Which component helps prevent crew from falling overboard on a sailboat?

Which component helps prevent crew from falling overboard on a sailboat?

• A. Lifeline
• B. Life jacket
• C. Leeway
• D. Leech

Answer: (A)

Lifelines along the deck act as a safety barrier that helps prevent crew from going overboard. They run around the edge of the boat and provide something to grab or lean on when moving around the cockpit or when the boat heels, especially in choppy conditions. A life jacket is essential for staying afloat if someone falls in, but it doesn’t stop a fall from happening. Leeway is the boat’s sideways drift due to wind, and leech is the trailing edge of a sail—neither prevents a fall. So the lifelines are the feature that helps keep people inboard.

Lifelines along the deck act as a safety barrier that helps prevent crew from going overboard. They run around the edge of the boat and provide something to grab or lean on when moving around the cockpit or when the boat heels, especially in choppy conditions. A life jacket is essential for staying afloat if someone falls in, but it doesn’t stop a fall from happening. Leeway is the boat’s sideways drift due to wind, and leech is the trailing edge of a sail—neither prevents a fall. So the lifelines are the feature that helps keep people inboard.