Red parachute rocket.
WHEN TO USE
Long-range distress signalling, day or night. Your primary distress flare.HOW TO USE
Hold firmly, remove cap, pull trigger. Fire vertically (or 15° downwind in strong wind). Reaches ~300 m and deploys a red parachute that burns while descending.RANGE
25–40 NM at night, 7+ NM by dayDURATION
~40 s burnNOTES
Fire in pairs, 1 minute apart, for the best chance of being seen. Angle downwind so the flare doesn't drift away.Red hand-held flare.
WHEN TO USE
Close-range pinpointing — when rescue is nearby and you need to show your exact position.HOW TO USE
Remove cap, strike or pull the ignition cord. Hold over the leeward side, arm extended, angled downwind. Keep clear of rigging and sails.RANGE
3–5 NM at nightDURATION
~60 s burnNOTES
Drips molten residue — always hold downwind and over the water. Wear gloves if possible. Useful for liferaft signalling.Orange smoke signal.
WHEN TO USE
Daytime distress signalling and position marking. The most effective flare in daylight.HOW TO USE
Remove cap, pull the cord. Place in the water on the leeward side or hold at arm's length. Produces dense orange smoke.RANGE
3–5 NM by day (wind-dependent)DURATION
~3 minNOTES
Ineffective in strong wind. Best in light to moderate conditions. Also shows wind direction to approaching helicopters.White hand-held flare.
WHEN TO USE
Collision avoidance — to alert another vessel of your position. NOT a distress signal.HOW TO USE
Same activation as a red hand-held. Hold at arm's length, downwind side.RANGE
3–5 NM at nightDURATION
~60 s burnNOTES
Carry whites separately from reds to avoid confusion. Useful in shipping lanes or when you suspect another vessel hasn't seen you.Carriage requirements.
Requirements vary by country and distance offshore. These are general MCA/RYA guidelines for UK recreational vessels — always check your flag state and sailing area.
AreaWithin 3 NM
Minimum2 red hand-held + 2 orange smoke
RecommendedAdd 2 red parachute + 2 white hand-held
AreaUp to 7 NM
Minimum4 red parachute + 4 red hand-held + 2 smoke + 2 white
RecommendedDouble the parachute rockets for long passages
AreaOffshore / ocean
Minimum4 red parachute + 4 red hand-held + 2 buoyant smoke + 2 white
Recommended6 parachute + 6 hand-held; EPIRB as primary alerting
Shelf life & disposal.
Shelf life: SOLAS-approved pyrotechnics carry a 3-year expiry from manufacture, stamped on the casing. After that they're no longer compliant — but may still function.
Expired flares: many skippers keep them as backup (separate bag, marked “EXPIRED”) — not a substitute for in-date pyrotechnics.
Disposal: never bin them or throw them overboard. Return expired pyrotechnics to a coastguard station, chandlery, or marina collection point.
Never fire a flare for practiceunless you're at an organised training event. Firing a distress flare triggers a search-and-rescue response and is a criminal offence without genuine distress.
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