RYA Day Skipper Safety at Sea 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym 'EPIRB' stand for?
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (Correct answer)
- Electronic Personnel Information Reporting Beacon
- Essential Port Information Radio Broadcast
- Emergency Patrol Identification Radar Buoy
Correct answer: Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. When activated, it transmits a distress signal via satellite that alerts search and rescue authorities to the vessel's position.
Question 2: What is the first action to take if you discover a fire below decks on a yacht?
- Open hatches to ventilate
- Alert the crew, close hatches and ventilation to starve the fire of oxygen, and use the appropriate extinguisher (Correct answer)
- Abandon ship immediately
- Pour water on the fire
Correct answer: Alert the crew, close hatches and ventilation to starve the fire of oxygen, and use the appropriate extinguisher
The first actions are to alert the crew, close hatches and ventilation to reduce oxygen supply, and then fight the fire with the appropriate extinguisher. Opening hatches would feed the fire with air.
Question 3: What is 'hypothermia' and why is it particularly dangerous at sea?
- Overheating in hot weather
- A dangerous drop in core body temperature below 35°C, which can be fatal and develops rapidly in cold water (Correct answer)
- A type of seasickness
- Dehydration from sun exposure
Correct answer: A dangerous drop in core body temperature below 35°C, which can be fatal and develops rapidly in cold water
Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature drops below 35°C. It is especially dangerous at sea because water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air, and UK sea temperatures are cold year-round.
Question 4: What is the internationally recognised distress signal using sound?
- Three short blasts
- A continuous sounding of the fog signal apparatus, or repeated signals of SOS (three short, three long, three short) (Correct answer)
- Two long blasts
- One prolonged blast every minute
Correct answer: A continuous sounding of the fog signal apparatus, or repeated signals of SOS (three short, three long, three short)
The international distress signal by sound is the continuous sounding of any fog-signalling apparatus, or the SOS signal in Morse code (dot-dot-dot, dash-dash-dash, dot-dot-dot).
Question 5: What is a 'grab bag' and what should it contain?
- A bag for collecting rubbish
- A pre-packed waterproof bag containing essential survival items to be grabbed when abandoning to a liferaft (Correct answer)
- A bag for personal belongings
- A tool bag for engine repairs
Correct answer: A pre-packed waterproof bag containing essential survival items to be grabbed when abandoning to a liferaft
A grab bag is a pre-packed waterproof bag kept ready to take into a liferaft. It typically contains water, flares, a knife, a torch, a handheld VHF radio, first aid kit, EPIRB, and emergency rations.
Question 6: According to UK regulations, when must navigation lights be displayed on a vessel?
- Only in fog
- From sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility (Correct answer)
- Only in harbours
- Only when other vessels are visible
Correct answer: From sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility
Navigation lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility (fog, heavy rain, etc.). They may also be displayed during daylight if considered necessary.
RYA Day Skipper Safety at Sea 2
What does the acronym 'EPIRB' stand for?