Zigzag Safety Briefing

Sailing is a safe sport. Zigzag is a very safe and well maintained yacht. This briefing is part of our commitment to running a safe and fun program.

Life Jackets

• Required for start/finish and at night. But suggested all the time
• Should include a whistle to attract attention
• Should include light. Make sure yours works

Tether

• Required to be used at night, or as directed
• Ensure you know where yours is
• Make sure to have a knife to be able to cut the tether
• Clip onto jack lines, shrouds, or hard points

First Aid Kit

• Located in the cabinet above the sink in the head. Consider using the “Owie” kit for minor issues

MOB – if someone else goes in

• First person who notices the emergency yells "Man Overboard" (MOB). Permanent Spotter assigned thereafter
• Press the F2-key on the laptop in the Nav Station. This records the current position and can be used later to find the person
• Deploy MOM unit and any/all throwable floatation devices to mark the water
• Deploy Lifesling, and throwline, when alongside. All on stern rail
• Spinnaker up? Drop the sail, as boat turns up to head back to the MOB
• Begin to sail through the Quick Stop method shown below
• After checking for lines in the water start engine and drop all sails unless otherwise instructed by the skipper
• Do not jump into water to assist rescue, unless instructed to so do

MOB – if you are the victim - We WILL come back for you!

• In cold water, remember the 1-10-1 rule:
  1 min to get your breathing under control
  10 min of meaningful motion to accomplish all necessary equipment fixes
  1 hr until hypothermia sets in
• Inflate life jacket. Turn on light. Use whistle to attract attention
• Conserve energy — avoid panic, thrashing, or swimming toward floatation
• Conserve body heat — fetal/crouching position. Keep boots on
• Huddle together if more than one. Easier to see. Preserves body heat
• Look for the throwable floatation devices the boat will deploy

Mast Down - Let it go. It'll do more harm than good

• Check for crew injuries
• Check for hull punctures – spreader tips, etc.
• Remove rig – remove cotter pins and clevis pins at shroud base to release shrouds. Cut remaining lines with available tools
• Tools – hacksaw, hammer, drift, and bolt cutters in toolbox (head) and cockpit locker

Fire

• First person yells "FIRE"
• Crew and life raft on deck. Put life vests on. Prepare to abandon – but DO NOT deploy life raft
• Study Fire extinguisher locations on Emergency Equipment plan in Nav Station
• Remember PASS:
  PULL - pull the pin
  AIM - aim at the base of the fire
  SQUEEZE - squeeze the trigger
  SWEEP - sweep from side to side at the base of the fire

Water coming in

• Find the source – don’t start bailing
• Through hull fittings – wood plugs attached to all through hull fittings
• Punctured hull – stuff hole with something
• Buckets for bailing, in cockpit locker
• Monitor bilge pump pick-ups and assure no blockage
• Manual pump in cockpit

Flares - used to attract attention

• Yellow canister under the Nav Station
• Only use when chance of being seen
• Stand downwind
• Hold well away from face and wear a protective glove
• Strike cap or pull firing line as appropriate

Emergency Equipment plan

• Posted in the Nav Station
• Shows location of all safety related equipment
• Please invest a few moments to study it and identify/find all referenced equipment
• Ask questions

VHF Radio Communication

• "How-to use in an Emergency" cheat sheet posted in the Nav Station
• Use in emergency only unless otherwise directed by the skipper