……being a Club being a Club Safety Boat Safety Boat

DriverDriver

A days familiarisation of “some” of the A days familiarisation of “some” of the circumstances you may encountercircumstances you may encounter

Your role……..Your role……..

• To assist Principal Race Officer (PRO) with the To assist Principal Race Officer (PRO) with the safe running of racessafe running of races

• Provide cover of safety to racers if requiredProvide cover of safety to racers if required• Assist racers that are experiencing difficultiesAssist racers that are experiencing difficulties• Provide tow facility, if required from area of Provide tow facility, if required from area of

danger or back to shore in windless situationsdanger or back to shore in windless situations• Assist PRO with the laying of marksAssist PRO with the laying of marks• Relaying in information to PRO/safety leader Relaying in information to PRO/safety leader

about ANY incident on the race courseabout ANY incident on the race course

How…..basic principlesHow…..basic principles

• Who is responsible?Who is responsible?• What is the sailing area, hazards, What is the sailing area, hazards,

hotspotshotspots• Maintaining good coverage by Maintaining good coverage by

efficiently zoning the race areaefficiently zoning the race area• Weather, boat, people age etcWeather, boat, people age etc• What does a boat look like that What does a boat look like that

requires assistancerequires assistance• Best approach, speed Best approach, speed

(dis/semi-dis/planing) wind/tide(dis/semi-dis/planing) wind/tide

The DO’s and the DON’TsThe DO’s and the DON’Ts

• Always check your RIB to ensure you are Always check your RIB to ensure you are happy you have everything you needhappy you have everything you need

• Always wear your kill cordAlways wear your kill cord

• Always wear the correct clothing for the Always wear the correct clothing for the conditions. Crew clothing??conditions. Crew clothing??

• Always prioritise people over kitAlways prioritise people over kit

• Don’t take passengers along for the rideDon’t take passengers along for the ride

• Don’t smoke or consume alcohol whilst on Don’t smoke or consume alcohol whilst on dutyduty

Approaching a Man Over Approaching a Man Over BoardBoard• Assess situation, location of person in Assess situation, location of person in

water, wind/tide directionwater, wind/tide direction• Move boat into position downwind/tide Move boat into position downwind/tide

(allows for more control of speed)(allows for more control of speed)• Approach downwind/tide and maintain a Approach downwind/tide and maintain a

constant (non-displacement speed) for 15-constant (non-displacement speed) for 15-20 boat lengths20 boat lengths

• Stop the boat alongside the person Stop the boat alongside the person OPPOSITE the morse control.OPPOSITE the morse control.

• Kill the engine once alongside.Kill the engine once alongside.

Coming alongside a dinghyComing alongside a dinghy

• Assess situation, location of person in Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide directionwater, wind/tide direction

• Is the dinghy in “lay to” position?Is the dinghy in “lay to” position?

• Position boat up wind of dinghy at Position boat up wind of dinghy at displacement speeddisplacement speed

• Move into position alongside dinghy Move into position alongside dinghy on the up wind sideon the up wind side

• Kill the engine once along sideKill the engine once along side

Coming along a capsized Coming along a capsized dinghydinghy• Assess situation, location of person in water, Assess situation, location of person in water,

wind/tide directionwind/tide direction• Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if

so M.O.Bso M.O.B• Move the boat to the top of the mast with the RIB Move the boat to the top of the mast with the RIB

and dinghy pointing in same direction/or pressure and dinghy pointing in same direction/or pressure centreboardcentreboard

• Bring the dinghy around until RIB and dinghy are Bring the dinghy around until RIB and dinghy are both pointing head to windboth pointing head to wind

• Make sure no lines are cleated, right and move the Make sure no lines are cleated, right and move the dinghy to the downwind position. Engine off.dinghy to the downwind position. Engine off.

