Sailing is a wonderful sport that can provide you with a lifetime of entertainment. However, to fully benefit from all that it has to offer, there are some basic safety rules that should be adhered to at all times. You may not have noticed whilst watching the Olympics in Beijing , but every sailor present was sticking rigidly to the basic rules of the water. These are the first things to study when learning to sail, as without knowing them can put yourself and others in danger.
Tell someone before going out
One of the most basic of all sailing rules is to inform a friend, family member or club member that you will be going out onto the water. If you are at a club then safety precautions, including the presence of a safety boat, should be in place. However, if you are sailing outside of club hours or in the open sea, someone must know where you are in case something goes wrong and they need to sound the alert. For larger vessels it is normal to register your passage plan with the coast guard prior to departure and not forgetting to inform the coast guard of your safe arrival at your destination.
Wear a buoyancy aid / Life jacket
Following this simple rule saves lives. Most clubs will not let you out on the water without one, and you would be foolish to even think of it.
Wear a wet suit or dry suit
If you are going sailing in cold conditions, or even if the weather is warm but the water is cold, wear a wet or a dry suit underneath your buoyancy aid. Beginner sailors are often shocked by how quickly the cold can set in once they are in the water, and hypothermia is a killer. By taking the right precautions, you will be more comfortable both in and out of the water.
Research the weather conditions
Researching what is going to happen with the weather before you go out onto the water is especially important for beginners. Weather can change abruptly, and being caught out of your depth can be both terrifying and dangerous.
Know the rules
When two boats are approaching each other, the rules of the water are clear. If the two boats are approaching with the wind on different sides, the boat with the wind on its port side gives way to the other boat. However, if the boats are approaching with the wind on the same side the windward boat gives way to the leeward boat. But the most fundamental rule of all is to avoid a collision at all costs, and if you see a boat not paying attention to the rules then you should do all you can to get out of the way.
Practice capsizing
Capsizing poses one of the greatest dangers whilst sailing. If on the boat, you are limited to what can go wrong, but when in the water things get a lot more dangerous. You should have already practiced capsizing whilst learning to sail, and with good reason. By making sure that you know exactly what you are doing in such a situation, you can react calmly and quickly when it happens unexpectedly. It is also worth purchasing a sailing knife, which folds away safely whilst you are sailing and can be used to cut ropes if you become tangled up in them after capsizing.
More advice and detaied information can be available when you purchase my eBook from www.learntosailnow.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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