Prevention is the magic word. The chances of being retrieved from the water when solo sailing are basically zero. Therefore it is essential to put time and effort into prevention measures. The survival time in 7 centigrade water is about 40 minutes when lightly clad. If you invest in an immersion suit, the survival expectancy can reach up to 6-8 hours. All in all, the design of the boat plays as well an essential role when it comes to prevention. Guardrails should be continuous around the upper deck and a deep cockpit is generally safer. Watch out for the slippery areas on the boat. The top of the hatches for instance can become tricky walkways when heeled. Therefore, it is important to invest in proper sailing footwork that give you sufficient grip. Use a harness everytime, even in the cockpit. Especially in rough weather conditions or during night, this is your one and only life insurance. When yo need to leave the cockpit, e.g if you need to take down the main sail, fit jack lines on both sides of the boat so that you can move from the stern to the bow and back without unclipping yourself. And of course, wear each time suitable protective gear and a life jacket. Generally, it is always useful to to blow up your inflatable life jacket for 24 hours in order to check whether it is intact. Especially when you are chartering, check with your charter whether their offer include additional safety gear such as harness or jack lines.
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