After 2,500 Nautical miles these are the things we do to keep ourselves and our family safe when cruising:
1. Always wear a harness
The protocol for most sailors, we have found, is to use a harness when the weather turns bad. The problem is, if you wait for the seas to be messy and difficult and the boat bouncing before you put on a harness, you will struggle to do anything. Trying to put in reefs or pull down sails when restricted is challenging to say the least. We have found that it is better to learn to work with it in calm seas so that when the sea builds we are not struggling with the conditions AND a harness. So our safety protocol is to wear a harness at all times.
2. Ensure that you have secure lifelines and jack-lines
Check these when you are in port and make sure they are always secure and reliable. When we bought our yacht it only had life lines around the sides. Peter fitted jack-lines that run down the centre of the deck. They are constructed of stainless steel cable attached via clips and run from bow to stern.
3. Double clip on
Each of our harnesses have two tether lines. Whenever we step out of the cockpit we clip on – then as we move about on deck we can do so with complete safety, clipping on to the next position without having to undo from the last and have a moment (when a wave could knock you) when we are not secured. Even on flat seas we are always double clipped on when out doing any work on the bow-sprit.
4. Keep harness tether lines short
They need to be short enough so that it is not possible for you to fall overboard. Measure the length from your centre-fitted jack-lines to the edge of the boat and have your harness tethers refitted to this length. With ours it is impossible to fall overboard when they are clipped to our jack-lines. We have heard of enough MOB (Man Overboard) situations where it was simply not possible to get the skipper back on board that we decided to do everything in our power to ensure no one could fall overboard.
5. Check your life jackets
Ensure they are compliant with current safety standards, that they fit well and everyone knows how to put theirs on. Never carry more people than you have lifejackets for, and with children – have them become familiar with wearing them, and doing things with them. We have our kids jump in with them on and swim wearing them. Our goal is to have them be used to the feeling of wearing them in the water.
6. Safety on night watch
Our safety protocol for night watch is to require that no one leaves the cockpit when on watch alone. We have read of yachts that have lost a crew member overboard while on watch at night but no one knew until the next crew member came up for their watch – our policy is that if something must be done during the night when only one person is awake and on watch, they must wait until the next person comes up for their turn, or if it must be done now, they have to wake someone. This may sound extreme, but for cruising families it is essential to take absolutely no unnecessary risks.
7. Check your EPIRB
Check the expiry date and test the battery. An EPIRB is something you want to know you can always rely on. Same for your flares - look over them regularly – don’t wait until you need to activate them to discover that they are out of date or don’t work.
8. Log on with your VMR or Coastguard
Always advise of your journey using your VHF radio. Become familiar with its use and ensure you always log on and off properly. Obtain your marine radio operator’s license. The only times we were not able to do so, when we were in remote areas of WA and SA where there was rarely anyone manning radio’s, we ensured that family or reliable friends knew our plans, when we were due back etc so that they could raise the alarm if we didn’t show up. It is also a good idea to get a satellite phone as a back-up for the marine radio in situations where there is no coverage – you will likely find though that the emergency service will be available to you on your mobile phone when it is out of range and this is also a useful back up – so when sailing we always keep our mobile phones charged.
9. Fit lee-cloths to bunks
To ensure no one is tossed out while sleeping at sea a lee-cloth is vital. Once fitted, make it your practice to always use them when sailing during the night. If you have never had the experience of falling from your bunk, I can assure you it is less than pleasant – one minute you are dreaming of tropical shores the next your head bangs on every possible surface on its way to its final resting place, jolting you back to the bouncy present! Lee-cloths may feel awkward and restrictive but they are an essential item for safety at sea.
10. Minimise the potential for injury
Remember that at sea, everything on board becomes a potential weapon. Keep lockers properly secured – stow things away that could fly around in a sudden lean or rolling sea. Being pedantic about this can make a big difference not only to your crew and passengers’ comfort but also to their well-being. Gimball your stove if at all possible or ensure it is secure – look around the cabin for anything that might come adrift.-even the smallest objects can become missiles in a bigger than expected sea. Secure things even if you are not expecting a storm – it’s better to do this than find a lot of mess later if the weather and the sea state changes unexpectedly.
