| Compared to various varieties of boats, sailboats | | | | Fire extinguishers are another compulsory and |
| are relatively small and are wind-driven, as | | | | important items to be available abroad. |
| opposed to gas-powered, vessels. A sailboat is | | | | One most important item that should always be |
| primarily used for sports and personal purposes. | | | | updated and accessible is a ditch bag or a grab |
| Sailboats can be found in a wide variety such as | | | | bag made of nylon and padded with foam, which |
| keelboats, yachts, sailing dinghies, and skiffs. | | | | can be used if the ship needs to be abandoned. |
| Sailboats can be rented for a day or more. | | | | Some of the items that a ditch bag must contain |
| However, regardless of the size and type of boat | | | | are the first-aid kit, a registered 406-MHz EPIRB, |
| rented, the coast guards in each state have | | | | GPS, compass, hand-held radio, batteries, fishing |
| minimum requirements for the safety gear to be | | | | line and hooks, space blanket(s), freeze-dried |
| carried on board. Some states insist on some | | | | food, toothbrushes and toothpaste, packets of |
| additional gear. This is to protect both the | | | | hand wipes, waterproof baggies, signaling devices |
| passenger and the crew during any emergencies. | | | | (mirrors, flares), flashlight, glow-sticks, |
| All the gear that is being taken on board has to | | | | reverse-osmosis watermakers and collapsible |
| be tested. This is to ensure that there are no | | | | containers, tape, survival manual, seasickness |
| unpleasant surprises in the event some or all of | | | | tablets, binoculars, a multi-purpose tool ( with a |
| the gear is needed. One of the most important | | | | knife, scissors, etc.,), passports/wallets/money |
| things to be checked and ready are the personal | | | | credit card, prescriptions for current crew (like |
| flotation devices. They should be readily accessible | | | | nitroglycerine for anyone with a heart condition), |
| and in good condition. These come in five types | | | | spare eyeglasses, sunblock, shock cord, and the |
| and the most suitable has to be chosen and | | | | boat's documentation. |
| checked that it fits all the passengers and the | | | | A different form of sailing is offered by the sailing |
| crew. Every sailboat has to have at least one | | | | cruises. They provide a combination of comfort, |
| type of personal floatation device. | | | | cost saving, companionship, and freedom. A lot of |
| All sailboats must carry pyrotechnic devices | | | | companies currently offer a variety of affordable |
| include flares, smoke, flares with parachutes, and | | | | yachting holidays, designed to offer the thrills of |
| aerial meteors; they can be hand-held, buoyant, or | | | | sailing to those with little or no experience. |
| launchable. Also, some of the non-pyrotechnic | | | | Sailing cruises can be in a sailboat having a single |
| devices including signal flags, balloons, kites, | | | | berth or can accommodate a group of people in |
| streamers, and electric distress lights (flashing | | | | the event it is a vacation for family or friends. |
| SOS) and strobes should be included. Also, | | | | Sailing boats come with skippers so the |
| high-intensity whistles, air horns, megaphones, and | | | | vacationers can learn to sail if they want or just |
| hailers should be available when required on board. | | | | enjoy lazing around. |