Safety on Matariki III
Safety on Matariki is practical, clear and taken seriously. Every crew member is expected to play their part, look after one another, and ask when unsure.
Before departure, crew are briefed on the key safety equipment carried onboard and the basic procedures used at sea. New crew are not expected to know everything already, but they are expected to take safety seriously and listen well.
Core Safety Rules
A few rules matter all the time.
No one goes onto the foredeck alone
No one uses the duckboard for ablutions without two people on deck and a harness on
PFD and harness rules must be followed
Soft sea shoes or sea boots only
Watch the boom, power winches and running rigging
If in doubt, ask
Crew should also wait until they have been shown how to use key systems such as the stove and the heads.
Lifejackets and Harnesses
Matariki carries the essential offshore safety equipment onboard, including PFDs, tethers, jacklines, liferaft, grab bag, EPIRB, PLBs, rescue gear, flares, medical kit and emergency steering.
Before departure, each crew member is briefed on the location and use of this equipment. The principle is simple: safety gear is there to be used early, not late.
Emergency Procedures
Full briefings, equipment locations and drills are covered onboard before departure. What follows is the awareness-level version every crew member should understand before joining the boat.
Man Overboard
If someone goes overboard, raise the alarm immediately. Shout “Man Overboard”, hit the MOB button on the GPS, keep pointing at the person in the water, throw the lifebuoy and Dan buoy, and get help on deck at once. Recovery is directed by the skipper.
Fire
If there is a fire, shout “Fire” and state the location clearly. Use the nearest suitable extinguisher or fire blanket if it is safe to do so. If the fire cannot be controlled, the response escalates under the skipper's direction.
Flooding or Hull Damage
If the boat is taking on water, stay calm and work methodically. Alert the skipper immediately, get crew ready, and prepare to assist with pumps, damage control, or further emergency procedures as directed.
Medical Emergency
In a medical emergency, alert the skipper immediately and begin first aid.
Abandon Ship
Abandoning ship is a last resort and only on the skipper's instruction. Crew should understand that the liferaft, grab bag, EPIRB and distress procedures are part of the boat's emergency systems, and that full abandon-ship briefings are covered onboard.
When to Call the Skipper
Call the skipper immediately if there is:
- •Any collision risk
- •Landfall within five nautical miles
- •A need to reef
- •A major change in wind or sea state
- •Any fire, flooding, MOB, collision, injury, or other emergency
- •Any failure of navigation, safety, steering, communications, or other major onboard systems
Final Note
Good seamanship starts with awareness, discipline and clear communication. The safest crews are the ones who speak up early, look after each other, and never guess when they are unsure.