The decision to sail is made by the skipper and crew of each boat, who are solely responsible for the lives, safety and property of all aboard.     

Breakwater Irregulars offers the following information in the interest of promoting safety and cooperation during our races.  Neither this information nor the offering of assistance changes or diminishes in any way the responsibility of each skipper and crew.  Neither does the Race Committee’s decision on whether to embark and officiate.

Needs for assistance range from loss of propulsion to catastrophe.  Being there for each other is the law of the sea, it is Rule 1.1 of the RRS, and it is the right thing to do.  When a racer stops racing to offer necessary assistance, scoring will be modified with the aim of avoiding any detriment for doing so.    And, really, that shouldn’t matter.

Here are some related ideas, and we welcome suggested additions at info@breakwaters.org.

1. Take a “Safety at Sea” course, even if you limit your sailing to local waters.  If the next ten minutes are critical, you are just as alone on the Sound as you would be on the Atlantic.  If you cannot take a live course, try US Sailing’s on-line course for coastal sailing.  Encourage your crew to do the same.  Well worth the $50 fee.  Chapter quizzes and final exam lead to 5-year certification.
2. Maintain CPR and First Aid certification.  The big reason is to equip you to save someone’s life.  A second reason is that Connecticut’s Good Samaritan law favors those who have current CPR certification under standards of the Red Cross or American Heart Association.  Certification can be obtained/renewed on-line.  Example.
3. Carry a good first aid kit, make sure crew understands how to find/use it, and check its contents frequently.
4. Skipper, make sure your crew is as prepared as you are, because you may be the person who needs help.  (Don’t keep the boat’s only ignition key in your pocket.)
5. Carry aspirin.  Long-time BI member Dr. Gino Bottino tells us that chewing a few aspirins can* be the best first aid in response to heart attack symptoms, when more comprehensive aid is not available.  (*Ask the victim whether he/she can safely take aspirin, because it is dangerous under some circumstances.)
6. Know in advance how you or a crew member will call for help in the event of a medical emergency.  When our fleet is involved in an emergency situation, the Principal Race Officer (PRO) is the person to call on VHF-5a.  The PRO then takes charge of communications, following a carefully developed protocol.  (However, if your radio has DSC-GPS capability, that may be the most appropriate means of announcing your location and situation, so don’t hesitate to use it and then let the PRO know.)  We have a lot of experienced sailors in our fleet; now is not the time for other skippers to offer advice on VHF-5 or substitute their expertise for that of the PRO.  All fleet members should stand by to assist and, in general, minimize non-essential radio use and other potential interference.
7. Either require life jackets all the time or require them under specified conditions.  No exceptions.  If you use inflatables, check–at least annually–the inflatability (absence of leaks), the CO2 cartridge, and, for automatic inflators, the expiration date of the water sensor.
8. Update and familiarize crew with location and use of other rescue equipment, e.g., life sling.
9. Know–and make sure your crew knows–how to quickly mark a man overboard (“MOB”) location on your GPS.
10. MOB Drill.  Do it.  At the beginning of every season and when orienting new crew, talk through safety precautions and rescue procedures on your way to the race.  Remember that the hardest part can be getting someone from the water to the cockpit. 
11. Render assistance to anyone in danger/need.  It’s Rule 1.1 of the RRS because it is our most important rule.  Forget the race; give help.
12. We encourage all participants to use RaceQs tracking.  In addition to its learning and entertainment value, its live streaming can be used by the PRO to identify where you are and which boats are close to you.  (Yes, there is a 5-minute delay, but it can still be invaluable.)
13. Understand the differences among Mayday, Pan-Pan, and Securite.  Post a sample Mayday message in your cabin so that every crew member is capable of providing the necessary information.  It should go without saying, but always monitor Channel 16.
14. Keep your MMSI handy, because the Coast Guard may ask for it when trying to identify the source of a nearby DSC (digital selective calling) distress call.
15. Don’t hesitate to call for help.  Too many sailors wait until it’s too late.  You can always call off the rescue if the problem is resolved.
16. Salvage.  We are much less concerned about property than people, but, once everyone is safe, you will try to minimize property loss.  In addition to adequate hull insurance, consider subscribing for towing services with Boat/US or SeaTow.  Learn in advance about a tower’s salvage rights, which are complicated and often severe.  (Despite the association with reputable organizations, there are some horror stories on-line about some of these quasi-independent operators.) Having a subscription may not avoid a salvage claim if your need exceeds your coverage.  They say we should negotiate in advance, but some situations are non-negotiable.  That’s when the adequacy of your boat insurance becomes crucial.
17. USCGA Inspection.  This free service by local volunteers is invaluable.  For less experienced skippers, the reasons are obvious.  But, even for the oldest salts, it’s an annual exercise that makes you look at the age of your flares, the charge on your fire extinguishers and air horns, etc.  Watch for an announcement at your club or marina.