Sailing Safety Quiz: Are You Taking Proper Sailing Safety Precautions?

 

Unless a child under the age of thirteen is below deck, or in an enclosed cabin on a sailing sloop or yacht, he or she must wear an approved life jacket while aboard a recreational vessel underway, according to Coast Guard rules. More than 80 percent of those who die each year in boating accidents drown, most of them because they were not wearing lifejackets. Do you take proper sailing safety precautions? Or is there more you should be doing?

 

 

 

When a boating mishap takes place, a solitary sailor has fewer resources available to stay alive. It’s best to follow the Boy Scout buddy system, and always take someone along for any outdoor activity, whether it’s a cruise down the river or a Caribbean sailing adventure. At a minimum, you can ensure your sailing safety by filing a float plan with a trusted party, wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device when sailing, and avoiding the use of alcohol when boating alone.

 

 

A complete orientation or safety briefing for your boat’s passengers is a vital step to take in upholding safe boating. The briefing should show locations of essential safety equipment and how to use it. Consider printing it on a card that can be handed out to passengers and posted aboard. You can also request that passengers assist in keeping watch for dangers to navigation such as logs and swiftly approaching boats.

 

Safety can also involve good navigation skills to keep away from unsafe areas. The best way to stay safe while sailing is to improve your overall skills. Take an ASA sailing course and read good books on sail types and seamanship to improve your knowledge and skills.