• Sailor re-enters or prepare for towSailor re-enters or prepare for tow

Fixing the turtle (inverted Fixing the turtle (inverted boat)boat)• Assess situation, location of person in Assess situation, location of person in

water, wind/tide directionwater, wind/tide direction• Does the sailor need retrieving from the Does the sailor need retrieving from the

water….if so M.O.Bwater….if so M.O.B• Move boat to windward side of dinghyMove boat to windward side of dinghy• Right the dinghy through pressurisation of Right the dinghy through pressurisation of

centreboard or tie towline to the downwind centreboard or tie towline to the downwind shroudshroud

• Drive 90Drive 90° to the dinghy and bring to ° to the dinghy and bring to capsize position. Recover as beforecapsize position. Recover as before

Towing a windsurferTowing a windsurfer

• Although they do not “officially” race this Although they do not “officially” race this scenario is more than likely to appear esp scenario is more than likely to appear esp in summerin summer

• M.O.BM.O.B• Approach tip of mast and bring front of sail Approach tip of mast and bring front of sail

to face the wind. Lift centreboardto face the wind. Lift centreboard• Place sail on to the sponson, attach painter Place sail on to the sponson, attach painter

to the boomto the boom• Sailor holds mastSailor holds mast• Drive into wind where possible, if not Drive into wind where possible, if not

weight will be needed on sailweight will be needed on sail

TowingTowing• Assess situation, location of dinghy in water, Assess situation, location of dinghy in water,

wind/tide directionwind/tide direction• Approach from windward sideApproach from windward side• Prepare for tow, centreboard/daggerboard up, Prepare for tow, centreboard/daggerboard up,

release main or lower, stow jib is poss, rudder release main or lower, stow jib is poss, rudder to steerto steer

• Ensure tow lines attached to towing bridle, Ensure tow lines attached to towing bridle, pass line around mast and ask sailor to hold, pass line around mast and ask sailor to hold, do not secure unless there is no one on board do not secure unless there is no one on board or multiple towsor multiple tows

• Ask boat to steer behind RIBAsk boat to steer behind RIB• Setting up a second tow/multiple towSetting up a second tow/multiple tow• Alongside towsAlongside tows• Difficult boats how to?Difficult boats how to?

What will you need?What will you need?

• Clothing? WeatherClothing? Weather

• Safety box, what is in it, how to use Safety box, what is in it, how to use it.it.

• Tow lines, where and howTow lines, where and how

• FuelFuel

• Local Knowledge , Chichester Bar, Local Knowledge , Chichester Bar, Tides, Local CurrentsTides, Local Currents

Radio proceduresRadio procedures

• VHF certificate will detail all required proceeduresVHF certificate will detail all required proceedures• Channels (see hand out). How to change and Channels (see hand out). How to change and

why to changewhy to change• Call signs, be clear concise pressing PTT (press to Call signs, be clear concise pressing PTT (press to

transmit button), it is not a phonetransmit button), it is not a phone• Keep a listening watch out, you never know when Keep a listening watch out, you never know when

a call will be coming your way.a call will be coming your way.• Things to watch out for….Things to watch out for….

– Squelch, what is it and why……sensitivitySquelch, what is it and why……sensitivity– Wind chatter, sounds like your friend is phoning you on a Wind chatter, sounds like your friend is phoning you on a

train platform with a 125 passing through.train platform with a 125 passing through.

……be Observant!!!!!be Observant!!!!!• Keep an eye on the race course paying Keep an eye on the race course paying

attention to zoning.attention to zoning.• Even on calm days you must be alert. More Even on calm days you must be alert. More

people will be tempted on the water in light people will be tempted on the water in light wind sunny dayswind sunny days

• All capsizes should be given consideration, All capsizes should be given consideration, giving priority to those in precarious situationsgiving priority to those in precarious situations

• Watch your speed especially when passing Watch your speed especially when passing other boats and approaching capsizesother boats and approaching capsizes

• Most of the time you will only be required to Most of the time you will only be required to stand off a situation. Check the sailor is okay stand off a situation. Check the sailor is okay (thumbs up). If they are happy you can leave.(thumbs up). If they are happy you can leave.

• WATCH YOUR SPEED AND DIRECTION…..IT IS WATCH YOUR SPEED AND DIRECTION…..IT IS NOT A CAR..broom broom!!!NOT A CAR..broom broom!!!

The not so magic momentsThe not so magic moments• Head wound, mass blood lossHead wound, mass blood loss• Unconscious Unconscious • HypothermiaHypothermia• Sinking boatSinking boat• Snapped mastSnapped mast• No rudderNo rudder• EntrapmentEntrapment

ABOVE ALL BE AWARE, BE SAFE, BE ABOVE ALL BE AWARE, BE SAFE, BE THERE…….THERE…….