lighthouse

Items in the list above are supported by paperwork (see below) and are used as an ‘aide memoir’. Make sure you have discussed with the crew what they wish to achieve and what to expect. You may not know the crew so always find out their experience, if they can swim and whether they have any medical issues.

1. Engine related checks

Daily
Before starting	Raw water filter, clean if needed
	Check if sea cock is open
	Oil level and colour. Do not overfill. Is spare oil on board?
	Fresh water coolant level
	Drive belt condition and tension
	Leakage of oil and/or water under the engine
	Primary fuel filter – check for water in the bowl: drain if necessary
After starting	Make sure the batteries are charging. Switch off any unnecessary electrical loads
	Ensure cool water discharges
	Engage forward and reverse gear before untying dock lines
Under way	Always run the engine under sufficient load and minimize longer idle time, check regularly cool water discharge and regular watch engine while running (irregular vibration).
Stopped	Run engine for a short while at low rpm if run before under high load and after running full load again run idle, for a short time to let engine cool down.
weekly
gearbox	Oil level (just to bottom of the dip stick) and colour

propeller	Is propeller and shaft free of barnacles? Check shaft anode corrosion.
Stuffing box	No leaks or traces of salt around the stuffing box area?

2. RIG CHECKS (once every months AND after a rough weather sail)

Standing rig

Check shrouds and stays for broken wires, tension, split pens, spreaders (angle), gooseneck, kicker. Check free rotation of furling system. Flush furling system with fresh water

Running rig

Check attachment of shackles to halyards, shave and constantly loaded points, proper attachment of all sheets

Check winches and winch handles for proper functioning

Sails

Are all sails to be used on board?

Check condition of main sail and head sail, specially at attachment points and at battens

Check reefing system and reef lines

3. FIRST AID KIT CHECKLIST

The First Aid materials are located in the aft cabin on the port shelf. If you use any medical equipment please record it and also write up a report of the incident in the Medical Incident Log if it is more than just a cut.

Article	Type	#
Manual	Book is on shelve in main cabin	1

Pain killers	Isoprofen 200	20
	Paracetamol	30
Dressings	Crepe Bandages 75mm x 1.5m
	Crepe Bandages 100mm x 1.5m	10
	Band-Aids	1
	Adhesive Tape 50mm x 2.5m	20
	Cotton wool Combined Pieces	1
	Non Adhesive Dressing (Unitulle)	10
Eye care	Antiseptic (Betadine) 50ml	5
	Saline - 500 ml	1
	Antibiotic Ointment - Tube - Genoptic	1
	Eye Pads	1
Burn	Cream - Paraxyl	5
Sun protection crème	Various brands and strength	1
Diarrhoea	Imodium	20
Dehydration	Electrolyte sachets	20
Sea sickness	Dramamine packs	4
Stomach	hydrosil	20
Antihistamine	chlorpheniramin	100
Antibiotics	Unimox (broad spectrum)	200
Running nose	Clarinase	14
Instruments	Scissors	1
	Splinter forceps	1
	Disposable gloves
	Safety pins
	Moist towelettes	10

4. CHECK-IN / DEPARTURE INVENTORY

Remember to ensure all official paperwork is completed and on board: port clearance, passports, insurance papers, boat registration

ABOVE DECK
Main sail	Check halyard is attached. Sail cover removed
Genoa	Sheets ready for use, rollerfurler readied
Sails	Ensure the correct sails are on board. Check for damage/chafe.
Washboards	Stow in starboard locker
Anchor	Ready to go. Check whether it is secured to prevent accidentally dropping or chafe along the bow
Bilges	Check water level (zero) and pump for readiness
Dinghy	Secured either astern, on deck or below
Lockers	Orderly and accessible
Bimini	Appropriate to conditions
Kedge Anchor	In port locker with 60m warp attached
Water / Fuel	Filled to required amount, do not over fill fuel
Gas bottles	Check that it is enough for trip.
BELOW DECK.
*Ensure that the saloon and galley are safe areas. Cabins must also be secure areas.*
Victualed	Food and water as necessary with 25% extras
Galley	Stow all food & drinks
Electrics and electronics	Electronics tested, lights tested, including navigation lights. Spare batteries !!
Navtable	Prepared. Charts selected. Passage plan prepared. Log readied
Shore power	Line disconnected and stowed
Engine	See Engine Checklist. Run the engine prior to the crew arriving
Waterproofs	Allocate where appropriate.
Portholes	Locked
Hatches	Shut and locked, depending on conditions
Crew	Personal gear stowed safely, life jackets and life lines allocated
*Ensure all gear is stowed securely and lockers and drawers are closed*

Make notes of any equipment that is not serviceable or not in its correct location. Ensure that a replacement for defective equipment is found immediately (if possible).

5. FIRE BRIEFING

Make a cup of tea/coffee. Use this as a lead in for the explanation of gas protocol and the use of the heads. Explain the potential causes of fire and the dangers at sea.

Gas leaks

Always turn off the gas bottle when you leave the vessel and during the night

Always turn off the gas isolator (located in the left cupboard behind plates) at the stove between uses of the stove.

