Not many things cause as much tension underway as low visibility. You need to make sure that you are ready to deal with pea-soup fog or a blinding rain squall. Use these top ten sailing tips to gain the confidence you need to meet this challenge!

Keep a sharp lookout when in or near areas of low visibility. Other vessels may not use proper lights or whistle signals. Stop or anchor when in doubt. (photo courtesy of www.sailcharbonneau.com)

Know Where You Are!

Mark your position on your nautical chart and plotter when in or near an area of reduced visibility. Energize and maintain a watch on radar and AIS (if installed). Maintain a plot of your position at frequent intervals. At all times--know where you are! Record your latitude and longitude in the logbook.

Plot the safest course to keep your vessel in safe water and clear of shipping lanes, areas frequented by commercial traffic (i.e. tugs, commercial fishing vessels), and dangerous shoals.

If in doubt of your position, pull off to the side of the channel and anchor. Make sure that you show the proper lights for a vessel of your size at anchor and that you sound the signals required by the Navigation Rules (members see this download => http://www.skippertips.com/snip/676.htm ).

Follow these 10 "often forgotten" steps when sailing in or near an area of reduced visibility. Remember, you must warn others of your location, locate vessels or dangers that threaten your safety, and take action to avoid collision. Put these steps into play to keep out of harm's way:

1. Put on Personal Flotation Devices

Make sure all hands put on inflatable vests or life-jackets. Fasten all straps and snaps. Attach flashlights and police-type whistles to each vest or life-jacket.

Stuff a wool or microfiber watch cap in your pocket. Your body loses 90% of it's heat through your head. If you go into the water, this will help slow down the onset of hypothermia.

2. Energize marine navigation lights

The navigation rules require all vessels to show proper lights during darkness or reduced visibility -- day or night. Sailboats show red and green side lights and a white stern light.

If you have your engine on, turn on your masthead light. See "Related Articles" links below for other lights you might see in low visibility or at night.

3. Warn others of your position

Use a manual fog horn or air canister horn to warn other vessels of your position and actions. Sound fog signals in or near areas of low visibility. Why do the navigation rules require you to sound signals "near" a low visibility area? Here's an example...

In San Francisco Bay, fog banks can shroud one part of the bay while it's crystal clear on the other side. If you're sailing near a fog bank you need to sound fog signals to warn vessels inside the bank of your position.

Vessels under sail sound one prolonged blast (4-6 seconds) followed by two short blasts (a short blast lasts one second), every two minutes. If under power, sound one prolonged blast every two minutes. If under power but drifting, sound two prolonged blasts every two minutes. Also, see the "Related Articles" links below.

4. Maintain a lookout by "all means"

Send one crew forward to the bow away from the noise of the engine. Hearing becomes the most important of your senses in fog or haze. If you hear or sight another vessel, slow down or stop. Figure out what the other vessel is doing before you proceed. If you have installed radar, the navigation rules require that you use it along with visual scanning.

5. Hoist two or more radar reflectors

Purchase two radar reflectors. The best designs have three round panels that bisect one another at 90 degree angles. Hoist the reflector so that the top panels form a "V". This presents the best reflective surface when heeled over. Hoist the reflectors high up on your backstay and shrouds. Also, see the "Related Articles" link below.

6. Use a high-beam spotlight

Keep a powerful, one million candlepower, handheld spotlight in the cockpit. If a ship approaches, shine the light onto your sails and in the direction of the vessel to get their attention.

7. Rig jacklines fore and aft

Jacklines provide an attachment point when moving between the cockpit and the bow. Run two lines or long lengths of flat webbing on each side of the boat. Attach the lines or webbing to the bow and stern cleats. Remove as much slack as possible so that they don't become tripping hazards for your sailing crew.

8. Wear safety harnesses

Wear a safety harness with two tethers (lines with snaps). Clip on to the windward side jackline. If you need to move around an obstruction, clip on with the free tether before releasing the other.

Strap a sharp knife in a sheath to your belt. If your safety harness gets tangled, you want to be able to cut yourself free in an instant.

9. Stop, listen, and look

Heave to often, stop the boat and listen. If under power, stop the engine and listen for several minutes. To find a sound equipped navigation buoy (bell, whistle, gong), make a tight circle to create a wake. Then, stop the boat and listen.

10. Get your boat anchor ready

Carry at least 300 feet of anchor rode (line) and two anchors. Make sure you can get your anchor over the side in a few seconds. If unsure of your position, anchor until you sort things out. If underway and you hear surf (breakers) ahead, lower the anchor right away.

Skipper-Tip Shift the helm watch every 30 minutes in fog. Extensive research proves that attention spans plummet after this period. This applies to all sailors--novice and veteran alike!

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Use these ten survival sailing safety tips in less than ideal marine weather to keep out of harms way. You and your sailing crew will arrive in port safe and sound--wherever in the world you choose to cruise.

"Written so clearly that navigation and seamanship will be comprehensible to anyone."
-- Dave and Jaja Martin, circumnavigators, authors,
and stars of the documentary "Ice Blink"

"It should be read by anyone contemplating
coastal cruising or blue water voyages."
-- Ted Brewer, world famous yacht designer

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