Preparation
Preparation
Preparation
Preparation is not necessarily fun or sexy, but it is key to minimizing the risks inherent in sailing. A mental pre-sail checklist works pretty well for me, but if you are new to sailing, I would write it down.
It begins with whether this is just a daysail or an overnight, and who is on board.
At least the night before, I assess the forecast and ask whether my guests can enjoy the conditions. If they are novices and the forecast calls for rough weather (20 knots or more and big seas), I’m probably going to reschedule. The same is true for no wind and high temperatures.
Assuming that conditions are favorable on the morning of a daysail, I’ll prepare simple snacks and/or lunch and plan on being back at the dock before sundown. If it’s an overnight or longer, I consult my guests on any special dietary restrictions, medical conditions, including seasickness, and whether they are agreeable to anchoring or mooring versus the comforts of a slip.
It’s a go, and your guests are coming aboard. Make sure they have the appropriate footwear, sunscreen, and clothing, and ask if they need to use the onshore head one more time.
Perform the customary crew checkout on your boat, even though it might scare them off a bit. If you don’t know the drill, check out the USCG captain requirements, and make sure they know how to use the head correctly, or the day might end early.
Now it’s all about the boat.
Check your fuel, water, and battery levels.
Open the appropriate seacocks, especially the seawater intake for cooling the engine.
Ensure your VHF is tuned to channel 16, and your chart plotter and other instruments are working.
Verify your float plan with your guests and adjust as necessary if it causes anxiety.
Check the weather one more time, visually and with the forecast, and know the time of low and high tide. Confirm PFD requirements. I usually leave wearing life jackets up to my guests unless young children are on board or we run into heavy weather.
Give each guest a specific task, especially while docking, tacking, raising, and lowering sails, and once underway, go through your man overboard drill.
I like to put each guest behind the wheel or tiller in turn. I’m amazed at how fast people can catch on if properly coached.
Finally, I have a strict rule for myself of no alcohol until back on anchor, at a mooring, or in the slip. Make sure your guests stay hydrated, and If you serve them adult beverages, don’t overdo it, or you could become liable for an accident.
Statistics show that most boating accidents occur due to poor preparation, alcohol consumption, or a combination of both. Don’t be one of those guys.
If you need help in preparing a pre-sail checklist, particularly for longer voyages including float plans and charting, I’m available.
Captain Dan
