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