Recently on SA there have been postings regarding MOB situations. I am by no means and expert on the situation. I have spent considerable amount of money in the last year on safety equipment of my own which I take with me when ever I go offshore. I am not suggesting that everyone should do this it simply the precautions I take as I am in the position of sailing on many different boats and with many different crew. I have also generally been one of the most experienced people on the boat and am therefore someone who rightly or wrongly is asked to take command of a situation. This is worrying as I am as likely if not more likely to be the person who falls off the boat due to the nature of my activity onboard. So although it is bulky I have started to wear a bum bag around my waist when the conditions warrant in this bag is the following:

1)VHF

2)GPS

3)Personal EPIRB

4)Laser Flare

The theory is that if I go over and am conscious I will be able to communicate my position via VHF to the boat and will be able to communicate my distress via EPIRB and show my position using the laser flare. Lets hope I never have to use it