Because Prevention is always better than cure!
1. Always wear a harness
The protocol for most sailors, we have found, is to use a harness when the weather turns bad. The problem is, if you wait for the seas to be messy and difficult and the boat bouncing before you put on a harness, you will struggle to do anything. Trying to put in reefs or pull down sails when restricted is challenging to say the least. We have found that it is better to learn to work with it in calm seas so that when the sea builds we are not struggling with the conditions AND a harness. So our safety protocol is to wear a harness at all times.
2. Ensure that you have secure lifelines and jack-lines
Check these when you are in port and make sure they are always secure and reliable. When we bought our yacht it only had life lines around the sides. Peter fitted jack-lines that run down the centre of the deck. They are constructed of stainless steel cable attached via clips and run from bow to stern.
3. Double clip on
Each of our harnesses have two tether lines. Whenever we step out of the cockpit we clip on – then as we move about on deck we can do so with complete safety, clipping on to the next position without having to undo from the last and have a moment (when a wave could knock you) when we are not secured. Even on flat seas we are always double clipped on when out doing any work on the bow-sprit.
4. Keep harness tether lines short
They need to be short enough so that it is not possible for you to fall overboard. Measure the length from your centre-fitted jack-lines to the edge of the boat and have your harness tethers refitted to this length. With ours it is impossible to fall overboard when they are clipped to our jack-lines. We have heard of enough MOB (Man Overboard) situations where it was simply not possible to get the skipper back on board that we decided to do everything in our power to ensure no one could fall overboard.
5. Check your life jackets
Ensure they are compliant with current safety standards, that they fit well and everyone knows how to put theirs on. Never carry more people than you have lifejackets for, and with children – have them become familiar with wearing them, and doing things with them. We have our kids jump in with them on and swim wearing them. Our goal is to have them be used to the feeling of wearing them in the water.
6. Safety on night watch
Our safety protocol for night watch is to require that no one leaves the cockpit when on watch alone. We have read of yachts that have lost a crew member overboard while on watch at night but no one knew until the next crew member came up for their watch – our policy is that if something must be done during the night when only one person is awake and on watch, they must wait until the next person comes up for their turn, or if it must be done now, they have to wake someone. This may sound extreme, but for cruising families it is essential to take absolutely no unnecessary risks.
7. Check your EPIRB
Check the expiry date and test the battery. An EPIRB is something you want to know you can always rely on. Same for your flares - look over them regularly – don’t wait until you need to activate them to discover that they are out of date or don’t work.
8. Log on with your VMR or Coastguard
Always advise of your journey using your VHF radio. Become familiar with its use and ensure you always log on and off properly. Obtain your marine radio operator’s license. The only times we were not able to do so, when we were in remote areas of WA and SA where there was rarely anyone manning radio’s, we ensured that family or reliable friends knew our plans, when we were due back etc so that they could raise the alarm if we didn’t show up. It is also a good idea to get a satellite phone as a back-up for the marine radio in situations where there is no coverage – you will likely find though that the emergency service will be available to you on your mobile phone when it is out of range and this is also a useful back up – so when sailing we always keep our mobile phones charged.
9. Fit lee-cloths to bunks
To ensure no one is tossed out while sleeping at sea a lee-cloth is vital. Once fitted, make it your practice to always use them when sailing during the night. If you have never had the experience of falling from your bunk, I can assure you it is less than pleasant – one minute you are dreaming of tropical shores the next your head bangs on every possible surface on its way to its final resting place, jolting you back to the bouncy present! Lee-cloths may feel awkward and restrictive but they are an essential item for safety at sea.
10. Minimise the potential for injury
Remember that at sea, everything on board becomes a potential weapon. Keep lockers properly secured – stow things away that could fly around in a sudden lean or rolling sea. Being pedantic about this can make a big difference not only to your crew and passengers’ comfort but also to their well-being. Gimball your stove if at all possible or ensure it is secure – look around the cabin for anything that might come adrift.-even the smallest objects can become missiles in a bigger than expected sea. Secure things even if you are not expecting a storm – it’s better to do this than find a lot of mess later if the weather and the sea state changes unexpectedly.
Because Prevention is always better than cure!
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