Safety Boat Briefing

Welcome
Reason for Briefing
Encourage
Best
Practice

Focus On
What Safety
Boat Duties
Include

Encourage
Clubs to run
more Safety
Boat Courses.
 Agenda

Rescue Boat What makes a

and Kit good rescue crew

Duties and Briefing and

responsibilities Communications
RESCUE BOAT AND KIT
 Rescue Boat and Kit
Consider operating area and duties
when choosing rescue craft.

FREEBOARD SPACE CRAFT SIZE MANOEVRABILITY

Consider Working room Local conditions, Craft must be able
recovering a and space for size of sailing to be handled in a
casualty. equipment. area. limited area
Rescue Boat Example Types
RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat)
• Fast, Stable and relatively comfortable
• Good handling and sea going ability

Dory
• Inexpensive
• Light and easy to handle

SIB (Soft Inflatable Boat)

• Very shallow draft
• Soft, easy on boats when coming alongside

Displacement Boats
• Normally lower running costs
• Great Towing Power
Minimum Safety Boat Kit
Paddles Bucket /
Bailer
Tow Lines
Serrated
+ towing
Knife
bridle

Radio

Flares Boat Hook

Anchor
with chain First Aid
and warp Kit
Kill Cord (+
spare)

Survival
Bag
Sufficient
Fuel
 Personal Kit
Wet / Dry Suit
Buoyancy Aid
Hat and Gloves
Knife
Whistle
Food and Drink
Spare Clothing
WHAT MAKES A GOOD
RESCUE CREW
 Good Crew Recipe

Knowledge Experience Equipment Resourcefulness

Sailing Area / Prepared to

Course Good driving
go into the
skills No two
+ + water
+ rescues are
Knowledge of the same,
boats in fleet you often
need to think
Know what to
Awareness of on your feet.
First Aid do with
sailors course
Trained equipment!
 How do people gain
knowledge and experience?
Safety Boat Training
Safety Boat Cox

PB 1+2 Assistant
Duties

Difficulty – in club situations people often only get duties once or twice a year
making it difficult to practice in different conditions and maintain skill levels.
 Club Safety and
Refresher Courses

Time Efficient
Uses Kit
– does not
Associated to
require 2
Club
days

Increased
focus on
clubs
requirements
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 Duties and responsibilities

Fleet
Rescue
Control

Mark
Training
Laying
All duties and
responsibilities
require good boat
handling ability,
combined with
knowledge and
experience.
 Good Practice
Rescue Boats should always be manned with 2 people.

People before Property - ALWAYS

Have an understanding on why you are out there and any additional
equipment required (e.g. marks).
Ensure Communication is established with
Officer of the Day by radio.

When in contact with anyone IN the water ENGINE OFF

Ensure at least one crew member is First Aid trained

 Dealing With A Rescue
• Safety of own craft and crew
• Safety of people in difficulty
Access • Safety of craft in difficulty

• Method of rescue
• Whether additional help is required
Plan • Escape Plan

• Communication with crew AND casualty AND external people

• Deliver plan
React
BRIEFING AND COMMUNICATION
 Briefing Rescue Boat Crews
Circumstances
VHF Working
Marks to lay like medical
Channel
info

Special Patrol Areas /

Emergency
Instructions for Stations /
Procedures
Day Sailing Area

Numbers /
Numbers of Abandonment
Types of Craft
Races Procedures
expected
 Working with new crew

Boat Introduction Boat operation Explain & Delegate

Where kit is stored on boat
(start at front of boat and
work to stern)
Discuss what is happening, to
Run through basic operation
impart knowledge and
of boat including radio, kill
chord, fuel, engine etc. interest. Delegate jobs such
as look out
 Communications
RADIO
Radio
Programmed
to working
channel

Know Call
Radio Check
Signs for
Prior to going
other Rescue
afloat
and Shore

Maintain
Only use
regular
High Power IF
contact to
necessary
ensure link
 Communications
Sound and Visual
Clear consistent signals
example

2 Whistles and
• Individual hands on • All head for
shoulders
boat come • All boats shore
alongside circle
3 Whistles and
1 Whistle and rescue boat arms shoulders
Point in triangle

Try not to shout, get into a

position you can talk to
others, it is more effective!
More Sources Of Information

G16 RYA Safety Boat Handbook

G13 Powerboat Handbook

Centre Risk Assessment Documents