appear in West Marine's catalogs. He is also Vice President of Product Development.

Q: What equipment above Coast Guard minimal safety equipment should every boat carry?

A: At the annual Safety at Sea Seminars that are given around the country, it’s common to hear the speakers refer to safety as being “the proper combination of skills, equipment, and the right vessel.” While the equipment and vessels have changed, I’m quite sure that this short list would have been just as appropriate for Vice Admiral Lord Nelson of the Royal Navy in 1805 as it is appropriate today.

When it comes to equipment, most new sailors would probably look to the U.S. Coast Guard for the recommended safety gear, but they might be surprised to see how short the list actually is.

For a 24’ sailboat, the required safety gear can be as modest as:

• One wearable life jacket for each person.
• One throwable buoyant cushion or life ring or Lifesling.
• Navigation lights (port, starboard, and stern)
• One B-I fire extinguisher
• Three day and night visual distress signals
• A horn or whistle (recommended)

(Note: Federal law requires other non-safety items like heads and plaques, and state law may modify the Federal law with additional equipment requirements. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list.)


Q: Besides the modest Coast Guard requirements, what other gear would you highly recommend additionally?

A: I’d suggest the following, and this is obviously subject to the use of the vessel, and would be different for larger vessels:

• A suitable anchor and rode, sufficient for the normal water depths in which you’re likely to anchor. For a 24’ sailboat, this would be an 8-11 lb. quality anchor, 3/8” three-strand line (perhaps 200’), and 10-20’ of 1/4” chain.

• A means to “dewater” the boat. This can be as simple as a heavy bucket with a lanyard attached, or a fixed mount manual bilge pump, or a moderately-sized electric pump connected to the vessel’s 12V battery. Ideally, an electric pump would have a manual back-up, and the manual pump would be operable from the cockpit.

• A means to communicate with other vessels and the Coast Guard. Invariably this calls for a VHF marine radio, either handheld or fixed-mount. VHF radios are arguably one of the most cost-effective safety devices on any boat, and can be purchased for less than $100 for a handheld, and less than $200 for a fixed mount radio with an antenna.

• A small marine medical kit. There are great first-aid kits specifically designed for small boat sailing that can be purchased for $50 or less which include the right combination of wound care, burn dressings, pain medications and antiseptics.

• A pair of 7x50 binoculars. While not specifically in the “safety” category, any boat can benefit from the addition of some waterproof binoculars for identifying navigation aids, harbors, and seeing vessels that might require assistance.

Q: What are the most important safety rules?

A: I think if you were to boil down the most common causes of sailing mishaps, applying a few simple rules could prevent them:

• Wear a life jacket that is appropriate for the type of sailing you’re doing while on the water.

• Practice with your crew before departure what to do if one of the following happens:
  
  - There’s a fire onboard
  - The boat goes aground
  - Someone falls overboard (especially using the Lifesling)
  - You need to summon help with signals or the VHF radio

• Check the weather before you head out, and monitor the weather while on the water

• Carry paper charts and a position fixing means (GPS or Radar) that allows you to find your way back if night falls or fog rolls in

• Know how to sail the boat in higher than expected wind conditions, by reefing, or changing to a smaller sail(s), or using heavy weather tactics

A: As the captain of the vessel, you should adopt one more important “standard operating procedure” when you take out a group of friends for a sail. It’s a great idea to have a pre-departure discussion of some key safety issues, including:

• Who is in charge should you, the captain, be incapacitated. This includes obvious problems like a heart attack or getting in the way of the boom, but also who should be in charge if you go overboard.

• Identify who the non-swimmers are, and ensure that they wear proper fitting life jackets (not inflatables), Obviously, we recommend that everyone wear life jackets, but for children and non-swimming adults, it’s absolutely critical.

• Identify who can use the VHF radio, should you become incapacitated. If no one has prior knowledge, take time to show a few of the crew how to make a call to the Coast Guard. Turn the radio ON, and leave it on Channel 16.

• Check for proper footwear. If someone has committed the sin of wearing black soled cross trainers on board, you need to decide whether they can remain on board. Unfortunately, the freedom of running around on deck with no shoes can lead to painful and possibly debilitating foot injuries by stepping on a cleat, pad eyes, etc.

• Finally, show the group how to use the head, and when to use it, so you can avoid problems after returning to port.

• They should dress appropriately for the conditions, including non-skid boating shoes, hats, and gloves. It’s probably too much to ask that everyone bring foul weather gear, but you should give them some guidance on what to expect for conditions, and how to pack (duffle bags!).

• They should come with a “willing to learn” attitude and dedicate themselves to gaining a new skill. While sailing is fun, too much chatter or inattention can be distracting, and dangerous at times. You should also set a good example by controlling the tone and volume of your voice, and by giving clear and directed commands when something needs to be done.

• As captain, you should set a good example when dealing with winches, or highly tensioned lines, or during jibe, and then expect your crew to have the same level of caution. Winches, especially, can be very dangerous when treated lightly. After a demonstration, crew should know how to put on and take off wraps on a winch; should know how to ease a line under tension; should know to remove the winch handle when not in use; etc.

A: We started out by mentioning that the proper skills were a necessary ingredient in safe boating. There are a number of ways to increase your skills:

• Sail as much as you can, either with friends or in moderate conditions with your own crew.

• See if you can crew on a race boat in a local PHRF or club race. There’s no better way to increase your skills in getting the most out of your boat as when racing. It builds confidence as you maneuver at close quarters and helps you learn the Rules of the Road.

• Take advanced sailing classes with your local sailing school on Bareboat Chartering, or Coastal Navigation, or Beginning Racing.

• Buy or borrow a small boat to improve your steering and sail trim skills. Larger boats put a layer of insulation between your actions and the boat’s responses, while small boats give you instant feedback (and an occasional capsize as well).

• Buy a copy of the newest edition of Chapman’s, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, and the appropriate sail training books from US Sailing. They are all well written, well illustrated, and form the basis for anyone’s core sailing education.