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Nautical advisory · Chile · Online & In-Person

Survival
at Sea

Nobody plans for an emergency. But those who survive are the ones who prepared for one.

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30+
Years at sea
Drake
Horn · Patagonia
MOB
Mayday · Rescue
Online
All of Chile
The reality

At sea, minutes decide

In a maritime emergency, the first minutes are critical. Knowing what to do, having the right equipment and having practiced the basic procedures can be the difference between a dramatic rescue and a tragedy.

Most people who sail recreationally have never thought about what to do if someone falls overboard, if the engine fails in a narrow pass, if the vessel takes on water or if there is fire on board. This advisory prepares you for those scenarios.

Captain Rodrigo has operated in the Drake Passage, Cape Horn, the Strait of Magellan and extreme weather conditions throughout the world. He has lived real emergency situations and knows what works when time is running out.

What's covered

What this advisory reviews

FAQ

Questions I'm often asked

What do I do if someone falls overboard in the southern canals of Chile?
In the southern canals, water temperature can cause hypothermia within minutes. First: shout 'man overboard', immediately throw the life ring, mark the GPS position, call a Mayday on VHF channel 16, and maneuver to recover the person as quickly as possible. An immersion suit dramatically increases survival time in those waters.
Do I need an immersion suit to sail in southern Chile?
For the austral canals and Patagonia, yes. Water temperatures in those areas range from 4°C to 12°C depending on the season. Without an immersion suit, survival time in the water is measured in minutes. With an immersion suit, you can survive hours while rescue arrives.
When should I activate an EPIRB beacon?
The EPIRB is activated when there is imminent danger to crew lives and you cannot resolve the situation by your own means. It is not for requesting a tow or reporting minor breakdowns. Activate it when the vessel is sinking, there are seriously injured people with no nearby assistance, or there is uncontrollable fire on board.
What basic procedures should the crew know before casting off?
The most critical: man overboard procedure (MOB), use of VHF in emergencies (Mayday and Pan-Pan), EPIRB and PLB activation, use of pyrotechnic signals, life raft deployment, and vessel abandonment protocol. The entire crew must know them, not just the captain.

Want to prepare your crew?

Tell me where you sail and what equipment you have. I'll tell you what procedures to know and what's missing.

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