BASIC SAILING: Boating Safety

• Know how to swim - you should feel at ease in the water because sailboats do tip over, and depending on the boat size, some more frequently than others.



• Get a weather forecast before sailing - always listen to a marine weather forecast and plan accordingly.



• Never sail alone - you can sail alone in a boat, as long as there are people to help if something goes wrong.



• Bring and wear life jackets - US Coast Guard Regulations require a life jacket for each person in a boat. These should be easily accessible in case needed. If sailing alone or in inclement weather, the life jackets should always be worn.



• Signal for help if you need it - Other sailors and the US Coast Guard will help, but cannot always tell when there is trouble. Distress signals should only be used when necessary. There are several visual distress signals that are recognized internationally. These are helpful if you lose radio contact, or if you are on a smaller boat. They include:
  
  
  • The national flag of a vessel, hoisted upside down, either at the full or half mast.
  
  
  
  • A square flag with a ball or anything resembling a ball above or below it.
  
  
  
  • Flags that communicate: I am disabled, I require assistance, Man overboard, and I require medical assistance. See Meanings of International Maritime Signal Flags for pictures of the flags with their exact meanings.
  
  
  
  • Standing up and slowly raising and lowering your arms.
  
  
  
  • A piece of clothing attached to an oar held in the air.
  
  
  

• Commander Bob's Boating Safety - A very comprehensive site on all aspects of safety. Provides a link to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, who offer courses in boating safety. Contains information on safety equipment, including a boater's checklist.



• US Coast Guard - Find information on rules and regulations.



• American Red Cross - boating safety tips