SAFETY BRIEFING

Small Vessel Regulations SOR/2010-91, Schedule II. Vessel class: Pleasure craft over 12m, up to 24m.

• 🦺
  PFDs / Lifejackets — One per person, appropriate size, Transport Canada approved
  CDS has: 5x inflatable type. Verify inflation cartridges before departure.
  📍 Cockpit lazarette (port side) TC REQUIRED
  OK
• 🔴
  Lifebuoy — 1x with self-igniting light OR attached to 15m buoyant line
  Mount within arm's reach of helm. Throw, don't carry to casualty.
  📍 Stern rail TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🪢
  Buoyant Heaving Line — Minimum 15m (49'3")
  Throwable line for MOB recovery. Practice throwing before you need it. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🧯
  Fire Extinguishers — 10BC class at: each fuel-burning appliance access, accommodation entrance, machinery space entrance
  CDS has: 4x B1. AGES RANGED 1990-2021 AT SURVEY. Expired units must be replaced.
  📍 F1: Galley | F2: Engine access | F3: Companionway | F4: Forward cabin TC REQUIRED
  CHECK DATES
• 🪓
  Axe — 1x fire axe
  For cutting lines, breaking through in emergency. Secure when not in use. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🪣
  Buckets — 2x (min 10L capacity each, TC recommended)
  For firefighting and bailing. Lanyard attached. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🔦
  Watertight Flashlight — 1x
  Check batteries before departure. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🎆
  Pyrotechnic Distress Signals — 12x (max 6 smoke), OR 6x (max 3 smoke) if VHF/EPIRB aboard
  CDS has VHF and EPIRB: 6 flares required. Check expiry dates. Expired flares are not compliant. TC REQUIRED
  CHECK EXPIRY
• ⚓
  Anchor + 50m Rode — Cable, rope, or chain in any combination
  CDS has: 66 lb Claw (primary). No secondary anchor (recommended by surveyor). TC REQUIRED
  NO SECONDARY
• 💧
  Bilge Pumping Arrangements — Manual and/or electric
  Know the location of the manual bilge pump handle. Test before departure. TC REQUIRED
  TEST
• 📯
  Sound Signalling Device — Horn/whistle meeting COLREGs
  CDS has: Horn (confirmed). 5 short blasts = danger. 1 prolonged every 2 min = fog. TC REQUIRED COLREGS
  OK
• 💡
  Navigation Lights — Per COLREGs Rule 25 (sailing vessel) and Rule 23 (power-driven)
  Port (red), starboard (green), stern (white), steaming (white, under power), anchor (white 360°). Test all before night passage. TC REQUIRED COLREGS
  TEST
• 🧭
  Magnetic Compass — Per Navigation Safety Regulations
  CDS has: Plastimo compass. GPS is not a substitute for a magnetic compass. TC REQUIRED
  OK
• 📡
  Radar Reflector — Required for non-metallic vessels under 20m
  CDS is fiberglass, 13.34m. Radar reflector is mandatory. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🪜
  Reboarding Device — Required if freeboard exceeds 0.5m
  Swim ladder or equivalent. Must be deployable from the water by the person in the water. TC REQUIRED
  VERIFY
• 🆘
  EPIRB / PLB — 406 MHz distress beacon
  CDS has: 406 MHz, registered Nov 2025. Verify battery expiry. This is your last resort: activates search and rescue.
  📍 Cockpit, within reach of helm BEST PRACTICE
  OK
• 🛟
  Life Raft — Not required by TC for pleasure craft, but strongly recommended offshore
  CDS has: NONE at survey. Required for any offshore passage. Coastal day trips: acceptable risk if staying within rescue range. RECOMMENDED SOLAS OFFSHORE
  NONE
• 🚩
  MOB Pole / Dan Buoy — Marks person in water
  CDS has: NONE at survey. Critical for offshore. Difficult to see a head in waves without a pole marker. RECOMMENDED
  NONE

• 🚪
  MAIN EXIT: Companionway
  Primary exit from below decks to cockpit. Sliding hatch + dropboards. Practice removing dropboards quickly.
  📍 Between galley and cockpit
• 🟢
  H1: Forward Deck Hatch
  Opens from inside and outside. Large enough for adult egress. Primary escape from forward cabin.
  📍 Above V-berth, foredeck
• 🟢
  H2-H3: Salon Roof Escape Hatches
  Two dedicated escape hatches in the deck saloon roof. Large enough for adult egress. Open from inside and outside. Primary escape route from salon if companionway is blocked.
  📍 Salon roof, centerline
• ⬜
  W1-W4: Salon Side Windows
  Opening windows on both sides of the deck saloon. Provide ventilation and light. Not primary escape exits.
  📍 Salon sides, port and starboard
• 🟢
  H4: Aft Starboard Cabin Hatch
  Opens to deck. Emergency exit from starboard aft cabin.
  📍 Above aft stbd berth
• 🟢
  H5: Aft Port Cabin Hatch
  Opens to deck. Emergency exit from port aft cabin.
  📍 Above aft port berth
• ⬜
  P1-P2: Forward Cabin Portlights
  Opening portlights. Too small for egress. Ventilation only. Not escape exits.
  📍 Forward cabin, port and starboard
• 🏊
  Swim Platform / Transom
  Fold-down transom provides water-level access. Reboarding point for MOB recovery.
  📍 Stern

