Abandoning Ship: Step Up, Never Down

Abandoning ship is the last resort — you leave only when the boat is more dangerous than the sea. The classic rule is "step UP into the liferaft": a floating hull, even holed or dismasted, is a bigger target for rescuers and a better platform than an inflatable. Most survivors of sinkings say they abandoned too early. So before you deploy the raft, exhaust everything else — bilge pumps, plugging the leak, a Mayday call, EPIRB activation. You abandon only when the deck is truly going under.

The liferaft lives in a canister or valise secured on deck or in a dedicated locker so it can float free or be launched fast. To deploy: attach the painter (its long line) to a strong point first, throw the raft to the leeward side, then pull the painter hard — often 5+ metres of it — to fire the CO₂ cylinder that inflates the raft. Board it as dry as possible, cut the painter with the knife stowed at the entrance, and stream the drogue (sea anchor) for stability.

The grab bag is your pre-packed survival kit, clipped ready near the companionway. Typical contents: handheld VHF, flares, a spare PLB or EPIRB, drinking water, high-energy food, a first-aid kit, thermal protective aids, a knife, and seasickness tablets. Grab it on the way out — but never delay abandoning to hunt for extras. Once aboard the raft the priorities are Protection, Location, Water, Food — in that order, because exposure kills long before thirst does.