Make sure to know all the local marine rules and regulations as well as basic yachting safety.  If you are unsure, then  take a boating safety course. The bonus is that taking a boating safety course may even lower your boat or yacht insurance rates.

Many people may think that if they have an emergency on the water with their yacht they are guaranteed that the Coast Guard will come to the rescue.  However, that is incorrect thinking.

Boaters should ensure they take proper precautions on the water and secure adequate yacht insurance coverage for towing, salvage etc vs. relying on the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to keep them safe.

The fact is,  the USCG is authorized by federal law to launch life-saving rescues but it is not an imposed duty. In other words, they are not responsible to respond to every single accident immediately.

After the Malibu Open in late June of last season, HO switched gears from buoys to the boundless waters of Lake Powell. With the imminent release of the team’s new Freeride Series skis, team skiers Nick Adams, Zane Nicholson and Marcus Brown spent the week reconnecting with the open-water carving that got them hooked on the sport.

Congrats to pro skiers Will Asher and Nicole Blackmore, who tied the knot on January 24th, 2014 in Maui, Hawaii. Asher has been HO Skis’ front-man since 2005, when he exploded on the world water-ski scene by winning his first world championship, en route to being #1 in the world and Masters champion several times over. Nicole also comes from a watersports background, as this Canadian is a former barefoot water ski champion.

The clean custom-shaped transferable waves of the Supra Swell Surf System are generating tons of excitement. You can experience the advantages of this surf system even off the water with the newSupra Swell iPad app now available in the App Store.

This rich, interactive iPad app demonstrates the precision and convenience of perfectly custom shaped waves for wake surfing on the port and starboard side. Learn how you can surf two distinct waves, on either side, to satisfy a variety of surfing styles and skill levels, while the driver can enjoy VISION Touch dash integration, improved handling, forward visibility, next generation design and stout construction.

MasterCraft Boat Company, the world’s leading luxury performance inboard boat manufacturer, has achieved global ISO 9001:2008, 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certification from Alliance International, LLC. These certifications confirm that MasterCraft, who is the only boat manufacturer in the global marine industry to achieve such prestigious certifications, has met the requirements of the ISO standard for its Quality, Environmental, and Safety management systems across production and product development operations.

Achievement of these ISO standard(s) demonstrates a verifiable commitment to product and service quality, environmental, and safety workplace management and performance. Furthermore inherent in all of the ISO standards is a set of elements that standardize improvement into the daily operations for years to come. ISO standards are implemented by over one million companies and organizations in over 170 countries, and represent international best practices that have been in place for over 60 years.

In the event of an emergency it is important that you know how to summon for help. Every boat out on the water in winter should have a distress light to send an SOS signal or a flare gun. A VHF marine radio is even better because you can issue a Mayday call on channel 16, complete with your boat’s name, your location and a description of the emergency.

Northern winter’s can be harsh on vessels, your boat batteries can be affected by the cold. Investing in an economically priced solar charger can help ensure your battery is strong despite the cold. Depending on the type of boat you are operating, you may also have to protect plumbing lines or hoses from freezing. Be vigilant to ensure lines are empty if need be, kept warm, or better insulated.

You want to always have and maintain safety supplies.  Safety supplies include having a fully stocked first aid kit, adequate drinking water and food to last for all the passengers for at least a few days, and at least one change of clothes for each person in case someone falls overboard or gets wet some other way. Other things you may want to consider are pocket warmers and hot beverages or soup in thermos containers if you do not have a galley kitchen.

Make sure you have the right life jacket for winter weather. There are special personal flotation jackets for cold-water temperatures that offer better protection in the cold because they are more insulated. You may even want to consider a survival suit, especially if you are a commercial fisherman or charter boat operator.

If you are boating in a warm climate the weather may still be pleasant but remember that even slightly cooler water can increase the speed that hypothermia sets in. Have a plan in the event that you or someone else is accidentally knocked overboard.

You will  want to make sure that you always have enough fuel for your return trip even if there are weather delays. You do not want to run out of fuel on the water in inclement weather. Also if you are traveling during the winter ensure that your yacht insurance coverage is in force an adequate for risks in that area.

You should always make sure to leave a float plan with a reliable person so that if you do not return at the time you are expected they can begin a search. This is especially important in winter when squalls and storms can blow up quickly and falling overboard is even riskier in cooler waters.

Tip Three Turn Early:  Complete the turn as soon as possible. The sooner you can get everything finished and moving across the course the better. If there is a big delay after the turn, you’re just losing ground as you travel down course at 36 miles per hour. To get an early turn, accelerate past the buoy instead of simply executing a turn around it. Imagine a race car driver accelerating through the turn. To do this, give yourself enough time to get outbound, then get the ski rotated and pointed back the other direction before you even reach the buoy. The earlier you arrive, the faster you can turn.

Tip Five Attack The Wakes:  It is crucial to attack the wakes without fear, which is where the Response TXi comes in. With its small, soft wakes, you do not hesitate to commit to the turn and maintaining perfect position is much more natural. Tracking is a huge thing as well. When you’re wide behind the TXi, it’s going to hold its ground instead of swerving out toward you and giving you a slack line, so you can concentrate on making up time behind a rock-solid tow.