Safety at Sea

[s/v Beth]

For all of you that head out of the harbor on a regular basis, what increased safety precautions do you do with increasing seas? I have my crew strap in, and make sure the boom is secure with preventers. Everyone has a life jacket, and if it is night, we have strobes on our jackets.
Night I consider more dangerous, so I always have two in the cockpit. Anything else you guys do while passagemaking?
Of course I keep a good watch.

[jeremiason]

There was a long thread about Safety Equipment that will probably answer your question

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...pit-90058.html

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

, what increased safety precautions do you do with increasing seas?

Take seasickness meds (starting 24 hours ahead). . .the #1 root cause of offshore cruising incidents.

If its going to be a light/calm start we often bring the reacher bag out onto deck to be ready to use. We would obviously not do that with a heavy air start.

And when its going to be a heavy start I am a bit more careful and diligent about sealing up the anchor chain hole - although my intent is to always seal it well heavy or light start.

Otherwise we don't do much different. Whenever leaving for passage we prepare and button up the boat for the worst, and then perhaps ease up once we get out there.

[boatman61]

I'm a bad example... personally I take none... gets in my way... firm believer in move fast with one hand for me... one for the boat...
So far... So good...

[donradcliffe]

We take another look around to make sure that everything inside is secure, and the dinghy and anchor are well lashed off. If its rough, I'll use a harness and tether outside the cockpit. If its over gale force, I won't leave. If caught up in over gale force at sea, I'll use a harness inside the cockpit, and put the plugs in the ventilators.

With two people on board, there is no such thing as two people on night watches.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I'm a bad example... personally I take none... gets in my way... firm believer in move fast with one hand for me... one for the boat...
So far... So good...

I'm not quite that extreme but close. People talk about gear but they never talk about organizing the cockpit, removing cockpit cushions, and reducing clutter. Along with reducing sail those are the things that have caused the most mayhem (or would have eliminated it) for me.

Give me an organized boat that's sailing well any day over the week instead of a bunch of crap from West Marine's safety isle.

My jackline and tether snag on more crap than I care to think about and I've gotten tripped a few times using them too.

[Capt Phil]

Off shore passage making, we always removed the anchor and rode and stored securely below if there was no possiblilty of needed it. Decks were cleaned of all extraneous equipment like dingy oars, boat hooks, extra lines and cockpit cushions, etc. Rigged jack lines inside lifelines from stem to stern on each side of the boat. Small pee bottle on lanyard in cockpit.
On watch during dark hours, snapped in with strobe-equipped life jacket, whistle, knife, rechecked MOB pole for easy, snag free deployment.
Probably the most important piece of night cruising gear were 2 large thermos' one full of coffee the other with hot soup.
These equipment checks/supplies became just a normal part of shorthanded cruising preparation every evening. We made a check list at first but then it became second nature for whoever was pulling the dark watch and at turnover reviewed the checklist, course and position with who ever was coming on deck while they gained their night vision. Phil

[CBinRI]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

For all of you that head out of the harbor on a regular basis, what increased safety precautions do you do with increasing seas? I have my crew strap in, and make sure the boom is secure with preventers. Everyone has a life jacket, and if it is night, we have strobes on our jackets.
Night I consider more dangerous, so I always have two in the cockpit. Anything else you guys do while passagemaking?
Of course I keep a good watch.

Sounds like you've got it pretty well covered.

[jackdale]

Some notes from one of my advanced courses

 Prepare early and thoroughly
On deck
 Turn engine on and charge batteries
 Reduce sail and/or heave to
 Check that the portholes and hatches
are tight, and put drop boards in
companionway
 Check everything on deck is secure:
tie downs, halyards, dinghy, etc.
 Put chafing gear on windward sheets
Lash the mainsail to the boom, and
lash boom to boom gallows
 Turn dorades to leeward, or remove
and put on covers
 Secure cockpit lockers
 Prepare to deploy the sea anchor
 Bring in cockpit cushions and stow
below
Remove bimini and dodger to reduce
windage
 If possible, check on deck for chafe,
etc., periodically

Below
 Take seasick pills and give everyone a
supply of vomit bags (ziplocks)
 Review position, and navigation plan and
hazards
 Prepare hot food, some hand food, and hot
water. Fill everyone's water bottle
 Bring loose and unneeded items from
deck/cockpit and store below
 Eat a hot meal
 Keep a watch, and maintain the log and plot
current
 Close all seacocks except for cockpit drains
 Get current weather forecast and decide on
strategy
 Keep radar watch if everyone is below and
there's enough power
 Get out and have handy:

Vomit bags
 2 large buckets
 Large plastic see-through bags and wire ties
 Spare set of clothes for each person
 Towels, pillows, and blankets
 Chafing gear
 Extra bungies and line

 Stowage checklist

 Remove all potentially loose items and
bag them in double see-through big
plastic bags. Store under table, in the
shower, in sail locker, or on the V-berth
 Close the door to the V-berth and lock it
closed from the cabin
 Stuff towels or cushions in food lockers
and galley equipment spaces.
 Put the extra bungies on all the shelves,
radio equipment, etc.
 Put positive locking (or duct tape) on all
lockers, lids, floorboards, nav station
desk, etc.
 Put cockpit cushions on cabin floor for
third berth if needed.

Some might be overkill, but ...

[Sailor g]

That is an awesome list. Very complete. Maybe not all need every item but they can alter it to fit. Thanks for sharing this- I have friends leaving for the first time and this list is an amazing resource!!

Thanks again!!

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Sailor g

That is an awesome list. Very complete. Maybe not all need every item but they can alter it to fit. Thanks for sharing this- I have friends leaving for the first time and this list is an amazing resource!!

Thanks again!!

It is an amalgam of lists I have seen. But it does work.

[Khagan1227]

All the above and stow for sea.

If it ain't tied down, it will fly around. For some reason, flying objects always hit where it hurts the most.

[DeepFrz]

There are also the Safety at Sea seminars put on by (or sanctioned by) US Sailing.

Safety at Sea Seminar

[ozskipper]

I think these rules are more important than a safety knife or Flares

ATT men.. No Peeing over the side without three things.
1- fair weather
2- another "competant" person on deck
3- Daylight hours only

Never in foul weather
Never when alone on deck
Never between Dusk and Dawn

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

I think these rules are more important than a safety knife or Flares

ATT men.. No Peeing over the side without three things.
1- fair weather
2- another "competant" person on deck
3- Daylight hours only

Never in foul weather
Never when alone on deck
Never between Dusk and Dawn

I gotta go with Boatman61 on this one. One hand for the boat, the other... well you get it.