…being a Club
Safety Boat Driver
A days familiarisation of “some” of the
circumstances you may encounter
Your role……..
• To assist Principal Race Officer (PRO) with the safe
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running of races
Provide cover of safety to racers if required
Assist racers that are experiencing difficulties
Provide tow facility, if required from area of danger or
back to shore in windless situations
Assist PRO with the laying of marks
Relaying in information to PRO/safety leader about ANY
incident on the race course
How…..basic principles
• Who is responsible?
• What is the sailing area, hazards, hotspots
• Maintaining good coverage by efficiently
zoning the race area
• Weather, boat, people age etc
• What does a boat look like that requires
assistance
• Best approach, speed (dis/semidis/planing) wind/tide
The DO’s and the DON’Ts
• Always check your RIB to ensure you are happy
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you have everything you need
Always wear your kill cord
Always wear the correct clothing for the
conditions. Crew clothing??
Always prioritise people over kit
Don’t take passengers along for the ride
Don’t smoke or consume alcohol whilst on duty
Approaching a Man Over Board
• Assess situation, location of person in water,
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wind/tide direction
Move boat into position downwind/tide (allows
for more control of speed)
Approach downwind/tide and maintain a
constant (non-displacement speed) for 15-20
boat lengths
Stop the boat alongside the person OPPOSITE
the morse control.
Kill the engine once alongside.
Coming alongside a dinghy
• Assess situation, location of person in
water, wind/tide direction
• Is the dinghy in “lay to” position?
• Position boat up wind of dinghy at
displacement speed
• Move into position alongside dinghy on
the up wind side
• Kill the engine once along side
Coming along a capsized dinghy
• Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide
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direction
Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if so
M.O.B
Move the boat to the top of the mast with the RIB and
dinghy pointing in same direction/or pressure
centreboard
Bring the dinghy around until RIB and dinghy are both
pointing head to wind
Make sure no lines are cleated, right and move the
dinghy to the downwind position. Engine off.
Sailor re-enters or prepare for tow
Fixing the turtle (inverted boat)
• Assess situation, location of person in water,
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wind/tide direction
Does the sailor need retrieving from the
water….if so M.O.B
Move boat to windward side of dinghy
Right the dinghy through pressurisation of
centreboard or tie towline to the downwind
shroud
Drive 90° to the dinghy and bring to capsize
position. Recover as before
Towing a windsurfer
• Although they do not “officially” race this
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scenario is more than likely to appear esp in
summer
M.O.B
Approach tip of mast and bring front of sail to
face the wind. Lift centreboard
Place sail on to the sponson, attach painter to
the boom
Sailor holds mast
Drive into wind where possible, if not weight will
be needed on sail
Towing
• Assess situation, location of dinghy in water,
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wind/tide direction
Approach from windward side
Prepare for tow, centreboard/daggerboard up,
release main or lower, stow jib is poss, rudder to
steer
Ensure tow lines attached to towing bridle, pass line
around mast and ask sailor to hold, do not secure
unless there is no one on board or multiple tows
Ask boat to steer behind RIB
Setting up a second tow/multiple tow
Alongside tows
Difficult boats how to?
What will you need?
• Clothing? Weather
• Safety box, what is in it, how to use it.
• Tow lines, where and how
• Fuel
• Local Knowledge , Chichester Bar, Tides,
Local Currents
Radio procedures
• VHF certificate will detail all required proceedures
• Channels (see hand out). How to change and why to
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change
Call signs, be clear concise pressing PTT (press to
transmit button), it is not a phone
Keep a listening watch out, you never know when a call
will be coming your way.
Things to watch out for….
– Squelch, what is it and why……sensitivity
– Wind chatter, sounds like your friend is phoning you on a train
platform with a 125 passing through.
…be Observant!!!!!
• Keep an eye on the race course paying attention to
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zoning.
Even on calm days you must be alert. More people
will be tempted on the water in light wind sunny
days
All capsizes should be given consideration, giving
priority to those in precarious situations
Watch your speed especially when passing other
boats and approaching capsizes
Most of the time you will only be required to stand
off a situation. Check the sailor is okay (thumbs
up). If they are happy you can leave.
WATCH YOUR SPEED AND DIRECTION…..IT IS NOT
A CAR..broom broom!!!
The not so magic moments
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Head wound, mass blood loss
Unconscious
Hypothermia
Sinking boat
Snapped mast
No rudder
Entrapment
ABOVE ALL BE AWARE, BE SAFE, BE THERE…….