RED ALERT ON THE HIGH SEAS

An idyllic swim on the high seas can transform into a nightmare in a matter of minutes. This was made clear by the incident off the Greek island of Symi during the first week of August, when eight German tourists jumped into the water leaving their boat unattended and ended up adrift while the sailboat helplessly drifted away.

Leaving a boat with no crew on board to swim in the open ocean carries severe physical and logistical risks:

INHERENT DANGERS OF LEAVING A VESSEL UNATTENDED

• Drift accelerated by wind and current: Unlike a swimmer, the freeboard (the part of the hull above the waterline) of a sailboat acts like a sail. Even a light breeze or a moderate current will move the vessel faster than a human can swim.
• Anchoring failure or unsecured anchor: If the anchor does not hold (drags) or the rode/chain fails, the boat will immediately go adrift. With no one on board to correct the course or start the engine, the vessel becomes unreachable.
• Inability to reboard: Being in the water without a boarding ladder deployed or an accessible platform can prevent you from getting back on board, leading to exhaustion and hypothermia even if the boat remains stationary.
• Physical exhaustion and disorientation: Attempting to catch up to a drifting vessel leads to rapid physical exhaustion and panic, drastically increasing the risk of drowning on the high seas.

ESSENTIAL SAFETY RULES FOR SWIM STOPS

• Anchor watch: Always keep at least one capable person on board to react to unforeseen events, start the engine, or maneuver.
• Verifying the anchoring system: Assess the depth, bottom type, wind, and current before dropping the anchor, ensuring it is firmly set.
• Checking access points: Confirm that the swim ladder is deployed and functional before the first person jumps into the water.
• Using flotation devices: Keep trailing lines (trail lines) with buoys off the stern so that swimmers have a quick grab point should an unexpected current arise.

Beyond the life-threatening risk, negligence such as leaving a vessel completely unattended usually voids marine insurance coverage in the event of loss or collision. In boating, active prevention and adherence to good seamanship are the only guarantees to prevent a leisure break from ending in tragedy.

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