| Have you ever been caught out sailboat cruising in | | | | visibility. What one person might miss, another may pick |
| pea-soup fog, a driving rain squall, or thick haze? If you | | | | up. And lookout means more than eyes. You need to |
| have, you know it can curl your toes and raise your | | | | use everything available--eyes, ears, and small boat |
| stress level. | | | | radar if aboard. |
| If you are anything like me, nothing causes quite as | | | | Send one of your crew forward to the bow. This |
| much apprehension as the onset of low visibility | | | | places him or her out of the noise of the engine. Use |
| conditions. After all--there could be other boaters out | | | | hands-free headsets for communications between the |
| there just like yourself--hidden by blinding rain or heavy | | | | bow and cockpit. |
| fog! Follow these five steps to keep your sailing crew | | | | 5. Sound the Right Signal |
| safe and sound: | | | | Have you ever had a vessel pop out of the fog--out |
| 1. Put on Life Jackets or Vests | | | | of nowhere! You know how this can make your heart |
| Get all of your crew into inflatable vests or life jackets. | | | | miss a beat or two. And chances are, they were not |
| Equip each vest with a police type whistle and high | | | | sounding any signal to warn others of their presence. |
| powered light. If anyone goes overboard in thick | | | | The Navigation rules are clear about signals for |
| weather, you will often find them by sound rather than | | | | vessels underway in or near areas of low visibility. |
| sight. | | | | Notice the rules include the word "near" in this |
| 2. Slow or Stop | | | | statement. For example, if you are sailing in San |
| Keep your speed to the minimum that you can still | | | | Francisco in the clear, but you approach a fog bank, |
| maintain a sailing course. If under sail, reduce sail in | | | | you must start to sound the correct signal. This warns |
| heavy sailing winds to balance the boat and slow | | | | others--already inside the fog bank--of your position. |
| down. Or heave-to, to stop or slow the forward | | | | Use these signals: |
| motion of the boat, until conditions improve. | | | | Under power: |
| In shallow water, if you are uncertain of your position, | | | | One prolonged blast (4-6 seconds long). |
| anchor until the weather lifts. This will lower your stress | | | | Two prolonged blasts if stopped/drifting (each 4-6 |
| and you and your crew will be able to rest. | | | | seconds long). |
| 3. Energize Navigation Lights | | | | Under sail: |
| If under sail, turn on your red and green side lights along | | | | One prolonged blast and two short (1 second) blasts. |
| with a white stern light. If you operate your small boat | | | | Put these five tips into play to make sailboat cruising |
| diesel or outboard, turn on your masthead light in | | | | less stressful the next time you encounter fog, haze, |
| addition to these lights. | | | | or thick sailing weather. You will arrive at your |
| 4. Make All Hands a Lookout | | | | destination safe and sound--wherever in the world you |
| Every person aboard becomes a lookout in low | | | | choose to cruise. |