RYA safety boat presentation Suggested methods for dealing with small craft in a sheltered environment

Guiding principles Count heads! Count heads! Ask if help is required, and if so, what. Ask if help is required, and if so, what. Recover and return students to shore if the situation is becoming serious. Recover and return students to shore if the situation is becoming serious. Leave the craft ‘tagged’ to let other crews know it has been dealt with. Leave the craft ‘tagged’ to let other crews know it has been dealt with. Don’t become another casualty yourself. Don’t become another casualty yourself.

Guiding principles If students are in the water near to your boat, turn the engine off. If students are in the water near to your boat, turn the engine off. Even if they are not, consider turning the engine off. Even if they are not, consider turning the engine off. Involve the casualties in their rescue. Involve the casualties in their rescue. Holding or raising the tip of the mast may be all that is required if sailors are tired. Holding or raising the tip of the mast may be all that is required if sailors are tired. Whilst dealing with a rescue, the rest of the fleet may be without cover. Remain alert for them. Whilst dealing with a rescue, the rest of the fleet may be without cover. Remain alert for them.

Short board sailors Sailors dressed for immersion. Sailors dressed for immersion. Likely problems are….. Likely problems are….. Gear failure. Gear failure. Wind dropped. Wind dropped. Wind too strong. Wind too strong. Fatigue. Fatigue. So initially… ask sailor to de-rig kit. So initially… ask sailor to de-rig kit.

Detach the board from the rig. Stow the board.

Detach end of boom.

Detach boom (undo clamp)

Release downhaul tension.

Remove sail from mast.

Stow all kit in safety boat.