In light of advancing technology, Sam Jefferson considers the RYA’s revised standpoint on the use of flares at sea.

As the organisation that styles itself ‘the governing body of boating’, the RYA is always going to have its detractors, but it remains pretty useful when it comes to handing out advice on boating matters. And I’m not talking about knee-jerk ‘common sense’ but the kind of advice that takes an age of chin-stroking and beard-tugging before a properly considered opinion emerges. Naturally, most of us just want to get out there and enjoy the water, but the RYA is fully prepared to settle back in its chair at very great length until the right answer is found - and it’s just as well too. After all, RYA courses have defined our safety standards for years so when it embraces a fresh direction, you need to sit up and take notice. Just such a re-think has now occurred with regards to the carriage and use of flares . . .

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