Sailing is an extremely fun activity, but it can also be dangerous. How dangerous is sailing, and how do you stay safe while at sea?
Sailing can be extremely dangerous. Sailing has been found to be more dangerous than skiing or snowboarding but safer than driving. In order to stay safe while sailing, have safety supplies, be aware of the surrounding environment, know what the weather will be, and know the laws of the sea.
Although sailing is dangerous, there are many things you can do to keep you and your passengers safe while on a sailboat. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of sailing and what you can do to stay safe while at sea.
How Dangerous is Sailing?
Sailing is extremely dangerous, and several hundred people die every year in boating-related incidents. In 2021, there were 658 boating-related deaths. This is a 15% decrease from 2020.
While boating is getting safer over time, a study from the Rhode Island Hospital found that sailing is more dangerous than skiing and snowboarding, with a fatality rate of 1.19 per every million. There are about 1.06 fatalities per every million skiers or snowboarders.
Don’t Drink and Sail
Just as when you are driving a car or other type of vehicle, avoid being intoxicated or under the influence of drugs when you are sailing. It has been found that alcohol has been responsible for anywhere between 12% and 19% of boating-related incidents.
I have been stopped by the coast guard before and was very happy that I had not been drinking.
Many countries have noticed this and currently enforce laws that prohibit the consumption of alcohol while sailing. You don’t want to be intoxicated when sailing because if anything goes wrong, you will need to be fully alert to solve the problem, and being alert can help you avoid dangerous situations before they occur.
Safety Gear to Have While Sailing
Drowning is the leading cause of death, as many people on sailboats fall over the edge of the boat and don’t have the proper gear on to keep them from drowning. Drowning accounts for 70% of boating-related deaths; in these cases, 82% of the time, the victims weren’t wearing a life jacket.
Life jackets can greatly help reduce the number of sailing deaths, and while they don’t need to be worn 100% of the time, it is strongly recommended that you wear one if you will potentially be in a situation that could cause you to fall overboard.
Children should wear life jackets the entire time they are on a sailboat. Consider the size of your boat when determining whether or not you should wear a life jacket, as smaller boats can be capsized by large swells or high-speed winds.
Other than life jackets, you should have the following emergency safety equipment:
- Visual Distress Signals (Flares)
- Fire Extinguishers
- Sound Producing Devices
- Navigation Lights
- Radio
- Cell Phone
- Rope & Twine
- Charts and Plotting Tools
- Anchor
- Binoculars
- First Aid Kit
- Tool Kit
- Rigging Knife
- Softwood Plugs
- Bucket
Take a Boating Safety Course
A large number of boating and sailing-related incidents can be prevented by taking a sailing safety course. I recommend that if you plan to go out sailing, get a boating license. During these types of courses, you will learn about the safety equipment you will likely have on your sailboat such as life jackets, first aid kits, and emergency flares. You will also learn about things like who has the right of way while at sea.
Here are some of the places you can get a boating license from:
- Boat-Ed (fee applies)
- Boater Exam (fee applies)
- Boat U.S. Foundation (free)
- Boat Smart (fee applies)
Not every state requires you to receive a boating license in order to go boating. The table below shows the boating license requirements of each state.
| State | Boating License Requirements |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Alaska | No Laws |
| Arizona | No Laws |
| Arkansas | No Laws |
| California | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Colorado | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Connecticut | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Delaware | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Florida | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Georgia | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Hawaii | No Laws |
| Idaho | No Laws |
| Illinois | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Indiana | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Iowa | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Kansas | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Kentucky | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Louisiana | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Maine | No Laws |
| Maryland | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Massachusets | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Michigan | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Minnesota | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Mississippi | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Missouri | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Montana | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Nebraska | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Nevada | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| New Hampshire | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| New Jersey | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| New Mexico | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| New York | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| North Carolina | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| North Dakota | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Ohio | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Oklahoma | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Oregon | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Pennsylvania | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Rhode Island | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| South Carolina | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| South Dakota | No Laws |
| Tennessee | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Texas | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Utah | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Vermont | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Virginia | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Washington | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| West Virginia | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Wisconsin | Requires Boating Courses and License |
| Wyoming | No Laws |
Control Speed and Stay Aware
To keep yourself safe while sailing, always be aware and keep your speed in check. Don’t test the speed of your sailboat unless you are participating in a race. During a race, there are plenty of safety personnel in the area to help you if something goes wrong. If you are just out sailing for the afternoon, stay at low speeds to avoid accidents.
Always be aware of your surroundings while sailing. Doing so can help you avoid collisions, notice lousy weather, and avoid potential accidents. Most boats have autopilot, so it is easy to get distracted, but you should keep an eye out for potential problems at all times.
Check The Weather Before You Head Out
To ensure that your sailing trip is safe and enjoyable, check the weather before you set sail. Storms can roll in very quickly when you are out at sea, so make sure that no storms are forecasted and the sky is clear before you set sail.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to the safety of sailing or boating in general, safety should be your primary concern, especially if you have guests on your boat. You as the captain are responsible for everyone’s safety. I take a lot of pride in this. I like being the one in charge and responsible.
I will say this though, even though sailing can be dangerous, it is worth the risk! Cheers!