Safety advice for skippers of cruising yachts
Cruising yachts up the coast of Australia is a fabulous way to spend a few days, weeks or months...
Many of our owners start offshore sailing by joining us for our annual Port Stephens Sailaway
Here's some useful safety advice if you're planning some coastal cruising.
These are guidelines only. If it's your first trip it's well worth chatting to an experienced offshore skipper and getting more detailed advice.
Remember if you are the skipper you are responsible for the safety of your crew.
Preparing your yacht for coastal cruising
Start with a good look around on deck.
Check the anchor and chain. Is your anchor chain securely attached to the boat?
Is the rigging in top condition? Are all the lines, fittings and winches in good order?
Check your navigation lights - make sure they are working. Do you know which lights to use at night under sail and power? If not here's some help
Do you have a horseshoe ring including upside down light and heaving line?
Is there a sharp knife in cockpit?
Is your magnetic compass light working?
Do you know how the GPS works? Can you change the screen to night vision?
The autopilot is the unsung hero of any offshore trip. Is yours working?
You'll need to fix jackstays along the side decks so you and your crew can move from the cockpit to the bow without unclipping.
And of course you need a life jacket for every crew member complete with safety harness and harness line.
Life jackets are useless if they are in a cockpit locker. Like a seatbelt, you should wear your lifejacket on every trip.
Here's more information about yacht safety and lifejackets
Down Below
Check engine fluid levels and engine bilge for contamination.
Check your fuel tanks are full. Is there any contamination in the glass bowl or filter?
Check battery levels and voltages.
Are the bilge pumps working. Are the bilges dry?
Operate all the seacocks - make sure they are working correctly and easy to turn.
Fill up your fresh water tanks, check the pump is working.
Are the fire extinguishers in date?
You should have orange smoke and red hand-held distress flares and an orange V-sheet. Are your flares in date?
Is your VHF radio working correctly? Do a radio check as you set off.
In addition to electronic charts you must carry a paper chart of the area you plan to cruise. You'll also need a pencil, ruler, rubber and dividers.
A hand held compass and binoculars are recommended.
Have you got working torches and spare batteries?
We recommend you carry a tool kit and a good range of spares.
You might also like to read about Tony and Annie Jimmieson's ocean sailing adventures and how they prepared their Hanse 370e yacht
Here are the requirements for an offshore trip from NSW Maritime
Crew on cruising yachts
Take some time to brief you crew before you set off.
Show them where the safety items are and explain potential hazards.
Explain how to move around a boat in rough seas.
And chat about the watch system you plan to operate.
Make sure at least one other person on board can operate your yacht if anything should happen to you.
If you or your crew are not sure what they might need to wear here's some useful information about sailing clothes for harbour, coastal and offshore cruising
And now you're well prepared have a wonderful trip!
Want to learn more about ocean sailing - here's one great way
Geoff Weir of AYM is a great source of information on offshore cruising
Hanse yachts are great cruising yachts - here's an owner's story
