Abandon Ship

Abandon Ship Procedures

Don life jacket.
Collect survival kit (red ditch bag).
Note present position.
Send out MAYDAY message. (See below)
Launch life raft attached to ship on leeward side (see below).
Launch dinghy also (if time).
Try to enter life raft directly from the boat (if impossible, use minimal swimming effort to get on board).
Get a safe distance from the sinking vessel.
Collect all available flotsam. The most unlikely articles can be adapted for use under survival conditions.
Keep warm by huddling bodies together. Keep dry, especially your feet.
Stream a sea anchor.
Arrange lookout watches.
Use flares only on skipper's orders when there is a real chance of them being seen.
Arrange for collecting rainwater. Ration water to maximum one-half quart per person per day, issued in small increments. Do not drink seawater or urine. If water is in short supply, eat only sweets from survival rations.

The raft should not be launched until everyone is ready to go, with everything that can be taken. If the raft is launched too early, it may rip off the boat and be lost before the crew can all board it.
Launch raft on leeward side (unless risk of puncture from debri)
The heaviest person should board first to stabalise the raft and help others.
It may be prudent to clip your harness to the painter whilst boarding.
Once everyone is aboard, the painter should be cut with the knife by the hatch.
The raft should be paddled clear of the sinking vessel (paddles are in the bags tied to the floor).
The crew should all take sea sickness tablets as soon as possible.
The sea anchor should be deployed.
Turn on EPIRB
The hatch should be closed in bad weather.
Jobs need to be shared out, lookout, bailing, housekeeping etc.