Home ⁄ Safety ⁄ Page 2

Articles in the category "Safety"

View All Articles

Handling Emergencies: Man Overboard

Every man or woman overboard situation should be treated as a very serious matter, even in seemingly balmy conditions. In cold waters or cold weather, in restricted visibility or at nighttime, or in rough seas, the chances for a positive outcome diminish. Any delay in recovering the person in the water stacks the odds against his chances of survival. the

Safety Equipment Required on a Boat

The USCG requires certain safety equipment on a boat and it is imperative that you make sure that your vessel is properly outfitted with this equipment. These minimum standards require U.S Coast Guard “approved” or “certified” equipment. This equipment includes: Life Jackets All recreational vessels must carry one wearable life jacket for each person on board. Any boat 16 feet

Should You Wear A PFD?

The question that is asked most often when going on a daysail has to be: Should I wear a lifejacket? The answer is YES, you should wear a life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while sailing. Is the answer clear? The data suggest that drowning is the leading cause of death aboard vessels. An overwhelming majority of these victims

Operating a Dinghy Safely and Responsibly

Dinghies are an integral part of sailing for the charter customer or for the cruiser who hopes to step onto shore once they reach their desired destination. However, do you know the rules and the etiquette that are the best practices with regards to dinghy use? Those sailors who have earned ASA 103 and ASA 104 certifications have learned about

Reefing is Important

We’re talking about reefing - a foreign concept for some, a tried and failed practice for others - either way it's an important skill for real sailors.

Danger Areas on a Boat

When you take ASA 101 Basic Keelboat Sailing, your instructor will reinforce many safety lessons in the curriculum. You will become so well versed in safety terminology that your ability to sail safely and confidently will be rooted in the basic mechanics of being aware while on a sailboat and underway. However, there are a few things that you should

Toxic Sunscreen: A Sailboat Captain’s Experience

By Kim Walther, ASA Instructor Working as a boat captain, I see a huge variety of sunscreen brands. It’s always interesting to check out what my sailing school students or charterers bring with them. I like to read what’s on the front, and then look at the back. It’s absolutely incredible that some brands that we perceive as being very

7 Tips for Night Sailing

Night sailing is a bit of a different animal so we’ve cobbled together seven tips to keep in mind as you sail off into the wild black yonder.

Spring Safety

As the days get longer and the weather gets nicer, droves of new boaters are flocking to local chandleries to obtain the “required safety essentials” for boating. Many boat stores have handy visual charts showing the minimum legally required safety equipment based on your vessel’s length. However, the Coast Guard’s legal minimum is just that–a minimum–and should be regarded as

Bite Sized Lessons : Hypothermia

In this lesson we take a look at some of the do's and don'ts when it comes to hypothermia and how to prevent a life-threatening situation.

Gone In An Instant

Falling overboard at night is every sailor’s worst nightmare. This exact scenario played out last July during Chicago Yacht Club’s annual Race to Mackinac. In just moments, visiting Chesapeake Bay boat Meridian X went from racing to emergency recovery efforts as their crewman, Mark Wheeler, was thrown overboard into the cold, choppy blackness of Lake Michigan.

ASA Instructor Tip: Setting The Hook

Knowing that your boat is securely anchored will give you the peace of mind to leave the boat while you are ashore and allow you to sleep soundly.

Seasickness Stinks!

6 tips to avoid seasickness! With the proper preparations and/or medications it doesn’t have to affect your day of sailing.

Knots Made Easy: The Fast Bowline

One of the most beautiful and useful sailing knots is the bowline. The bowline forms a temporary eye, or loop, in the end of a line and is commonly used to attach a jib sheet to the clew of the jib.

ASA Affiliate Blue Pacific Yachting Deals with Coronavirus

Ask Lauren: What Do I Do If I See an Animal Tangled in Plastic?

USCG Marine Safety Alert

Bracing for Impact – A Quick List of Hurricane Protection Reminders

A short list of some important, and maybe commonly overlooked, precautionary ideas to keep in mind when trying to protect a boat at the dock during a storm.