RYA Safety Boat
Aim: to introduce the techniques used in powerboats escorting racing fleets of dinghies and windsurfers, providing safety and rescue cover for raining fleets, and assisting in race management. Techniques for canoes/kayaks and kite surfers should also be discussed. It is strongly recommended that a member of the rescue crew should hold a first aid certificate. The ratio of students to instructors should not exceed 6:1 (using two boats).
Pre-Requisite: Level 2 Powerboat Certificate
Duration: 2 days
Minimum age: 16
SECTION A: PRACTICAL
Preparation - understands:
- Boat checks
- Safety equipment including kill cord management, sharp knife and first aid kit
- Crew communication
- Race management duties including marking abandoned boats
Boat Handling - understands:
- Positioning in respect of fleet
- Size of sailing area and response times for different craft
- Communication with other craft
- Race management duties
Can:
- Stand off another craft
- Come alongside under way - other powerboats and sailing craft.
- Lay and recover marks
- Demonstrate the correct use of an appropriate length kill cord at all times
Dinghy Rescue - understands:
- Methods for recovering personnel from water and techniques for lifting heavy casualties
- How to deal with entrapments
- How to right a multihull
- Procedures for righting high performance dinghies
- The dangers of lee shores
Can:
- Approach capsized craft and boats in need of assistance
- Right capsized and inverted or partially inverted dinghies, both crewed and single handers
Windsurfer Rescue - understands:
- Recovering several boards
Can:
- Demonstrate the correct approach
- Recover personnel from water
- Rescue single board without de-rigging
- Stow rigs
Kayak or Canoe Rescue (can be covered as theory) - understands:
- The correct approach
- How to rescue different types of kayak and canoe
- How to return the paddler to their kayak or canoe
- How to stow empty kayaks
- Towing occupied and empty kayaks or canoes
Towing - understands:
- Length of tow line
- Multiple tows
- Towing fragile high performance boats
Can:
- Tow alongside
- Position to pass a tow line
- Pass a tow line
- Use of a bridle
- Cast off tow line
- End-of-Day Procedures
Understands:
- Refuelling including risks from static electricity
- Returning equipment
- Reporting faults and problems
SECTION B: THEORY
Safety - understands:
- Use of VHF
- Use of tower or club race box for improved vision
- First aid
- How to carry out a search
- Operating from a beach or shallow water
Suitability of Craft - knowledge of:
- Limitations of boats with high freeboard
- Hull types
- Drive types
Local Factors - knowledge of:
Communication - understands:
- Crew communication
- Communication with other vessels
Rescuing Other Water Users - knowledge of:
- How to rescue swimmers, rowing (sculling) boats, water-skiers and towed inflatables, personal watercraft, canoeists and larger craft
- Special considerations for dealing with kite surfers