1. Always pre-check equipment 

You do not want to send guests diving deep underwater with a Seabob without checking everything thoroughly. Ensure you do standard safety checks on every bit of the watersport equipment you are giving out. These checks should involve both visual and physical. Even if they are just swimming, have a safety line set up and buoyancy aids available. 

2. Size it up 

Make sure you give them the correct safety equipment and wear for what they are doing. You should always have a mixed size of life vests on hand to give out to each guest using particular toys. Ensure the guests know exactly how to wear and operate the life vest. 

3. Demonstrate where necessary 

A guest may think they know how to operate the latest model of the Seabob, but it will make your life a lot easier (and safer) if you are certain they know what they are doing. Give a demonstration of the equipment, how to start, stop and control it, and the safety measures they should take. You don’t want to waste their time, so keep it short and sweet; safety should follow. 

4. Be knowledgable  

To ensure the guest’s safety, you must know what they are planning. Whether they are kayaking to a bay out of sight, scuba diving from the tender, taking the seabob for an underwater dive or simply enjoying the inflatables, it is important to know their plan, any restrictions, the weather and sea conditions. If you are aware of any restrictions and the weather conditions, you will be able to determine which watersports are safe for them to do so. If they are going further from the boat, have a spotter on hand to keep an eye on them or even give and show them how to work a radio if they go out of sight.

5. Keep a watchful eye 

Lastly on our list of the top 5 Safety Tips For Watersports, when guests are playing in the water, you should have taken all the necessary precautions and safety procedures. For example, ensure the tender is in the water for potential rescues. It is also essential to always have a member of the deck team on the swim platform to help launch and stop the toys when needed. Whether standing by in the tender, driving the tender for watersports or on the swim platform, always be on the lookout for anything that could cause danger. 

Although watersports are fun and the guests may want to do exactly it is they want, safety is always the number one concern, not just their safety but for the boat and rest of the crew also. For more resources on safety, check out the guidance and advice from the RYA.

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Cover Photo by Sherif Moharram on Unsplash

Sustainability Musings; the Step by Step Series

This month’s step by step focuses on sustainability within the superyacht deck department. The deck department can play a huge role in helping the sustainability of a yacht. From simple changes such as environmentally friendly boat soap. Through to more complex issues such as the sustainability of the teak. I have put together a few ideas below to get the deck team started on their journey to sustainability.

 

Cleaning & Maintenance 

The deck department is well versed in keeping the outside of the yacht looking pristine. But, when it comes to cleaning and maintenance there are a few changes that can be made to improve the sustainability of the yacht.

• Switch the boat soap for an environmentally friendly brand
• Use reusable rags for polishing
• Be mindful and conscious of water usage
• If you need to replace water hoses, replace them with sustainable alternatives
• Keep a well-documented maintenance rota for everything on the deck to reduce repairs and having to replace things

Guest Activities 

It can be hard to change guest preferences. However, there are a few things you can do when guests are onboard to help the sustainability of certain decisions.

• When anchoring, be mindful of the seabed and watch out for seagrass and coral in particular
• Try to encourage the use of more sustainable water activities such as snorkelling and paddle boarding over jet skiing and hoverboards – or even look into electric and hydro-powered water sports toys
• When getting beach bags together, liaise with the interior department about sourcing reusable water bottles, sustainable towels and ocean-friendly sun cream
• Source sustainable brands for rash vests and sunglasses for both guest and crew usage

 

New builds & Refits 

Depending on whether the yacht is in the build process, having an extensive refit or just a yard period there are a few factors you can change when it comes to sustainability.

• Ensure that the new or replaced teak is from a sustainable source
• Source sustainable docking lines, made from sustainable materials
• Replace the toxic antifouling process with sustainable alternatives, also keep on top of hull cleaning as often as possible
• Switch out toxic paints and varnishes for non-toxic and more sustainable where possible
• Liaise with the Captain and do your research on where you are going, there are a lot of great initiatives from yards implementing more sustainable practices.

 

There are lots of things you can do on deck to help improve sustainability onboard. But also be aware that you can continue your sustainability efforts back inside the yacht. For example, be mindful of the recycling practices. Turn things off when not in use e.g. lights and water. And, try to help the chef by limiting food waste are just a few ideas.

Sustainability onboard is about more than just reducing single-use plastic. It is about all the practices and processes that are carried out. If you begin to notice things the yacht can improve on, bring it up with the rest of the crew and draw up an action plan to change things. The power of the crew to make changes is huge and will drive our industry forward.

Hopefully these tips can help you bring more sustainability within the superyacht deck department!

Remember- there can be a more sustainable way to do pretty much everything. Be sure to integrate some of these deck ideas within your team today, for more information on any of the ideas above or any further questions, get in touch with Seastainable.

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