Being able to raise the alarm in the event of a distress situation is critical. In some cases, where sailing inshore, you might still be able to resort to calling the emergency services using your mobile phone, but the most reliable method is by way of a VHF radio transmitter.

Sending a Mayday must be authorised by the skipper, although if the skipper is incapacitated or overboard this important task may fall to you. It’s therefore important that you know the basics and it’s in the skipper’s best interests to make sure his crew know what to do in the event that he is incapacitated.

Sending a mayday is relatively simple, but it’s worth gathering a few pieces of information in the seconds before you start to speak. This will include your vessel’s position, your vessel’s name, the number of people on board and a clear understanding of what your emergency is. For example, do you have a man overboard or are you sinking? Perhaps someone has collapsed with a suspected heart attack. Collating this information in the 30 seconds before broadcast will make your transmission more efficient and speed up the rescue process. 

Watch the YouTube video to see how to send a Mayday and Mayday Relay message.