• Anywhere in the plane of the boom when it swings across in a jibe or tack...
  This warning includes all the associated rigging, including the boom vang and the mainsheet...See diagram on right.
• Anywhere outside of the cockpit where you walk or stand.
• At the bow and the stern. If you must go to these places, hold on tight, because the motion of the boat is accentuated at the ends.
• In the path of the jib and jib sheets during a tacking manoeuvre. This path runs from the foredeck all the way back on either side to where the jib sheets go through pulleys heading for the cockpit. During a tack (or jibe), when the headsail flaps in the wind, the sailcloth and those ropes are like whips.
• In the "slingshot target zone" of pulleys under high load. If the block were to break loose, it would go flying.
• On the leeward side of the boat. The leeward, or downwind, side is especially dangerous if the boat is heeling (leaning away from the wind); that side is closer to the water, and gravity is pushing you that way.
• Shiny areas, such as varnished wood or plastic hatch covers. Those areas are probably as slippery as they look, look where you step. Sails on deck are also very slippery.

Yes, you figured it out...the safest place in most boats is the cockpit (as long as you stay low and watch out for that boom). The deck can be treacherous during manoeuvres or in rough seas at any time.

Make sure that anyone in these areas is aware of the potential danger and, if the situation warrants, tell them to move and explain the reason why. If you're the helmsman of a boat, make sure that everyone is in a safe position before manoeuvring.

A golden rule of sailing is that the captain or skipper is responsible for the safety of his crew. Unlike the Navy, where orders from a superior are unbreakable, the identity of the person in charge isn't always clear while bareboat cruising. Everyone on board is expected to look out for his or her own comfort and safety and to communicate any concerns or questions to the skipper and other people on board. But no matter what role you have on the boat, you can't leave common sense on shore.

Wearing a life jacket increases your chances for survival in the water - that's why they're called life jackets... About 80 percent of boating-related deaths are from drowning. Life jackets (called personal flotation devices or PFD's) are on board all charter boats - one for each crew member.

The jackets found on every bareboat are known as a 'PFD1 Offshore Jacket' and are constructed so that when worn all the buoyancy is located at the front of the body with a buoyancy collar behind the neck and head.

This arrangement causes the wearer, even if unconscious, to float face upwards in the water -the buoyancy collar keeping the head out of the water, preventing drowning.

Regulation life jackets are not suitable for babies and small children - as they can slip off in the water. It is recommended that if very young children are on board, that parents consider their needs and bring a properly fitting life jacket or safety harness.

To learn more about children's safety... Refer to Cruising with children

PFD 1 (offshore life jacket)	PFD 2 (buoyancy vest)
PFD 3 (buoyancy garment)	In Australia, all types of PFD's must be identified as 'approved' by an official label of Standards Australia and comply with Australian Standard 1512.

This Australian Standards Approved life buoy is provided with 30 metres of light floating line and attached life buoy light. One life buoy and light must be available on each charter boat 7-15 metres in length.

If you have a person overboard it is safer and easier to throw the life buoy to the person and haul them back to the boat, rather than trying to manoeuvre the boat to the person.

This is especially so if the boat is near coral, or a dangerous condition exists near a shore or obstruction. Refer to Emergencies and other mishaps

The orange life buoy light has a top Signaling light to assist in marking the position (especially in overcast or storm conditions and at night) if a person goes overboard - this is a valuable guide particularly if the boat takes sometime to get back to the rescue point.

To activate the light

1. Loosen domes by turning anticlockwise (to the left).
   
2. Remove domes and tighten lamps. Both lights must work when signal is upright.
   
3. Replace domes and tighten them by turning clockwise (to the right).

Letting people know that you need help can be achieved in many ways. One of the most effective ways is to let off flares. Flares are highly visible and instantly recognised as a call for help. There are two main types of hand operated flares.

To Operate Flares

1. Remove cap at both ends - the bottom cap is your striker. Hold the flare at its base and use the striker to ignite the flare on the top end.
   
   
   
2. Once the flare is ignited - hold away from you, and as high as possible until the flare finishes
   
   

A 'V' Sheet is a rectangular fluorescent orange-red coloured sheet (1.8 x 1.2 metres) with a black V in the centre and a lanyard attached to each corner.

It is a standard distress signal recognised by other mariners and should be tied onto a boat or spread over the deck for searching aircraft, anywhere it can best be seen to indicate that help is needed.