Sailing your yacht safely is essential to avoid any problematic issues while on the open water and to keep you and your friends safe. Safety is imperative any time you’re embarking on a yachting trip. It’s even more important if your journey will take you into international waters. Venturing worldwide can be an enriching adventure, but it’s not without risks, and you need to know how to sail your yacht safely.
Sailing Your Yacht: The Things to Consider
It includes familiarizing yourself with threats such as piracy, theft, and mechanical issues. When prepared for such problems, you’re far less likely to see risks come to fruition.
Practice Yachting Common Sense
Regardless of whether you’re yachting at home or abroad, there are a few essential safety tips that you should always follow. You must always wear a life jacket, for example, to minimize your risk of drowning. Similarly, you should wear sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Before you set sail, you should thoroughly inspect your vessel to ensure that there are no mechanical issues that might cause a problem on your voyage. If you need a license to operate a vessel in your area, you should be sure to obtain licensure, too.
Always Secure Valuables
One of the best parts of yachting abroad is docking at local marinas and exploring new places. You can enjoy coastal towns around the world and experience the international culture. Still, you must also be careful that you aren’t leaving yourself vulnerable to theft when you do so. Thieves can quickly board and go looking for valuables when your boat is docked and left unattended. If you carry anything onboard that someone might want to steal, you must secure it. You may look for an inconspicuous safe, for example, that won’t attract attention.
Formulate an Action Plan
Even the most cautious yachter may encounter danger in their travels. Sometimes preparation can’t protect you, and when this happens, you need to have an action plan for addressing potential crises. If you sail into unfriendly territory, for example, and fear that pirates may board your vessel, what will you do? What if you experience an issue with your yacht’s motor miles away from shore? Questions like these are essential to answer before such an event occurs.
Address Unique Risk Factors
Investing in the right insurance coverage for yachts and boats is yet another way that you can minimize potential liability. An OC boat insurance policy covers oil pollution, worldwide navigation, and crew liability risks. An insurance policy for boats is essential if you’re planning on sailing abroad because it can minimize the expenses associated with claims such as lost valuables, vessel corrosion, and other consequential damages. Don’t set sail without the right insurance.
About Mariners Insurance
Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.
