A submersible handheld VHF with GPS and DSC is one of the smartest things you can buy for safety on the water. But the three models now available are not equal, and only one meets current DSC Class D standards. Here's an article that explains how DSC works and what Class D features mean.

I've just ordered the new submersible GPS VHF with Class D DSC after considerable thought and research. I already have two older handheld VHFs on my boat, so I wasn't thinking much about getting another one until I did more reading about all the weird accidental ways sailors end up in the water unexpectedly. It happens all the time! I singlehand a lot, and I often sail with guests who might not be able to get the boat back to me if necessary. I wear my inflatable PFD and am usually tethered in when sailing solo - but there are always those moments when you unclip to reach or accomplish a certain task. I like knowing now that if I end up in the water, one button press will send out a distress call that includes my exact location - and will go to every boat nearby (with a DSC radio) as well as to the Coast Guard. And will keep sending that mayday call automatically for hours while I attend to things like surviving. I already have a PLB that will send out a satellite distress call, but that could take a while and I might not survive hypothermia here in cold New England waters - and it would be shame to have a boat pass me by a half mile away while my electronics were only hailing satellites. So this summer I'll have two things on my belt that I won't have to think about until that rare chance when I might need to.

National Safe Boating Week reminds us, here at the beginning of the summer sailing season, of the importance of staying safe on the water. But what exactly does safety involve? Here's a handy checklist of the topics typically included in boating safety courses. Go down the list to see if you are already knowledgeable and skilled in these different areas - or whether you have gaps you need to fill with some more reading or perhaps a course like the ones offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Key safety topics include knowing your boat and its equipment, preparing well before heading out, all aspects of safe boat operation, and being prepared for all the different kinds of emergencies that can happen. It takes just a minute to check that you know what you need to keep on enjoying the water for years to come.

It's that time of year again. National Safe Boating Week is on its way: May 19-25. As the boating season begins for many around the U.S., it is good to be reminded of safety issues. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has recently put out a news release also that points out that some boat insurance companies offer lower premiums for those who have taken a safe boating course, such as the one taught by the Auxiliary. Here are some other things you can do to stay safer on the water.

By now you probably already know about the tragic demise of the sailboat Aegean in the Newport-Ensenada Race two days ago. The bodies of three of the four crew were recovered, as well as some wreckage of the boat. The latest report is that the Coast Guard has suspended its search for the fourth man, presumed also a fatality. The evidence suggests the 37-foot Hunter was destroyed in a collision with a much larger vessel, and the investigation continues into checking on ships in the area. The evidence also suggests the crew had no advance warning of impending disaster, since apparently no radio call was made and the three crew found were not wearing lifejackets.

Together with the disaster in the Farallones sail race in Northern California only two weeks, ago, there have now been nine fatalities just off California alone in April. Over the last four years, in contrast, there were an average total of 25 sailing fatalities across the entire U.S. during the entire year - so clearly this April is an anomaly, although a tragic reminder of the need to practice sailing safety at all times, not just when some danger is foreseen. Would those sailors have been found alive if they had been wearing PFDs? If the boat was equipped with and they were using radar or AIS tracking? Things to think about before going offshore at night. There are no guarantees, but there are things you can do to increase your odds.