Are sailboats safe? Risks at sea

Any activity carries a risk. These dangers can be prevented to reduce your chances. Sailing is a sport which, if certain measures are not taken, can be dangerous.

Before leaving

Before sailing, it is necessary to take into account certain aspects.

• Condition of the boat. You must know how your sailboat works and carry out a revision that guarantees the safety of the crossing.
• State of the engine. Carrying out this inspection helps you to avoid possible loss of fuel or breakdowns, among other things.
• Mandatory safety equipment. You must know the regulations to know which equipment and safety materials you must carry.
• Pyrotechnic material. Rockets, flares and smoke cans.
• Life jackets. Located and accessible to all passengers. It is also necessary to have one vest for each person on board the boat.
• Portable extinguishers. Checked on date by authorized companies.
• Lifesaving rings or byas. Installed on the shelves or aft, with light and a quick release system.
• Life rafts. Placed on deck and checked within the established deadlines.
• Other materials and equipment. It is necessary to have a first-aid kit on board, a survival suit and a safety harness.

During navigation: safety on sailboats

The captain is the person responsible for safety on the ship once it has left the port. Therefore, he must know the dangers of boarding and collision, the handling of equipment and the procedures to follow.

Necessary equipment

The AIS system is responsible for displaying all the boats surrounding your vessel, their position, speed, course and time, as well as other data of interest.

Another necessary equipment is the VHF radio, in charge of monitoring emergency calls. It is necessary that there are enough life jackets for all members, flares, whistle, bell, horn, extinguishers and all the documentation required to be able to navigate.

What are the emergency procedures on sailing boats?

In case of an emergency, the first thing you should do is stay calm and alert the rescue teams. In addition, you must ensure that everyone aboard the boat, including the captain, has a personal buoyancy device.

On the other hand, it is advisable to use a safety harness when weather conditions are adverse or when sailing alone.

It is also important to make some simulation of the maneuvers of the crew on board, COB, to know how to act if a passenger falls into the sea.