We recently published a piece called “Sea Sense” by Michael Tougias. In the story, he shared lessons about survival from boaters who found themselves in dangerous, life-threatening situations offshore. The feature intrigued many readers, some of whom expressed an interest in learning more about how to cope during a crisis on the water.
Tougias has tips, which he’s gathered through interviews with over 50 people who survived extreme circumstances, on and off the water. “There are common techniques they used to overcome adversity,” he says. “And these people realized that the decisions they made at the time were useful not only in emergency situations, but also when facing difficulties in their day-to-day lives.”
One of those tips is to recognize that adrenaline can be the enemy. When it kicks in, it often prompts a person to take action too quickly. “Fight that urge for just a short period, and instead pause,” Tougias says. “The simple act of pausing gives us time to think of several options, rather than leaping into action.”
Then there’s the danger of sticking to a plan. This can get you in over your head. “So many people force a situation to meet their schedule, and the result is too much pressure,” Tougias says. “It’s better to let the situation form your plan, even if it means abandoning the schedule entirely.” That’s good advice for anyone who has been confronted with a bad weather forecast while standing at the dock with the boat fueled up and the family ready to go on vacation.
Tougias also talks about doing “the next right thing.” According to his research, true survivors don’t waste time thinking about how they got into a bad position. In the moment, they don’t lament that an engine failed. And they don’t burn up energy wondering who to blame. Instead, true survivors look at what they need to do at that time, to move them one step closer to their goal.
Tougias also encourages boat owners to try to find humor in an unsettling situation. If anything, that can help break the tension and reduce feelings of being overwhelmed.
He also emphasizes the importance of honoring a gut feeling. “If something tells you that a run across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas might not be the best decision on a given day, then trust that instinct. I’m convinced ‘intuition’ is a series of subconscious clues you cannot articulate.”
Jeanne Craig, [email protected]
This article was originally published in the May 2023 issue.
