Safety Briefings / Talks - What do you include with new crew

[stevd]

Up to now, I have only ever sailed my boat by myself or with friends who are competent sailors and know their way around boats.

I would now like to take friend out who havent been sailing. This in my mind will be harder than sailing solo as I will not just be looking out for the boat but also every move they make as well, so I am sure it will be far more stressful tahn sailing singlehanded.

I have never given a safety briefing, and I haven't sat in on one for a long time. My question is, what do you all cover when you give your safety talk? Also, is there any material on the web anyone can link to as I haven't been able to find any, and it doesnt seem to be covered very well.

Many thanks

 

[VicS]

Up to now, I have only ever sailed my boat by myself or with friends who are competent sailors and know their way around boats.

I would now like to take friend out who havent been sailing. This in my mind will be harder than sailing solo as I will not just be looking out for the boat but also every move they make as well, so I am sure it will be far more stressful tahn sailing singlehanded.

I have never given a safety briefing, and I haven't sat in on one for a long time. My question is, what do you all cover when you give your safety talk? Also, is there any material on the web anyone can link to as I haven't been able to find any, and it doesnt seem to be covered very well.

Many thanks

How to pump the toilet and the things "they" are not allowed to put down there.

That only the skipper is allowed to operate the battery selector switch(es)

 

[maby]

nothing formal. I will usually point out where the liferaft and other safety equipment is stowed and ask if everyone understands the VHF well enough to scream for help...

 

[pmagowan]

I mention the toilet and how to press the 'emergency button' on the VHF. Other than that I kind of cover things as we go along.

 

[nigelmercier]

This file contains two pages. The first is in a folder that I gave to guests, the second is my checklist for the full-on safety briefing.

http://dolcetto.org.uk/downloads/Dolcetto Safety.pdf

 

[antaris]

- Phone number of friend with sea knowledge (I've prepared a booklet), haha, so that at least they can talkto/annoy someone
- Where/how to wear lifejackets/harnesses
- Fire extinguishers x 2
- Battery switch
- engine start/stop
- VHF usage / Channel 16 (is all in booklet with images and numbered steps, along with written message - mayday and securite)
- All safety equipment / flares, etc.
- How to lower sails!

Also, tell them not to abandon ship prematurely!

missed anything?

 

[Hadenough]

On the subject of "toilet training" I keep a spare joker valve in the chart table to show to novice crew and visitors. They are told not to put anything down the pan that won't go through the valve

 

[DanTribe]

I usually tell them
1/ DON'T pull the jib sheets without having a turn on the winch.[ I had my fingers pulled into a block as a kid]
2/ Don't hold onto the mainsheet traveller in case it lets go. [must fix that]
3/ How to stop the boat and use the VHF if I fall off.
4/ If you are wearing flip flops you will hurt your toes.

I once took a barrister friend out for a weekend and he said I was leaving myself open to claims if I didn't give a more thorough briefing. Didn't ask him again.

 

[theoldsalt]

It depends on how you define safety different people will include/exclude different features. The most obvious is the boom is heavy and hard so keep your head down.
It really depends on what you expect from your "novice" crew. If you usually sail alone then continue to handle everything yourself and let then learn by watching and asking questions. But above all there is only one skipper on a boat so your visitors should be told to obey every instruction (order?) without question and immediately. eg If the skipper says "duck" don't look for a feathered friend.

 

[Steve Clayton]

the galley: List of names with tea/coffee preferences (sugar, milk, etc)

 

[JumbleDuck]

I've written this before ...

"This is a safety harness. You wear it with a tether so you don't go over the side. It is also a lifejacket, which will make it easier to recover your body if you do go over the side."

to which I add instructions on how to set off the EPIRB if anything happens to me, and that's about for inexperienced people. If it's someone who might actually be able to do something useful if I was incapacitated we talk about more. I have no battery selector switches.

 

[theoldsalt]

I think if you sit them down and try to fill their heads with ALL the safety information they will very soon switch off listening and probably be so put off going out with you that they try to jump ship before you sail (which might be an advantage actually) thinking that boating is far too dangerous - .

 

[Storyline]

* One hand for the boat
* If anyone goes over then the person who spots him/her should hold their arm up and point to casualty, shout man overboard and then do nothing else apart from staring at the spot and keep trying to point, never take their eyes away.
* Do not feel bad if you make a mistake, everyone makes them.
* Another 'do not touch my battery switch' !
* No stupid objects down the heads 'if you block it, you clean it'

 

[pmagowan]

I think a few people need to discover the joy of a VSR!

 

[alant]

Up to now, I have only ever sailed my boat by myself or with friends who are competent sailors and know their way around boats.

I would now like to take friend out who havent been sailing. This in my mind will be harder than sailing solo as I will not just be looking out for the boat but also every move they make as well, so I am sure it will be far more stressful tahn sailing singlehanded.

I have never given a safety briefing, and I haven't sat in on one for a long time. My question is, what do you all cover when you give your safety talk? Also, is there any material on the web anyone can link to as I haven't been able to find any, and it doesnt seem to be covered very well.

Many thanks

Don't tell em 'too' much, cos they won't remember.

Point out the major safety things, like the boom ("last noise you hear when it hits your head") etc.
Nominate 'someone' sensible as your back up, should you fall overboard etc & tell them how to call for help etc.

 

[sarabande]

one question is: are you taking any medication either regularly throughout the day, or in case you collapse ?


Corollary: where is it ?

 

[KREW2]

Bungs, if you see water coming in put a bung in hole.

PTT button on radio, tell them it's not like a phone.

If someone goes over don't take your eyes off them.

 

[Talulah]

It can sometimes be very simple things. "How to open a cupboard door." Some people need showing otherwise they'll try tearing the door off.

 

[Storyline]

Another thing we used to do (admittedly before the days of plotters) is to appoint each guest crew as navigator of the day. In the evening as a group we would decide where to go the next day, then the navigator and me or my partner would plan the nav and discuss refuge options etc. The following day the guest crewman/woman would do everything, work out tides, course to steer, take the bearings and plot them on the chart, fill in the logbook (hourly !) etc. Then if we were anchoring they would work out tidal heights, how much water when we were due to arrive etc. It was suprising how quickly without any prior knowledge people would pick it all up.

Had many happy holidays trucking around the Irish Sea with our Westerly Pentland stuffed to capacity. I remember one holiday we managed to keep a full sized chess board (magnetic) in action for two weeks stowed under the chart table which was also someone's berth. Arguments never seemed to develop even though everyone was on top of one another (sometimes literally ).

Kept novice crew involved and gave them a sense of satisfaction. These were the days before we managed to put most of our friends off due to gales, babies etc etc. Nowadays it is normally just the two of us with maybe a friend or two and .....

the plotter.

Totally different way of sailing now but just as enjoyable.

Sorry, just realised i wandered totally off topic and into fond reminiscence !

 

[Storyline]

Forgot to say, when getting into the dinghy immediately lower your centre of gravity by sitting down/crouching (especially when under the influence !).