Module 4 - Safety
Safety Equipment Aboard
Start with the yacht, number and needs of people aboard, operating area, distance from help, weather, water temperature, daylight, passage length and the rules that apply. A coastal plan may include correctly fitted lifejackets, suitable harnesses and tethers, alerting and locating methods, fire-fighting equipment, first aid, sound signalling, lighting, communications and a practical means of recovering a person from the water. The exact carriage requirement is not identical for every pleasure vessel or voyage.
For a UK pleasure vessel under 13.7 metres, a liferaft is not automatically mandatory, but the skipper should consider distance from other boats and emergency services, water temperature, weather and the consequences of fire or sinking. Choose, stow and service any raft for the actual people and passage; the available crew must be able to reach and launch it.
A grab bag supplements the particular raft pack. Prioritise raising and maintaining the alarm, helping rescuers locate the survivors, protection from exposure and medical needs, then food and water. It may include a registered EPIRB or PLB, waterproof handheld VHF, suitable signals, torch, thermal protection, first aid, medication, water and a safety knife. Reconcile the list with what the raft already carries.
The departure briefing shows where equipment is, who uses it and what triggers each emergency plan. Check dates, batteries, service indicators and physical access; practice person recovery and make sure someone other than the skipper can raise the alarm and control the yacht. Abandon only when remaining aboard is more dangerous and follow rescue-service direction where available.
- Match equipment to yacht, people, operating area, passage and rules
- Keep alarm, fire, first-aid, recovery and survival equipment accessible and maintained
- Choose and stow any liferaft so the real crew can launch it
- Build the grab bag around the raft pack, locating needs, exposure, medicine, food and water
- Brief roles and practice recovery before the emergency
| Function | Question to answer | Example evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Prevent | How do we stop separation, fire or flooding? | Fit, strong points, shut-offs, seacocks and checks |
| Alert | How will we tell somebody, from here? | DSC/VHF, registered beacon and backup method |
| Locate | How will a known rescuer find us? | Position, light, smoke, SART or beacon homing |
| Recover | Can this crew lift an incapacitated person? | Practiced yacht-specific recovery equipment |
| Survive | What protects people if the yacht is untenable? | Accessible raft, exposure protection and reconciled grab bag |
Optional quick check
Section 7 of 10
Which check best shows that a yacht's safety-equipment plan is usable, not merely complete on paper?
Continue studying Safety
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