Before sailing
Preparation
- Check weather forecast
- Plan route and set up in plotter
- Charge battery to 100% if needed
- Do offshore preparations as needed
- Decide sail plan
- Update sail plan and crew list in logbook
- Check freshwater tank level
- Check diesel tank level
- Check engine oil level
- Check engine coolant level
- Check that all keys are in their place
Additional preparations when going offshore
- Download GRIB files and calculate latest weather route
- Download charts for the area in Orca
- Download any media planned to be consumed while offshore
- Charge all battery packs and flashlights
- Charge handheld VHF
- Charge InReach
- Set up sea bunk(s) with lee cloth
- Fill alcohol stove with fuel
- Stow bow anchor in anchor locker
- Install bowsprit
- Put cork on heater exhaust and turn off heater circuit
- Hank on and secure staysail
- Install jacklines
- Ensure emergency contacts know the plan
- Enable Priority Data for Starlink
- Enable tracking on InReach
- Get pizza for the first watches if available
- Make a thermos of decaf tea in cold weather
Inside the vessel
- Close and lock front hatch
- Close heads seacock
- Ensure all cabinets are closed
- Ensure no debris on cabin surfaces
- Stow saloon table
- Stow dinghy oars and parts
- Prepare lifevests
- Fill water bottles and place them in cockpit holder
- Turn off heater
- Turn chartplotter tablet charging on
- Install chartplotter tablet
- Install VHF Commandmic
- Remove engine frost guard (if using)
- Stow dehumidifier (if using)
- Ensure engine seacock is open
- Close seawater tap
On deck
- Change all shore lines to slip
- Remove unnecessary spring lines
- Stow cockpit enclosure
- Stow bathing ladder
- Stow and tie down dinghy
- Stow and tie down dinghy mast and boom
- Stow FLINsail
- Stow anchor daymark
- Stow "silencer fender" from mast
- Stow inner forestay if necessary (adjust to 6 if using)
- Set up Parasailor if planned to be used
- Remove headsail furler safety line
- Install headsail sheets
- Remove mainsail sun cover
- Attach mainsail halyard to the sail head
- Hoist flag
- Move main sheets to pad eyes
- Remove winch covers
- Remove instrument covers
- Check whether instruments are responsive. If not, reboot NMEA2000
- Turn on VHF
- Stow shore power cable
- Install safety knives
- Check that inside team is ready
- Check that there are no lines that could foul the propeller
- Start engine
- Check that water is coming out of exhaust
- Ensure all of the crew is on board
- Life vests on
- Apply sunscreen
- Harbour departure briefing
- Set or deflate and stow fenders as appropriate for the departure plan
- Place short boathook into cockpit
- Free tiller