Tips for Safer Sailing

Be forehanded. Here are two definitions. 1) The rule of 6 Ps: Proper prior preparation prevents piss-poor results. 2) Youre preparing for the voyage you may have, not the one you want to have.

Keep a lookout. Sailors in close touch with their surroundings are safe sailors. In crowded waters or near land, a conscientious lookout should always be assigned.

One hand for yourself, one for the boat. Watch out for your personal safety while attending to the boats and your shipmates. If you see someone behaving unsafely, say something.

Be aware of your environment. This advice from the great English circumnavigator Chay Blyth means sailors must keep a wide-ranging weather eye.

Every boat needs a captain. When leadership is obscure, tight situations get even tighter, says Karen Prioleau, and experienced captain from Southern California. Commands must be correct, clear, and decisive.

Have an organized crew. Crew selection was the key to our success, said the captain of a boat that did well in the Newport Bermuda Race, Dale McIvor. Get lots of experienced crew who know how to enjoy themselves and keep things light. With that tone having been set, there were no clashing egos, or bad moods. And, he added, Find a good cook.

For additional advice on all aspects of sailing, purchase The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, Fourth Edition from Practical Sailor.