ditch bag

Every boat should have an abandon-ship bag(ditch bag), that is, a bag filled with essential emergency supplies in case the boat needs to be abandoned. Remember though, you should only ever have to step UP into a liferaft. Don't be too quick to abandon your boat, boarding a liferaft ought to be a last resort. In a panic, sailors board their liferafts too soon, with their boat found later, still afloat.

What is essential varies per person, and so it is important to pack what you and your crew(if any) need yourselves, considering each item carefully, instead of following a list or buying a pre-made kit.

Recommended features of a good abandon ship bag:

• Waterproof
• Buoyant
• A lanyard for tying off
• Brightly colored red, orange or yellow
• Ample storage(especially if sailing offshore)

Pack the items away, and place the bag near an entrance so that it is possible to grab it quickly when leaving.

• A handheld VHF
• Spare batteries
• Noise-producing device(whistle, horn)
• Flashlight
• Water rations(4L/week for 2 ppl)
• Calorie-dense food rations(ex: 280-400 cal energy bars, peanut butter)
• Paper charts
• Notepad and pencil
• Polarized sunglasses
• Stitching awl and/or needle & thread
• A good knife
• Multitool
• Bowl or cup
• Multivitamins
• Toilet paper
• Paracord
• Sextant(with navigation tables, current almanac)
• Reliable timepiece
• Sunscreen(SPF 30)
• Lighter
• Waterproof matches
• first aid kit
• Fish line & fish hooks
• Mirror
• Compass
• Duct tape
• Flare gun
• Emergency blanket
• Tarp(Sun protection & hypothermia wrap vapor barrier)
• PLB and/or EPIRB

See the illustrated Rabbit Waves page on Emergency Bags.