Most accidents afloat are ordinary: a fall, a burn, a gas leak, a propeller near a swimmer. The skipper makes them unlikely and keeps gear and crew ready.
What lifejacket rating do I need for coastal sailing, and how should I wear it?
150 N is the minimum for coastal and offshore sailing. Wear it as the outer layer, waist belt snug and crotch strap fastened, or it rides up over your face.
Carry a lifejacket of the right size for everyone aboard; a child's goes by weight. Wear it as the outer layer, waist belt snug and crotch strap fastened, or it rides up over your face. An automatic one inflates even if you are knocked out. In breaking waves pull down its sprayhood.
| Rating | Use |
|---|---|
| 50 N | Buoyancy aid only |
| 100 N | Sheltered water |
| 150 N | Coastal and offshore minimum |
| 275 N | Offshore, in heavy clothing |
At check-in look inside each: cylinder tight and unfired, indicators green.
When should I clip on my harness on a sailing yacht, and to what?
At night or in a fresh wind, clip on before leaving the companionway, to a strong point or the jackstay, never a guardrail, on a tether too short to reach the water.
At night or in a fresh wind everyone on deck wears a lifejacket and clips on: before leaving the companionway, to a strong point or the jackstay, never a guardrail, on a tether too short to reach the water. Clip the second hook on before releasing the first. Alone on watch at night you stay clipped on.
Go forward on the windward side, low, one hand for the boat. Keep limbs out from between boat and quay, hands off the windlass. Use the heads, not the rail. At night use red light below, tell the helm before going forward, and wake the skipper early.
Never tie down the danbuoy and horseshoe: they must go in seconds.
Which extinguisher goes on which fire aboard, and what do I do if I smell gas?
Match it to what burns: a fire blanket on a pan of oil, powder or foam on fuel, CO2 or powder on electrics, never water on oil or fuel. Smell gas? No flames, no switches: shut the bottle and ventilate.
| Fire | Use |
|---|---|
| Pan of oil | Gas off, fire blanket; never water |
| Petrol, diesel | Powder or foam; never water |
| Electrics | Batteries off, then CO2 or powder |
| Engine | Engine and fuel off; discharge through the fire port, box shut |
| Bedding, wood | Water |
Hang the fire blanket beside the cooker, not above it, and show everyone the escape hatches. At check-in, replace any extinguisher whose gauge is in the red.
Gas is heavier than air: a leak sinks into the bilge, where a spark ignites it. So bottles live in a locker draining overboard, the alarm sensor sits low, and the valve is open only while you cook. Smell gas? No flames, no switches: shut the bottle, ventilate, pump the bilge by hand. Test joints with soapy water. Petrol too stays outside the hull.
Carbon monoxide from an exhaust has no smell: headache and nausea below mean fresh air at once and medical advice. At sea, strap the cook in, clamp the pans, let the stove swing.
When should we actually get into the liferaft if the yacht is in trouble?
Only when the yacht is sinking: she is your best lifeboat, so you step up into the raft from her. Until then keep the raft ready on deck, its painter made fast.
The yacht is your best lifeboat: step up into the raft only when she is sinking; until then keep it ready on deck, painter made fast. A raft must be in date and quick to launch. Its hydrostatic release lets it float free and inflate, unless someone has lashed it down.
The grab bag waits by the companionway: handheld VHF in a waterproof pouch, flares, torch, first aid, and water in small, part-filled bottles that float.
What first aid do I give for a burn or hypothermia on a sailing trip?
Cool a burn under running water for 20 minutes, then cover it loosely with cling film. Handle someone with hypothermia gently: lay them flat, insulate them and warm them slowly, with no alcohol.
Before sailing, ask the crew about conditions, allergies and medicines.
| Problem | Action |
|---|---|
| Cold-water shock | Float until your breathing settles |
| Hypothermia | Handle gently, lay flat, insulate, warm slowly; no alcohol |
| Heat exhaustion: pale, sweating | Shade, rest, water with rehydration salts |
| Heatstroke: hot dry skin, confusion | Cool fast with water and air; get help |
| Burn or scald | Cool running water for 20 minutes, then loose cling film |
| Bleeding | Firm pressure with a clean pad |
| Head injury | Any knock-out: medical advice. Vomiting, drowsiness, unequal pupils: urgent help |
| Drowned, not breathing | Five rescue breaths, then 30 compressions to 2 |
| Unresponsive but breathing | Recovery position; watch the breathing |
| Jellyfish | Sea-water rinse, lift tentacles off, no rubbing |
| Weever fish | Soak in water as hot as bearable |
Seasickness: tablets before sailing, then fresh air, the helm and the horizon; be sick to leeward, clipped on. A day of vomiting without keeping water down is serious. Anyone who has inhaled water sees a doctor that day.
How do I use the tender safely when people are swimming near the yacht?
Wear the outboard's kill cord on your leg or lifejacket, so the engine stops if you fall out, and start it in neutral with swimmers well clear. Before anyone swims from the yacht, stop her engine.
In the tender wear the kill cord on your leg or lifejacket: fall out and the engine stops. Obey the builder's plate. Carry oars, a bailer and a phone in a dry bag; at night a torch, lifejackets and a sober driver. Start the outboard in neutral, swimmers well clear, and keep a safety line on it until clamped on.
Before anyone swims, stop the engine and lower the ladder. Stream a floating line astern. Swimming ashore needs a bright tow float and a route clear of tenders. Nobody swims after drinking or in the dark.
What should a skipper cover in the safety briefing before leaving harbour?
The safety briefing covers lifejackets, gas, heads, fire, man overboard, VHF and flares. Someone besides the skipper must be able to stop the boat, use the VHF and start the MOB drill.
You answer for everyone aboard, so your safety rules stand. Before leaving, give the safety briefing: lifejackets, gas, heads, fire, man overboard, VHF, flares. Someone else must be able to stop the boat, use the VHF and start the MOB drill. Whoever steers or keeps watch stays off alcohol.
On passage set watches so that everyone sleeps, you included, each led by someone experienced, and nobody drowsy from tablets alone. Tell the crew the plan. Tired, with an unlit harbour ahead? Wait offshore for daylight.
Questions from this topic, as the app asks them. Open one to see the answer.
You are issuing lifejackets for a coastal passage between the Cyclades. Which rating do you give each adult as a minimum?
A. 150 N
150 N suits coastal and offshore sailing; 50 N is a buoyancy aid, 100 N is for sheltered water.
You are crossing to the next island at night in 20 knots. Who wears a lifejacket?
A. Everyone on deck, clipped on when going forward
Night, fresh wind and deck work are the standard triggers.
A pan of oil has caught fire on the galley stove. What do you do?
B. Turn off the gas, smother it with the fire blanket
Water turns to steam and spreads burning fat.
You are checking the liferaft before a week on charter. What do you do?
C. Ask the base for a raft that is in service
An out-of-date raft may not inflate; only an approved station services one.
You are skipper on this passage. How do you treat this crew member?
B. As serious: frequent sips, consider diverting
Prolonged vomiting causes dangerous dehydration; give sips often and seek help early.
What do you do before anyone goes in?
C. Stop the engine and lower the ladder
No swimming with the engine running; the ladder goes down before anyone jumps.
All 100 questions of this topic are in the app: practice by topic with the reason after every answer, your mistakes brought back, and a timed mock exam. Free, no sign-up, in the browser or in Telegram.