…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 running of races To assist Principal Race Officer (PRO) with the safe running of races Provide cover of safety to racers if required Provide cover of safety to racers if required Assist racers that are experiencing difficulties Assist racers that are experiencing difficulties Provide tow facility, if required from area of danger or back to shore in windless situations Provide tow facility, if required from area of danger or back to shore in windless situations Assist PRO with the laying of marks Assist PRO with the laying of marks Relaying in information to PRO/safety leader about ANY incident on the race course Relaying in information to PRO/safety leader about ANY incident on the race course

How…..basic principles Who is responsible? Who is responsible? What is the sailing area, hazards, hotspots What is the sailing area, hazards, hotspots Maintaining good coverage by efficiently zoning the race area Maintaining good coverage by efficiently zoning the race area Weather, boat, people age etc Weather, boat, people age etc What does a boat look like that requires assistance What does a boat look like that requires assistance Best approach, speed (dis/semi- dis/planing) wind/tide Best approach, speed (dis/semi- dis/planing) wind/tide

The DO’s and the DON’Ts Always check your RIB to ensure you are happy you have everything you need Always check your RIB to ensure you are happy you have everything you need Always wear your kill cord Always wear your kill cord Always wear the correct clothing for the conditions. Crew clothing?? Always wear the correct clothing for the conditions. Crew clothing?? Always prioritise people over kit Always prioritise people over kit Don’t take passengers along for the ride Don’t take passengers along for the ride Don’t smoke or consume alcohol whilst on duty Don’t smoke or consume alcohol whilst on duty

Approaching a Man Over Board Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Move boat into position downwind/tide (allows for more control of speed) Move boat into position downwind/tide (allows for more control of speed) Approach downwind/tide and maintain a constant (non-displacement speed) for boat lengths Approach downwind/tide and maintain a constant (non-displacement speed) for boat lengths Stop the boat alongside the person OPPOSITE the morse control. Stop the boat alongside the person OPPOSITE the morse control. Kill the engine once alongside. Kill the engine once alongside.

Coming alongside a dinghy Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Is the dinghy in “lay to” position? Is the dinghy in “lay to” position? Position boat up wind of dinghy at displacement speed Position boat up wind of dinghy at displacement speed Move into position alongside dinghy on the up wind side Move into position alongside dinghy on the up wind side Kill the engine once along side Kill the engine once along side

Coming along a capsized dinghy Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if so M.O.B 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 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 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. Make sure no lines are cleated, right and move the dinghy to the downwind position. Engine off. Sailor re-enters or prepare for tow Sailor re-enters or prepare for tow

Fixing the turtle (inverted boat) Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Assess situation, location of person in water, wind/tide direction Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if so M.O.B Does the sailor need retrieving from the water….if so M.O.B Move boat to windward side of dinghy Move boat to windward side of dinghy Right the dinghy through pressurisation of centreboard or tie towline to the downwind shroud 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 Drive 90° to the dinghy and bring to capsize position. Recover as before

Towing a windsurfer Although they do not “officially” race this scenario is more than likely to appear esp in summer Although they do not “officially” race this scenario is more than likely to appear esp in summer M.O.B M.O.B Approach tip of mast and bring front of sail to face the wind. Lift centreboard 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 Place sail on to the sponson, attach painter to the boom Sailor holds mast Sailor holds mast Drive into wind where possible, if not weight will be needed on sail Drive into wind where possible, if not weight will be needed on sail

Towing Assess situation, location of dinghy in water, wind/tide direction Assess situation, location of dinghy in water, wind/tide direction Approach from windward side Approach from windward side Prepare for tow, centreboard/daggerboard up, release main or lower, stow jib is poss, rudder to steer 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 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 Ask boat to steer behind RIB Setting up a second tow/multiple tow Setting up a second tow/multiple tow Alongside tows Alongside tows Difficult boats how to? Difficult boats how to?

What will you need? Clothing? Weather Clothing? Weather Safety box, what is in it, how to use it. Safety box, what is in it, how to use it. Tow lines, where and how Tow lines, where and how Fuel Fuel Local Knowledge, Chichester Bar, Tides, Local Currents Local Knowledge, Chichester Bar, Tides, Local Currents

Radio procedures VHF certificate will detail all required proceedures VHF certificate will detail all required proceedures Channels (see hand out). How to change and why to change Channels (see hand out). How to change and why to change Call signs, be clear concise pressing PTT (press to transmit button), it is not a phone 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. Keep a listening watch out, you never know when a call will be coming your way. Things to watch out for…. 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 zoning. Keep an eye on the race course paying attention to zoning. Even on calm days you must be alert. More people will be tempted on the water in light wind sunny days 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 All capsizes should be given consideration, giving priority to those in precarious situations Watch your speed especially when passing other boats and approaching capsizes 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. 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!!! WATCH YOUR SPEED AND DIRECTION…..IT IS NOT A CAR..broom broom!!!

The not so magic moments Head wound, mass blood loss Head wound, mass blood loss Unconscious Unconscious Hypothermia Hypothermia Sinking boat Sinking boat Snapped mast Snapped mast No rudder No rudder Entrapment Entrapment ABOVE ALL BE AWARE, BE SAFE, BE THERE…….