ditch bag

Every boat should have a ditch bag, that is, a bag filled with 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.

The ditch bag should have:

• A handheld vhf
• Spare batteries
• Noise-producing device (whistle, horn)
• flashlight
• Water rations
• Dense, high calorie food rations
• Charts
• Multifunction Knife
• Multitool
• Sextant
• Sunscreen (SPF 30)
• Lighter & pack of water proof matches
• first aid kit
• Fish line & fish hooks
• Mirror
• Compass
• Duct tape
• Flare gun
• Emergency blanket
• Tarp, for sun protection & as vapor barrier for a hypothermia wrap(see medical).