Safety

At sea, preparation and familiarity with safety procedures can make all the difference. This page brings together essential Tops’l safety guidance – covering equipment checks, lifejacket use, recovery drills, and emergency protocols.

We recommend regular onboard practice and encourage all crew to read the documents in full. A few key guides remain as pdfs due to their length and images, but each is introduced below for clarity.

Lifejackets and personal safety

Wearing the right lifejacket, and knowing how to use it, can save your life. Skippers must ensure there are enough lifejackets for all crew and that each is correctly fitted.

Fit guidelines:

• Children under 7 should wear a buoyancy aid
• Children 7+ should wear a well-fitted child lifejacket with no more than a two-inch gap when lifted at the shoulders
• Children 30kg+ can wear an adult lifejacket
• Chest bands must allow room for breathing after inflation – allow one clenched fist for men, and one and a half for women
• A sprayhood is essential – just half a cup of seawater in the lungs can induce secondary drowning.

Maintenance tips:

• Most damage to lifejackets is caused by corrosion of the gas cylinder
• Auto-inflating jackets are preferred; many inflate from one side to help turn the wearer face-up
• Newer jackets often have inspection windows for ease of checking.

Additional safety gear:

• Lifejacket lights improve visibility in the water
• AIS-equipped Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) show up on other vessels as an orange figure
• Whistles and smoke flares are essential for location and wind assessment.

Download more information about the correct use of lifejackets: Lifejacket Guide (PDF, opens in new tab/window)

For more practical advice on staying safe in cold water, using tethers and harnesses, and routine safety habits at sea, visit our Seamanship guidance page.

Liferafts

Understanding how your liferaft works, and how to launch and board it, can be critical in an emergency. This guide explains the firing mechanism, how dual air chambers provide safety redundancy, and the importance of a well-prepared grab bag.

Download the full PDF guide: Liferaft Equipment and Deployment (PDF, opens in new tab/window)

Lifesling hoist recovery systems

Every Tops’l yacht carries a Lifesling recovery system and a hoist to assist with man-overboard situations. This guide explains how to use both, including setup, stowage, and key tips to ensure smooth operation under pressure.

Download the Lifesling Hoist operation guide: Lifesling Hoist – Usage and Stowage (PDF, opens in new tab/window)

Man overboard recovery

The Quick-Stop method is an internationally respected approach for responding quickly and effectively to a man overboard. This pdf explains the rationale, step-by-step process, and practical tips for improving your crew’s MOB response.

Download the MOB Quick-Stop article: Lifesling/Seattle Sling (PDF, opens in new tab/window)

Towing procedures

Towing another vessel, or being towed, is sometimes necessary. This guide explains how to prepare for towing, how to communicate with authorities and rescue boats, and the legal and safety implications of accepting a tow.

Download the Towing and Salvage guidance: Towing Procedures and Salvage Advice (PDF, opens in new tab/window)

Emergency radio procedures: Mayday vs. Pan-Pan

Know the difference:

• Mayday = Emergency: life-threatening situations (e.g. fire, sinking, person overboard)
• Pan-Pan = Urgency: serious, but not immediately life-threatening (e.g. dismasting, engine failure)

Messages can be sent with or without DSC (Digital Selective Calling).

Mayday Format (spoken slowly and clearly)

1. “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”
2. “This is (name of vessel)” [spoken three times]
3. “Mayday”
4. Your vessel’s name, call sign and MMSI number [spoken once]
5. Your position
6. The nature of distress [for example, “the boat is sinking”]
7. Immediate assistance required
8. How many people are on board
9. Any other information
10. “Over”

Pan-Pan Format (spoken slowly and clearly)

1. “Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan”
2. Your MMSI number, call sign and your vessel’s name [spoken three times]
3. Your position
4. The nature of the situation [for example, “rig failure”]
5. What you intend to do
6. “Over”

DSC distress calls

The MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency) now advises including your MMSI number in the voice call following a DSC alert, to link the digital and voice messages.

Make sure you know how to send a DSC distress call.

Whether you are a skipper or crew member, learn this before you are trying to use it in the dark, in an emergency.

Each yacht’s VHF radio is slightly different. Refer to the yacht’s onboard checklist or user manual. For step-by-step advice on using DSC features and MMSI calling (including inter-yacht testing), see Seamanship guidance.

Medical advice via radio or mobile
The DSC distress button can only send Distress Alerts, not Urgency Alerts like a medical request. For medical urgency (not life-threatening), use Pan-Pan format via voice – or consider calling for medical advice by mobile, if signal permits.

Further safety tips

Some safety topics are broader than equipment or drills – including chart awareness, VHF radio use, and skipper responsibilities. You will find in-depth guidance, seasonal reminders, and yacht-specific tips from our Skills Director on our dedicated Seamanship guidance page.