The first thing to do is stay calm and think clearly. You need to get the boat upright, but there’s no rush to do so.

The best thing to do is to wait until the water level is high enough on the deck that you can stand up without getting your head wet.

You’re not in any danger of drowning as long as you’re wearing your life jacket and have air in your lungs. But you need to take care that you don’t fall overboard or get injured if the boat flips over again, so move carefully and slowly when you get out from under the canopy or cover.

Once you’re safely standing on deck with no risk of falling overboard, climb back onto the seat of a passenger tender or windsurfer and check that everyone else is safe. If anyone’s been injured or has swallowed water, call for medical help immediately (even if it looks like nothing serious).

If possible, try to flip the boat back over using an oar or paddle — this might take some effort and strength because boats are heavy when they’re upside down and full of water! If this isn’t possible, start bailing out water by scooping some out with a bucket or throwing it over the side (it won’t hurt anything).

Last modified: November 18, 2022