Whether your next voyage takes you across an ocean or just across your local harbor, the possibility of crew or guests falling overboard is an ever-present concern. In decades past, we hung thick, orange, uncomfortable foam blocks from our necks for the entire time we were out on deck. Now those days are gone, thanks to updated designs and superior materials. With the wide array of compact, ergonomic, auto-inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) on the market, we can be both safe and comfortable while under sail. Before we invest in a set of auto-inflate PFDs for our vessels, we need…

For voyagers, one of the most dangerous scenarios we face is winding up in the ocean, separated from our vessel. Clearly voyagers are concerned about this, as every marine store stocks a long list of devices such as personal locator beacons (PLBs), man-overboard modules, AIS signal devices, lights and so on.  But these devices are reactionary. They simply do not solve the initial problem: going overboard in the first place. We cannot eliminate the inherent hazards of sailing, but we can we mitigate them. We do this through training and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). As with any…