FLy the flags upside down
By radio or distress flares
By radio and flares
Send up a flare or hail local authorities on your radio.
Doing a mayday call over VHF is still the most common way to make a distress signal, however now all VHF sets have a DSC button which when hit send out an automatic distress signal to all receivers in range with location and distress information.
#1: If at night, by use of a searchlight to send Morse code. A regular flashlight will only work if you are in front of a very DARK background. #2: Day or night: Radio Morse code. #3: Daytime: Signal flags along your forestay or backstay. #4: Daytime: Semaphore flag signalling. #5: Day, or night with searchlight shining on it: Hang your country flag upside-down. This is the internationally-recognized sign of distress.
Radio and flares
While "of course" is the modern phrase, it began life as the phrase "as a matter of course" or "of the ordinary course". It was a term used in sailing in the 1500's.
BALLS
scarcity
Leif probably encountered some storms while sailing.
Variable
Ferdinand Magellan died in 1520 while sailing around the world. Magellan was killed in a battle with the inhabitants of the Philippine isles.