How to survive in the open sea

How long can you survive in the open sea?

In fact - a long time. One of the most striking cases occurred in the XVIII century with Captain William Bligh and his team. After the revolt on the ship "Bounty" Captain and his loyal people marooned on a wooden boat length of seven meters, leaving them with a minimum supply of food and fresh water.

The Mariners have held in the ocean 47 days. They even reached the European colonies, breaking the path to 6700 kilometers without a compass and a map, choosing the direction by using the sextant.

This year, nine participants of the show, "Mutiny", which is already underway on the Discovery Channel, repeat their route on the same boat with the same equipment. So hold on to the water really, you can see for yourself - watch the show at 22.00 on Tuesday.

What is most important for survival?

Oddly enough, the survival of the pledge - it is not food or water, but serenity. Traveler and doctor Alain Bombard was convinced that people are dying in the sea is not because of the weather and difficult conditions, but because of the depression and fear that cause them to make mistakes. His theory, he confirmed to cross the ocean on a lifeboat without food and water reserves. He was given a very difficult journey, but because in an emergency, for example, after a shipwreck, no problem to cross the ocean - you need to wait for help.

The behavior of the high seas survival depends: due to panic people make mistakes and take wrong decisions, too much fuss, and move, and energy should be protected. Bad has already happened - you are in the open sea. No time to suffer, we must get out.

How to save energy?

In the sea or the ocean by excessive activity, we lose too much strength needed to survive. If you were in the water, you need to move as little as possible and try to find a floating object, for which you will be hooked. Much depends on the water temperature, but a means for diving will have to find even in the warm seas.

If you're on a raft, boat or something that rests on the surface of the water, try to stay warm and dry, as well as look around. Pick up everything you can find. On the high seas is useful any item.

How to get fresh water?

The most obvious, but unreliable source of fresh water - rainfall. Try to prepare any capacity, which will collect rain water: tin cans, shoes, the passing plastic, thick leaves, bags and sacks.

Another way to find a drink - do distiller. For it requires two containers (large and small), as well as a waterproof material: a piece of polyethylene bag. The large capacity type salt water, put it into a small capacity empty. Package or other material stretch on the edge of the large capacity and put a small weight to the center. The water will evaporate and deposit on the film. The droplets will roll to the center, where the cargo is, and will fall into the empty container. So you earn a little bit of fresh water.

Perhaps condensation itself on your swimming facility. Collect and even if you have to lick your boat.

Do not forget that algae and fish also contain fresh water, so if you can catch the food, some of the liquid will get along with your meal.

How to obtain food?

Oddly enough, with food in the ocean is more or less normal. Pan Liang, a Chinese sailor who appeared after the battle during World War II in the open sea, and lived on the liferaft 133 days. He was even able to make the supply of food, because it is constantly fend for themselves, make a fishing rod from scrap materials.

Try to invent, from which to make the fishing gear. Will fit any ropes, strings, plucked from clothing, jewelry, pins, caps on cans. For the first fishing bait can be a string, and then will be used to remove residues of wild-caught fish.

Even if the fish is caught, it is possible to maintain forces on plankton and algae.

To collect them, you need to take any piece of fabric (clothes), to form out of it, "the net" and catch them small inhabitants of the ocean. On the taste, of course, so-so, but do not have to choose survival. But algae help prevent the development of scurvy.

Generally there should be all that is caught (unless it looks fresh and non-toxic): turtles, shrimp, birds. Birds in the desert areas sometimes are not afraid of people, and you can catch using a bait and a loop of the rope.

Produce fish should immediately, once you were in the sea, even if you're on the liferaft and you have put a three-day diet. No one can say exactly when you will find lifeguards, and at what time will have to stretch the rations. Act immediately.

How to protect yourself from the dangers?

Be prepared to many dangers in the sea in theory possible, but something about what it is worth remembering:

• If the approaching storm, then the stability of the raft all the heavy things need to shift to the center. The same applies to people - to move in the middle of the ship, to wave it is not overturned.
• Try to protect the head and the skin from ultraviolet radiation. In the open sea, when there is little drinking water, sunburn more difficult to carry. Bright light is reflected from the surface of the ocean, and the shine could harm the eyes, so guard your sight and do not look at the water constantly.
• When catching fish, do not tie a fishing line and rope to the arms or legs. Large fish can pull the hook with such force that it will not do without injury.
• Be careful not to try to remove too much fish. They can overturn the boat.
• Do not take into the hands of the fish with spines and thorns. They can be not only sharp, but also poisonous.

How to find the land?

In fact, if you were shipwrecked, it is better not to go anywhere, and if possible stay in place, even though the ocean is difficult. Rescue operations will take place primarily in the area of ​​the accident.

If you clue that something in the navigation, it is good to go in the opposite direction and return to the earth in the same way that you came.

When not at hand navigation devices, and you do not understand anything in the starry sky, and do not know how to steer a course, you can accidentally find land or by circumstantial evidence: over the land going to the clouds during storms to hit the lightning, as it approaches the coast popping birds. In some areas, they can be seen quite far out at sea, but on land, of course, there are many more.

How not to go crazy on the high seas?

To get to the land, we need a clear head and self-confidence, but just the most difficult to maintain. Help rules to adhere to single travelers:

• Install and follow the regime, at least some. If you are not alone, give duty and assign responsibilities. The need to get up to watch and do their part to help gather and not to fall into despair.
• Keep a diary or journal, if it is possible to record. This helps to organize thoughts and thought-out plan.
• Work. Catch fish, gather seaweed that had spied out, invent new uses for old items. Do everything to not have time to regret his position.
• Try to move as far as possible. Swim if weather permits and you are sure that you can return to the raft or boat.

Remember that you can survive even in the most difficult conditions. Nine people in the show, "Mutiny" show it by example. They go along the route of Captain William Bligh, to prove that the people are stronger than we think.

Watch "Mutiny" on the Discovery Channel from November 28, every Tuesday at 22:00.