RYA Yachtmaster Safety and Emergency — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended order of actions in a 'man overboard' situation under sail offshore?
- Stop sailing immediately and wait
- Shout alarm, throw lifebuoy/danbuoy, assign spotter, press MOB on GPS, and execute a recovery manoeuvre (reach-tack-reach or figure-of-eight) (Correct answer)
- Call Mayday immediately before any other action
- All crew should jump in to help
Correct answer: Shout alarm, throw lifebuoy/danbuoy, assign spotter, press MOB on GPS, and execute a recovery manoeuvre (reach-tack-reach or figure-of-eight)
The MOB procedure is: shout the alarm, deploy a lifebuoy and danbuoy, assign a dedicated spotter to point at the casualty, press MOB on GPS, and then execute the appropriate recovery manoeuvre to return to the casualty.
Question 2: What is a 'damage control plan' and why should every offshore yacht have one?
- A plan for redecorating the cabin
- A pre-prepared plan identifying the location of all through-hull fittings, emergency equipment, and procedures for dealing with flooding, fire, and structural damage (Correct answer)
- A document for the insurance company only
- A plan only needed for racing yachts
Correct answer: A pre-prepared plan identifying the location of all through-hull fittings, emergency equipment, and procedures for dealing with flooding, fire, and structural damage
A damage control plan documents the location of seacocks, emergency repair materials, fire extinguishers, and procedures for dealing with emergencies. All crew should be familiar with it before sailing.
Question 3: When should a yacht deploy its liferaft?
- At the first sign of bad weather
- Only when the vessel is definitely sinking or otherwise uninhabitable — you should 'step up into the liferaft, not down' (Correct answer)
- When the crew is tired
- When approaching a harbour
Correct answer: Only when the vessel is definitely sinking or otherwise uninhabitable — you should 'step up into the liferaft, not down'
The golden rule is to 'step up into the liferaft, not down' — only abandon ship when it is absolutely certain the vessel cannot be saved. A yacht, even damaged, is usually a better survival platform than a liferaft.
Question 4: What is the immediate treatment for a crew member showing signs of severe hypothermia?
- Give them a hot bath
- Remove wet clothing, insulate them horizontally with blankets and a vapour barrier, handle gently (no rubbing), give warm sweet drinks only if conscious, and seek medical advice (Correct answer)
- Give them alcohol to warm up
- Make them exercise vigorously
Correct answer: Remove wet clothing, insulate them horizontally with blankets and a vapour barrier, handle gently (no rubbing), give warm sweet drinks only if conscious, and seek medical advice
Severe hypothermia requires gentle handling (rough movement can cause cardiac arrest), horizontal positioning, passive rewarming with dry insulation and a vapour barrier, warm sweet drinks if conscious, and urgent medical consultation.
Question 5: What is a 'through-hull fitting' and why are they a critical safety consideration?
- A decorative fitting on the hull
- A pipe or valve passing through the hull below the waterline — if one fails, it can cause rapid flooding; all crew should know their locations and how to close or plug them (Correct answer)
- A fitting for the anchor chain
- A type of navigation light
Correct answer: A pipe or valve passing through the hull below the waterline — if one fails, it can cause rapid flooding; all crew should know their locations and how to close or plug them
Through-hull fittings (seacocks, transducers, engine cooling inlets) penetrate the hull below the waterline. A failed fitting can cause rapid, dangerous flooding. All should have functioning seacocks and be accessible with emergency bungs nearby.
Question 6: What is the purpose of an 'emergency steering' system?
- A backup GPS
- An alternative means of steering the vessel if the primary rudder or steering system fails, typically using an emergency tiller fitted directly to the rudder stock (Correct answer)
- A spare autopilot
- A drogue used for steering
Correct answer: An alternative means of steering the vessel if the primary rudder or steering system fails, typically using an emergency tiller fitted directly to the rudder stock
An emergency tiller is a lever that fits directly onto the top of the rudder stock, bypassing the wheel steering mechanism. All crew should know its location and how to fit it before setting off offshore.
RYA Yachtmaster Safety and Emergency
What is the recommended order of actions in a 'man overboard' situation under sail offshore?