SUNBEAM's new flares have arrived. What should the skipper do to make sure they are used responsibly and effectively if ever genuinely needed?

A. There is no need to check expiry dates once flares are bought

B. Encourage crew to practise setting one off occasionally just to "see how it works"

C. Leave them wherever is convenient with no crew briefing, since flares are self-explanatory

D. Stow them somewhere dry, accessible, and known to all crew, brief the crew on how and when they should be used (genuine distress only), check expiry dates regularly, and make sure crew know not to set them off for testing or fun

A. Assume it is probably just someone messing about and ignore it completely

B. Only react if the flare is white rather than red, since red flares are never serious

C. Treat it as a genuine distress signal until proven otherwise — note the position and time, and make a Mayday relay or alert the Coastguard on VHF Channel 16, since any flare seen at sea must be assumed real until confirmed otherwise

D. Wait at least an hour to see if a second flare follows before doing anything

A. The boat's own position, the approximate bearing and distance to where the flare was seen, the time, the colour/type of flare if known, and a description of the other vessel if visible

B. Wait until reaching harbour the next day to mention it in person

C. Refuse to give a position, since the flare did not come from SUNBEAM

D. Just say "I saw a flare" with no further detail, since the Coastguard will work out everything else themselves