• 🔴
  Engine Raw Water Intake
  Below waterline. Supplies cooling water to engine. Close if hose failure.
  📍 Engine compartment, low stbd side
  See manual page 093: Thru-hull & Seacock Locations
• 🔴
  Head Intake(s)
  Supplies sea water for toilet flushing.
  📍 Under head compartment sole
• 🔴
  Head Discharge
  Overboard discharge. Must be closed in port / no-discharge zones.
  📍 Under head compartment
• 🔴
  Galley Sink Drain
  Below waterline. Back-siphon risk when heeled.
  📍 Under galley sink
• 🔴
  Cockpit Drains
  Self-draining cockpit. Typically above waterline but check at heel.
  📍 Cockpit sole, port and stbd

⚠ Wooden tapered plugs must be tied to each below-waterline seacock. If you lose a thru-hull fitting, hammer the plug in.

• 🔥
  Propane System
  Eno 2-burner stove. Propane tank in dedicated lazarette locker with OPD (Overfill Protection Device). Solenoid shut-off controlled from galley panel. ALWAYS close solenoid after cooking. Sniff bilge before starting engine.
  📍 Propane: stern lazarette | Solenoid switch: galley panel
• 🧯
  F1: Galley Extinguisher
  📍 Galley, within reach of stove exit path (not behind stove)
• 🧯
  F2: Engine Compartment Extinguisher
  📍 Engine access, companionway area
• 🧯
  F3: Accommodation Extinguisher
  📍 Companionway / salon entrance
• 🧯
  F4: Forward Extinguisher
  📍 Forward cabin area

• ⛵
  Under Sail: Show port (red), starboard (green), stern (white). No steaming light. Optional: combined red/green masthead + stern tri-colour (not both).
• 🚤
  Under Power (motor sailing counts): Show port, starboard, stern, AND steaming light (white, forward, above sidelights).
• ⚓
  At Anchor: White 360° light. Required between sunset and sunrise and in restricted visibility.
• 🔊
  Fog Signals: Under power: 1 prolonged blast every 2 min. Under sail: 1 prolonged + 2 short every 2 min. At anchor: bell rapidly for 5 sec every 1 min.
• 🚢
  Right of Way: Power gives way to sail (usually). Both give way to: vessels not under command, restricted manoeuvrability, fishing, constrained by draft. Ferries in traffic lanes: stay clear.
• 🔴
  Rule 5: Lookout. Every vessel shall maintain a proper lookout at ALL times. This is non-negotiable. If crew is aboard, someone is on watch.

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs). Incorporated into Canadian Collision Regulations SOR/2003-332.

• 📻
  VHF Radio — Icom (x1)
  VHF 16: Distress, safety, and calling (monitor at all times). VHF 12: Vancouver Traffic. WX1/WX2: Weather.
• 🆘
  MAYDAY Format
  "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY. This is sailing vessel Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul. MAYDAY Cruzeiro do Sul. My position is [LAT/LON]. I have [nature of distress]. I require [assistance needed]. [Number] persons on board. Over."
• 📶
  EPIRB / PLB — 406 MHz, registered. Activates JRCC satellite alert. Use ONLY when loss of life is imminent and VHF has failed.
  📍 Cockpit, helm station
• 📱
  Cell Phone — Backup. Call 911 or Coast Guard (250) 413-8933. Cell coverage unreliable offshore.
• 🛰️
  Starlink — Active. Backup data/voice. Not a substitute for VHF.

• 🏥
  First Aid Kit
  📍 Nav station area
  Check contents and expiry dates before departure. Minimum: bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, seasickness meds, trauma dressings, SAM splint, emergency blanket.
• 🌡️
  Hypothermia Awareness
  Water temp: ~8°C (46°F) in March. Cold shock: 1-3 min. Swimming failure: 3-30 min. Hypothermia: 30-90 min. Wear PFD at all times on deck in cold weather.
• 💊
  Seasickness
  Take medication BEFORE departure (Gravol, Stugeron, or scopolamine patch). A seasick crew member is a safety risk. Stay on deck, look at horizon, stay hydrated.

• 1️⃣
  PFDs on deck at all times in: darkness, fog, heavy weather, offshore, when asked by skipper. Coastal daylight calm: skipper's discretion.
• 2️⃣
  One hand for yourself, one for the boat. Always hold on when moving on deck. The boat moves; you don't.
• 3️⃣
  No standing on the rail. Use the deck, use the lifelines for balance only (they are not designed to hold your full weight).
• 4️⃣
  Tell someone before going on deck at night. If you go over, someone needs to know immediately.
• 5️⃣
  No alcohol while underway. Impairment on a boat is a criminal offence (Canada Criminal Code, same as impaired driving, 0.08 BAC limit) and a safety risk.
• 6️⃣
  Know your exits. Walk through the boat and identify all hatches before departure.
• 7️⃣
  Skipper's word is final. In an emergency, follow instructions without debate. There is one captain.
• 8️⃣
  If you feel unsafe, say so. No question is stupid on a boat. Ask before you touch anything unfamiliar.