Introduction

Sailing is a fun sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It’s also an activity that requires some level of safety precautions, however. That’s why we’ve put together this list for you to follow before getting on the water and while out there.

Pre-Sailing Check List

First, check the weather. Is it going to be calm or windy? If it’s going to be windy, do you have enough people on board that can handle the boat in case of choppy waters?

Next, check the wind direction. Is it coming from behind or in front of you? If it’s coming from behind, do you know how to tack your boat around so that you won’t get blown into shore or into other boats?

Thirdly, check the water conditions and tides. Are there rocks near where we’re sailing? Are there any floating debris around us that could cause injury if we hit them with our vessel? Do we need life jackets just in case someone falls overboard (even though these will not save them from drowning)?

Once done checking these things off your list of pre-sailing checks, make sure all safety equipment is ready for use including: life vests; whistles; fire extinguisher; flares and paddles

Safety On the Water

• Wear a life jacket. It’s a good idea to wear a life jacket while you’re on the water, especially if you’ll be in an area with heavy boats or other water traffic.
• Wear a wet suit. A wetsuit is important if you plan on being out in the water for longer than 20 minutes at one time, as it will help keep your body temperature regulated and prevent hypothermia from setting in when temperatures drop drastically (which happens often).
• Wear protective gear like helmets, gloves and sunglasses so that your skin doesn’t get burnt by the sun or damaged by sharp objects like coral reefs or rocks below the surface of the sea.
• Sunscreen is another essential item because it protects against UV rays that can cause skin cancer; so whether its cold outside or warm inside—wear sunscreen! The best sunscreens are ones which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as these reflect light rather than absorbing it like other chemicals do which then cause damage over time.”

Emergency Kit

• Make sure the kit is waterproof.
• Include a first aid kit.
• Include a whistle, flare, mirror and torch (and batteries if they aren’t rechargeable).
• Include a knife, rope and life jacket.

If you capsize, you’ve got to get out and sail

If you capsize, get out of the boat and get back in. If the boat drifts away while you are swimming around, swim after it as best you can. If your laser has a centerboard or daggerboard, pull up on that to bring the bow up so that you can re-board. Do not try to start sailing again until after going through all these steps:

• Get all gear off before attempting to sail (e.g., water bottle)
• Get back into the cockpit with board down (if applicable)
• Reposition yourself properly in relation to tiller and foot straps

The Laser is particularly vulnerable to capsize because of its size, low weight and soft construction materials (foam). In order for it not to be knocked over by even mild wind gusts when sailing solo, there must be adequate ballast kept away from centerline through placement of items such as rags or buckets filled with water

If you’re in trouble don’t panic.

If you find yourself in trouble on the water, don’t panic. The most important thing is to stay calm and think about what you can do to help yourself. If you’ve been knocked off your boat, try to swim back on it or dive under if possible (don’t worry about losing your glasses). If there are people around who are willing to help, ask them for assistance. Try not to be embarrassed by any situation—it happens!

If there aren’t any people nearby or they aren’t able or willing to help, call out for help using whatever means necessary (like shouting or blowing a whistle) so that someone will notice and come over immediately. Don’t forget that cell phones have GPS capabilities these days which can be used in emergencies such as this one; just make sure that it’s turned on before heading out onto the lake/river/sea etc., because otherwise no one will know where exactly where you’re located unless there’s an active search already underway elsewhere nearby due some sort of emergency happening near enough proximity from where ____ was last seen…

Before you set sail make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Telling someone where you are going and when you expect to be back is an important safety precaution. It’s also a good idea to let someone know if you are going out on the water.

• If you are planning on being out for a long time, let your family or friends know where exactly it is that you will be and when they can expect your return. This allows them to call the police if they haven’t heard from you by then.
• If it’s just an afternoon sail and there isn’t any reason for concern, then simply letting them know where it is that you will be is fine—it allows others who may need help getting home after a trip out on their own boat (or other means) to connect with each other more easily as well!

Be safe on the water.

• Be careful of the wind. A laser is so light it is easily blown around by the slightest breeze and can sometimes even tip over if you’re not careful.
• Be careful of the water temperature. The laser will sink if you get too much spray on it or are out in deeper water for too long!
• Be careful of other boats, especially speedboats and jet skis, as they may cause damage to your boat and harm yourself or your crew if you collide with one! It’s best to stay away from them as much as possible while on the water unless absolutely necessary (e.g., needing help fixing a broken rudder).
• Be careful of your boat! Always keep an eye out for problems that could arise while sailing, such as rough waves colliding into each other causing them to shatter on impact with each other which could result in injuries like bruises or cuts being made upon impact when standing up during sailing; also remember to always carry some bandages just incase someone gets hurt while sailing because there won’t always be time during races where everyone is racing off against each other at full speed–sometimes things happen unexpectedly which could lead one person falling overboard unexpectedly but luckily there were enough spare parts left over after building our own boats so we built extra ones just incase something like this happened–it did happen once before too thankfully someone managed save him before he drowned but unfortunately his leg got crushed under two planks so badly that doctors had no choice but amputate completely without any hope whatsoever chance surviving even after surgery due

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you some insight into how important it is to be safe on the water. The laser dinghy is a fantastic sport to get involved in and I would encourage anyone who thinks they might like it to give it a go!