General Safety Information
Staying safe#
Like any sport, sailing is not without risk. Ensure you have read and understood this section, as common mistakes documented here can prevent injury.
Persons over property#
The safety of persons is of paramount importance, and always takes priority over safety of property. If faced with any situation where either a person will come to harm OR property will be damaged, always prioritize the safety of persons. Things can be replaced, people can not.
A common mistake that beginners make is to try to stop a boat from coming into contact with a piling or other vessel by using their feet, hands, or fingers. The sheer momentum of these vessels will surprise you and will result in injury, so use fenders instead of limbs.
Secure footing and staying onboard#
Staying onboard and preventing falls is critical on any yacht. Always follow "one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself" as you move around on the yacht. Stay low, move methodically, and avoid rushing, running, or jumping. Quality sailing boots or shoes that provide adequate grip are important, but need not be expensive. Avoid stepping on lines or sails, as both are common causes of slips or falls. Bad enough if you fall and hurt yourself, but worse to fall overboard.
Note
The majority of man overboard incidents happen in the harbor. Stay vigilant.
Man Overboard (MOB)#
In the event of a Man Overboard (MOB), we use the mnemonic SPHERES to help remember the steps.
- S - Shout - Shout "Man Overboard!" so that everyone is aware of the situation.
- P - Point - Assign a person to point at the casualty and maintain constant visual contact. This person should never take their eyes off of the casualty in the water.
- H - Heave to (Munich manoeuvre) - This will slow the boat and give you time to assess the situation and act accordingly.
- E - Equipment thrown (Danbuoy, ring, lifeline) - Throw the floating horseshoe lifering to the casualty, even if they have a lifejacket. It will serve as a datum, a method of floatation, and may assist with hauling the casualty onboard.
- R - Radio (& ropework) - The skipper will use the VHF or delegate the crew to use VHF to inform the other KDY boats or indeed to call for assistance on VHF 16, as appropriate. Tidy any ropes and prepare ropes that will be needed for recovery.
- E - Engine - Start the engine (if so equipped)
- S - Sails - (center the mainsail & furl, drop, luff, or use the headsail)
The skipper will decide the appropriate manoeuvre to position the yacht alongside the casualty to recover them and the crew will recover the casualty.
Warning
If there is any doubt about a swift or safe recovery, call for assistance on VHF 16.
An urgency message (to begin with the signal PAN-PAN) indicates that the station making it has a very urgent message to transmit concerning the safety of a ship or person. It may be prudent to use a PAN-PAN to let stations in the vicinity know that a person is in the water and that you are attempting recovery.
The distress phase (to begin with MAYDAY) is "a situation wherein there is reasonable certainty that a person, a vessel or other craft is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance".
A man overboard at sea in anything but the calmest conditions or warmest waters is almost always at least an urgency (to notify nearby stations of the situation), and if a swift and safe recovery is in doubt, possibly a distress situation.
Cold Water Survival Times#
Loss of dexterity and the ability to manipulate fingers, exhaustion or unconsciousness, and death to drowning or hypothermia can happen more quickly than most people realize if they are not familiar with cold water survival times.
Warning
A casualty in the water with only a buoyancy aid (i.e., not a proper lifejacket designed to turn an unconscious casualty upright and keep their airway clear of the water) is almost certain to drown upon loss of consciousness.
| Water Temperature Degrees C | Water Temperature Degrees F | Loss of Dexterity | Exhaustion or Unconsciousness | Expected Time of Survival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 32.5 | Under 2 minutes | Under 15 minutes | Under 15 to 45 minutes |
| 0.3 to 4.5 | 32.5 to 40 | Under 3 minutes | 15 to 30 minutes | 30 to 90 minutes |
| 4.5 to 10 | 40 to 50 | Under 5 minutes | 30 to 60 minutes | 1 to 3 hours |
| 10 to 15.5 | 50 to 60 | 10 to 15 minutes | 1 to 2 hours | 1 to 6 hours |
| 15.5 to 21 | 60 to 70 | 30 to 40 minutes | 2 to 7 hours | 2 to 40 hours |
| 21 to 26.5 | 70 - 80 | 1 to 2 hours | 2 to 12 hours | 3 hours to indefinite |
| Over 26.5 | Over 80 | 2 to 12 hours | Indefinnite | Indefinite |
The boom#
The boom can always presents a potential danger as it comes across the deck of the yacht. Make sure to always keep your head low and clear of the boom during any tacking or gybing manoeuvres. Calling out "HEADS!" is a good way to remind anyone not paying attention during a manoeuvre to keep low, so duck your head low if you hear it.