Many of the assistance requests that reach the Operations Centre do not start offshore — they start at the dock: a battery that no longer held its charge, a clogged filter, a mooring line left in the water. Ten minutes of checks, always in the same order, catch them before you cast off.
This is the sequence we recommend to our subscribers. It does not replace your boat’s manual or the equipment required for your navigation area: it is a routine to repeat before every trip, because habit is what makes a check reliable.
Hull, deck and mooring
The first round is done with the engine off, walking the deck and looking under the transom as well. It rules out visible damage and clears the boat of anything that could end up in the propeller.
- Lines and fenders brought back on board, not left trailing at the waterline where the propeller will catch them on the first reverse.
- Hatches and portlights closed, along with any through-hull fittings that should not stay open under way.
- Dry bilge, and a pump that actually starts when you run it manually.
- Rudder and propeller clear of nets, bags and fishing line — check from the dock, or with a mask if the water is murky.
Engine and systems
The second round covers what brings you back to port. It applies to outboards and inboards alike: what changes is where you look, not what you check.
- Levels: engine oil and, on inboards, gearbox oil and coolant.
- Fuel worked out on the return leg rather than the outbound one, with a margin for bad weather or a detour.
- Cooling: the water jet at the exhaust must appear within a few seconds of starting; if it does not, shut the engine down straight away.
- Batteries: resting voltage checked and isolator switches set, with the engine circuit kept separate from the domestic one.
Safety equipment
Which equipment is mandatory depends on how far offshore you intend to sail; what matters here is that it is on board, reachable and in date — not buried at the bottom of a locker under the lines.
- Lifejackets: one for every person actually on board, in the right size for children too.
- Extinguishers and distress signals: servicing and expiry dates checked before the season, not once it has started.
- Liferaft and lifebuoys in place, with the release clear of covers and gear.
- First-aid kit and waterproof torch on board and known to the whole crew, not just to the skipper.
Communications and weather
Three checks are left before you leave the harbour — the ones that make the difference when you need to call for help.
- VHF: a radio check on a working channel, and a charged handheld as a backup set.
- Phone charged, with the Operations Centre number already saved rather than looked up when trouble arrives.
- Forecast from the latest bulletin, with a return window decided in advance and shared with someone ashore.
When to call the Operations Centre
If something during the checks does not convince you, postpone the trip: it is the cheapest decision of the day. If the problem shows up under way, the rule is to call before attempting manoeuvres that can make things worse — a line in the propeller or an overheating engine end very differently depending on how long you push on.
The Sailornet Operations Centre answers 24 hours a day: it takes your position and the situation on board, assesses the request and coordinates the most suitable operator in the network. Response times and how the operation is carried out depend on sea and weather conditions, on the authorisations involved and on the local situation; commercial terms are those of the subscription you hold.