If a gas leak is suspected close off the supply at the bottle ventilate the vessel and pump the bilges, NEVER check with a naked flame!

Petrol vapours (gasoline for outboard is stored in anchor locker!)

Burning oil

Towels and/or clothing over flames

Electrical Fire

Smoking

smoking is NOT allowed on board Mei Poh

Never leave a naked flame unattended

Report any strange smells and check electrical wires regularly for chafe.

Close gas valves if stove not used or if fire

Use fire blanket over stove fires, not water

No water at electrical fires, switch off batteries

If the fire can not be controlled, prepare to leave the boat!

6. PERSONAL SAFETY BRIEFING

Show location of all safety equipment: Life raft, flares, fire extinguishers, blanket, EPIRB, VHF spare ariel, torches, grab bag, sea cocks and how to operate them.

1. Demonstrate the use of life jackets? Crew to stow them. These should be worn:

· During restricted visibility (fog or heavy rain)

· During hours of darkness while on passage

· During poor conditions

· At all times for non swimmers

· When any crew feels he/she requires and at all times you as a skipper think they should be used

2. Show and demonstrate safety harnesses for the deck crew, point out the safe attachment points.

3. Point out the location of the First Aid kit and manual.

4. Show the location of the fire blanket and the fire extinguishers

5. Show where the VHF radio is and the instructions for use which are prominently displayed at the nav station

6. Show how to turn on/off the cooking gas and cooker valve controls.

7. Point out the bilge pumps both manual and automatic.

8. Show where the flares are located and how to fire/use them.

9. Are the crew members adequately protected with sunglasses, sunscreens, suitable clothing and foot wear?

10. Make crew aware of MOB procedure and equipment

7. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN AN EMERGENCY

Make sure the crew are aware of the actions required in an emergency to join the rest of the crew on deck in suitable dress with lifejacket and harness. Assign specific tasks to each crew member for emergencies.

MAYDAY call.

1. Switch on VHF (button top right)

2. Press channel 16 (blue button)

3. Select high power on microphone, right button, High or low is indicated on the display.

4. Press and hold PTT button on microphone (on the side left)

5. Speak slow and clear the following text while PTT button is pressed:

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY

This is sailing vessel MEI POH

MAYDAY sailing vessel MEI POH

Our position is degrees and minutes latitude and degrees and minutes longitude. Read from GPS, ignore the decimal places (for example 1.15 North, 103.55 East

Give nature of distress (for example, we are holed and are sinking, we have fire on board.

We have (number) people on board.

Over.

Release the PTT, Wait for 30 seconds and repeat until reply. DO NOT PANIC.

In case you know how the VHF works, press the DSC button for 5 seconds (you hear 5 short beeps followed by a long beep). The VHF will acknowledge receipt if there is any and will switch to channel 16 for voice messages automatically. The position will have been transmitted automatically if the GPS was on.
The power to the VHF is automatically ‘on’ if navigation instruments are ‘on’. You might have to turn the on knob on the VHF itself.

8. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF A MOB

Make sure this is explained before departure and demonstrated/practised at the earliest possible convenient moment.

Shout MOB (hit MOB on GPS)
Hove to/ stop the vessel
Calmly talk to the crew in the cockpit and make sure they are harnessed and attached to a strong point
Delegate a spotter immediately
Check there are no lines over the side
Start the engine
At this point you will be close to the person in the water, if possible run the engine in reverse until you are alongside the person, if not deploy the Dan buoy and life ring to the casualty
Follow the RYA Day Skipper MOB routine of dropping the headsail sheeting in the main running downwind 5 boat lengths and motoring slowly towards them.
Recovery method depends on the casualty, weather conditions and the vessel. The most important thing is to get the casualty attached to the vessel
Call a MAYDAY unless the action of doing so inhibits the rescue operation
Cancel MAYDAY after the recovery

File an incident report form if required

9. HOW TO USE THE HEADS

The toilet (heads in ship terms) discharges directly over board. Obviously this has consequences for its use: Do not use the heads

* in a marina
* while anchoring close to shore
* if there are swimmers around (or will be around), specially not on non-tidal waters.

Only things that have been eaten are allowed in the bowl. So no (wet) tissues, tampons etc.

It is standard role on board that who ever messes up the heads cleans it. If that unlucky persons has two left hands, it is a case of beer or bottle of whiskey for the one who does the job.

If you need to use the heads please follow the following instructions:

1. Make sure sea cocks for the outlet and inlet are open (standard open except in bad weather)
2. Do the business you have to do. It is advisable to rinse the bowl in between if required. For that you push the black
button right of the toilet bowl if you face it as long as necessary
3. Use toilet paper sparingly as it might block the outlet. If more is needed, flush in between
4. When ready flush the bowl for at least 5 seconds to rinse out the hose
5. Leave a clean bowl behind. If needed use the brush next to the toilet
6. Close the sea cocks if they were closed before

A more detailed Operational Procedures manual (template) can be obtained on request.

Daily