Browsing: emergencies at sea

Cruising Life
By

You See a Flare. Now What? First, Make a Fist – and Other Tips from the Coast Guard

You’re cruising at dusk or at night, and you suddenly see a flare shoot up in the distance. But at night distances can be confusing. How far away is it? How can you help? Here are some tips from the Coast Guard. First, try the “fist method” to figure out the position of the flare from your boat. When you call the Coast Guard, they’ll ask where you are. Then they’ll need to know where the flare is. To determine the height of the flare from the water, hold your arm out straight and make a fist. Hold the bottom…

Cruising Life
By

How, and When, To Make a Mayday or Other Distress Call. A Good Primer from the Power Squadrons

Let’s assume that you’re up to speed on how to make a distress call to the Coast Guard in an emergency. And that you know proper VHF radio procedure, and you’re familiar with the three levels of distress calls, starting with the life- or vessel-threatening Mayday. But what happens if you’re incapacitated, or you can’t make the call yourself? Does your spouse or crew know what to do? Here’s a great reminder from the U.S. Power Squadrons on how to call for help when you need it most. Before you start a cruise, it’s a good idea to make sure…

Cruising Life
By

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Tells How to Survive the Unexpected Offshore

What do you do when the unexpected happens offshore? When the winds build, say, from 40 knots to 60 knots, to 70 knots? When your mental and physical preparation could mean the difference between life and death? And that preparation involves a lot of practice, according to Mario Vittone, a retired Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer and instructor and expert on surviving at sea. (In 2007, Vittone was named the Coast Guard’s Enlisted Person of the Year.) Here Vittone uses real world examples of how people survived the unexpected, where a common thread is that those who had successful experiences…