Weather Safety Guidelines To Sailing
Guide to a safe sailing
Protecting your boat and all its occupants from unexpected weather conditions requires skills and information that are best acquired before the storm hits. As experienced boaters, we know firsthand that many of the problems that arise during a sea trip can be avoided with proper safety measures. We are here to provide you with the information you need for Weather Safety Guidelines to Sailing , from the optimal condition of your boat equipment to tips that can help you when you need it.
Proper Preparation Strikes the Balance
You may have wondered how to prepare your boat for a hurricane. Make sure your boat is in good condition by performing a safety check from time to time. Pay special attention to ventilation, navigation lights, and fuel tanks. Next, make sure you have all the safety equipment on board. A checklist before leaving, of course, is a must-have. The life jackets, in particular, are essential onboard to all guests.
Also, you should keep sound-producing devices for the boat, such as a horn, flares, similar distress signals, and at least one fire extinguisher. While sailing, make sure you have at least one anchor installed and bent to your mooring line. Other than that, you should prepare a few extra mooring lines for unusual situations and carry at least two fenders for mooring or towing. Finally, before setting out to sea, but after making sure that you have all the physical elements in place, you should check the weather forecast.
How to get a good Weather Forecast
For those boating in the United States, the National Weather Service is always a good idea, which provides accurate forecasts and warnings for all areas of the United States. PassageWeather site provides data compiled worldwide and supplies users with accessible and functional mapping services for all you need, whether about surface speeds or waves. For those who like to use websites as neat as their boats, Buoyweather is an excellent alternative. Such sites are also great for getting more specific weather safety tips for boaters, so make sure you make full use of them.
Stuck with stormy weather? No worries
When a storm approaches that you can’t escape in time, the most important rule to remember is not panic.
Make sure all your passengers put on their life jackets and are all in the cabin if you have one, and stay low near the center of the boat if there are none. Slow down, but don’t stop completely. Turn on the navigation lights and if there is fog, honk the horn. Close all windows, hatches, and doors to prevent the boat from filling with water. If this begins to happen, be prepared to drain the water by scooping it out. If the approaching storm is a thunderstorm, move away from all metal objects and turn off all electrical appliances. To determine how many kilometers away it is, you can count the number of seconds between the lightning and the thunderstorm and divide that number by five. In the case of a hurricane, this guide is a good thing to bookmark in your favorites!
