survival courses |

SEA SURVIVAL

2 days of learning, one is spent aboard the motor yacht 'Sydneysider' on Sydney Harbour at Gore Bay near Greenwich. Here you will jump into the water and learn survival drills and techniques. This is a must for anyone who enjoys boating in open waters and a requirement for commercial off shore racing crew.

What do you do when your boat is sinking? ...Prepare to abandon ship.

During all shipboard drills and emergency operations, guests and crew must wear their life jackets. It's one of the most important pieces of equipment for your survival in the water. Next, get away from the vessel and swim as slowly as possible toward the survival craft. DO NOT swim or thrash about any more than you need to because:

• You will lose body heat
• You will lose strength

• A righting strap is fitted on the underside of the raft to right the raft if it capsizes or inflates upside down. The righting strap runs the full width of the oval or round raft.
• Swim to the side marked "RIGHT HERE." If it is not marked, go to the side where the CO2 cylinder is located. Reach up and grab the righting strap. Start pulling yourself up onto the raft. It may help to kick your feet out as if swimming. If this does not work, try putting your feet or knees into the external lifelines to help you pull yourself up on the raft.
• Stand on the very edge, where the CO2 cylinder is located. Lean back with all your weight while pulling on the righting strap
• If the canopy is clear of water, the raft will begin to follow you. If the raft is large, it will land on your head unless you bend your knees and spring backwards just as the raft begins to free-fall. This should allow your head to clear the raft.
• Do not panic if the raft does land on top of you. Because the bottom of the raft is soft and flexible, you can create an air pocket by pushing your arms or head against the floor. This will give you a chance to catch a breath of air. Use your arms and swim face up to get out from underneath the raft. If you try to swim out face down, the raft may hang up on the back of your life preserver. If this happens, it will be difficult for you to get out from underneath the raft.
• If one person cannot right a capsized raft, the canopy probably has filled with seawater that cannot escape. Try two persons pulling on the righting strap. If this does not work, then get several persons in the water on the opposite side of the raft. These persons should work the water out of the canopy by pushing up on the canopy while two people pull on the righting strap. It may take several persons to right a large raft.