The main cause of boating tragedies is capsizing and sinking. A capsize can be caused by a variety of different reasons. Most boats will also eventually sink after a long period of being capsized. Below are common capsize causes and some helpful tips on what you should do if your boat were to capsize.

There are many factors that can increase your chances of capsizing. Rough seas, overloading a boat (or poor load distribution), poor driving, freak waves and broaching (when the water is pushed into the boat, usually by a following sea) are all factors that can cause a capsizing.

Obviously, you should always try to avoid capsizing. Common sense often goes a long way and it is often important to be a little over vigilant rather than a little slack.

Proper preparation and skippering decrease your chances of being involved in a capsizing. However, should your boat capsize, below are some tips that will help you stay alive.

Firstly, always stay with the boat. When the rescuers come looking for you it is always easier to see the boat than searching for individuals in the water. Most boats also contain basic flotation properties which means they will stay afloat for some period of time. Clinging to the boat will save you and your passengers and crew from expelling valuable energy.

If possible you can try to upright the boat and bail out the water. However if your boat is any larger than a dinghy this will most likely be impossible to accomplish.

Always try to cling as high up the hull as possible. You will lose a lot less body heat out of the water than in it. Keep as many of your clothes on as possible as these will help you retain heat. If you have a hat or beanie, keep it on as this will help keep you warm as the majority of your body heat is lost from your head.

If you are stuck in the water and you cannot climb the hull, try to stick as close as possible to the other passengers. This will help you stay afloat as well as to conserve your body heat.

Try to relax and stay calm. Help weaker swimmers where possible and try to comfort the scared, young or elderly. Staying calm means you will keep a cool head which will stop you from making any rash decisions.

If possible, try to take any safety and survival gear with you before capsizing. Usually a capsizing will happen so fast that you have very little time to take anything with you. If possible and the situation permits, consider sending the best swimmer down to retrieve some gear as needed. Items such as flares, life jackets, clothing, distress signals and drinking water should be retrieved if possible. It is wise to leave other items behind. What may seem valuable to you normally is nowhere near as valuable as a life, so leave wallets and other personal belongings behind.

Remember, even in tropical conditions the ocean is usually half the temperature of our bodies. Prolonged exposure in the water (even in summer) will rapidly cause hypothermia.

Now you basically have to wait to be rescued. Try signaling rescuers when in range. You can do this by using flares, a signaling mirror, waving your arms, a rescue blanket or by using any other visual method of gaining their attention.