Sailing Safety Basics: PFDs, Float Plans, and Weather
The three habits that prevent almost every avoidable on-the-water incident.
What 'safe' means on a sailboat
Most sailing emergencies trace back to three things: not wearing a PFD, no one knowing where you were going, or going out in weather you should not have. Address those three and you eliminate the vast majority of recreational incidents.
Wear a PFD
A Personal Flotation Device only works if it's on you. The US Coast Guard recommends — and many states require — that every person on board wear a properly fitted PFD. Modern inflatable PFDs are unobtrusive enough that there's no reason to take one off while underway.
File a float plan
Tell someone on shore where you're going and when you expect to be back. A float plan can be a text message. If you don't return on time, that one person knows to call the Coast Guard. Without a float plan, no one knows to look for you.
Check the weather
Read the marine forecast before you leave the dock — wind speed, wind direction, gusts, and any front passing through. If thunderstorms are in the forecast, stay in. A summer thunderstorm on open water is the single most dangerous routine condition recreational sailors face.
Know your boat's limits
Every boat has a wind range it sails well in. Pushing past that range — too much sail up in too much wind — leads to broaches, knockdowns, and rigging failures. When in doubt, reef early. You can always shake a reef out if the wind drops.
Take an in-person safety course
US Sailing, the American Sailing Association, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary all offer entry-level safety courses. A few hours in a classroom and on a boat is the cheapest way to avoid the most common mistakes.
Takeaways
- PFD, float plan, and weather check are the three habits that prevent most emergencies.
- Reef early; you can always shake a reef out.
- An in-person beginner course is worth more than any amount of reading.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I really need a PFD if I can swim?
- Yes. Cold water shock, head injuries from the boom, and exhaustion all make swimming ability irrelevant. PFDs save strong swimmers.
- What should I do if a thunderstorm catches me on the water?
- Drop sails, start the engine if you have one, head for the nearest safe harbor, and stay low in the cockpit. Avoid touching the mast and standing rigging.
- What's the most common cause of sailing injuries?
- Being hit by the boom during an unexpected jibe. Watch the boom, duck early, and rig a preventer downwind to stop accidental jibes.