[dognotdog]

I agree that the DSC situation is terrible. And particularly around Italy, people play music on CH16, so whichever radio one has, DSC or analog, it's a tough call. Then again, the mediterranean isn't very cold, so it's not a matter of minutes, unless you fell into a swarm of jellyfish.

Also, an AIS PLB, if the boat is equipped with AIS, is great, it's no bigger than a radio, and theoretically also triggers an alarm on any AIS capable vessel nearby. Without a life jacket, getting found again on the open sea in anything but calm conditions is difficult to imagine, considering how terribly hard it is to locate a head barely above water in the waves.

[satori99]

I have had a tow line break, and lost an entire tender in a calm sea. As soon as you lose eye contact, it's almost as good as gone.

And everytime I have sailed in a blue water race, the entire crew wear self inflating harnesses that also contain a radio, gps, knife, dye, etc.... and often also a high vis swimmers cap. And the harness never comes off. Even while sleeping.