Safety Officer Duties

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Duty objectives 

  • You are there to ensure that people do not drown. 
  • A secondary concern is the recovery of dinghies.

Personal Equipment

You should be equipped with a buoyancy aid, warm clothing, waterproof over-clothes, and sailing shoes/boots (ie normal sailing gear).

Duty Times  

The Safety Officer will be sent a reminder  approx four weeks before their duty (if both duty dates are close together then both reminders may be sent at the same time).    The reminder will also contain the name and telephone number of the Officer of the Day. The Safety Officer should arrive on the Saturday at 1.30pm but no later than 1.45pm. The club closes at 6.00pm and boats must be off the water by 5.30 at the latest. On Sunday the Safety Officer should arrive by 8.45am but no later than 9.00am. The club closes at 6.00pm and boats must be off the water by 5.30. The club may close earlier as directed by the Officer of the Day.

The Safety or ‘Patrol’ Boats

  • The 13ft Remote (or 'new') Dory -  This is the primary Safety Boat, but can be used only by members who have passed the Level 2 Powerboat qualification.
  • The 11ft Remote Dory - This is the secondary safety boat, for use if a supplementary facility is needed but can only be manned by members who have passed the level 2 Powerboat qualification.
  • The 'old' Dory - Can be used to supplement the new dory if the weather is windy or cold.                
  • The 'Carrot' - This is an easy boat to launch and run, but is not so good for towing.   For use only in lighter summer weather.

Patrol boat equipment

The duty boat must be checked at the start of sailing for the following items:

  • Take the appropriate container for the safety boat you are using from the club house containing the kill cord, whistle, knife etc.
  • Radio Handsets: it is recommended that one of the two way radio handsets is in the Safety boat. The second handset should be left with the OOD or if the OOD is in the Safety boat, with the Canteen officer. If a race is taking place then the second radio should be left with the Race Officer.
  • Oars and rowlocks;   towing rope;   knife; painter; lanyard to tie the outboard to the boat (where the engine is demountable); rescue steps; anchor;  baler;  fenders.

Using a Remote Dory 

To use these dories you must be qualified to at least RYA Powerboat Level 2. When  setting out to check on or rescue someone, you must have a second person in the boat. Please read the following carefully to ensure everything is done properly.

Preparation

Before moving boat lift the engine to the fully-raised (out of water) position, and locked in up position with the lever or button; this will prevent the propeller dragging.   Remove the boat from container with care.  Work through the safety boat checklist to make sure all equipment is in order.

Launching

Take the boat to the water's edge and launch backwards (You may need to get wet.)         

One person should hold the weight of the boat by the painter and trolley rope.

A second person should hold the winch handle and release the ratchet on the right hand underside of the winch, without letting go of the handle.

Now unwind the winch letting the strap go slack, and unhook it from the boat.

Launch the trolley until the boat floats from the trolley, but do not let go the trolley rope or painter.      Remove the trolley from the water and walk the boat to the jetty.

Starting procedure:

For the 11ft remote dory (qualified members should know how to start the 13ft Remote or new Dory). 

  1. Obtain the keys from the OOD.      Lower the engine and fix it down, ensuring it is locked.
  2. Prime the fuel tank, using approximately 4 squeezes.
  3. Make sure the kill cord is in place and attach it securely to your leg or wrist.
  4. Check the engine is in neutral (on control lever) and that the propeller is clear.
  5. Unclip and raise the Fast Idle lever, being prepared to lower it if engine runs fast. 
  6. Depress key and turn it to the right simultaneously. This will engage the choke and start the engine.   The choke will switch itself off. When the engine is warm, do not depress key, just turn, this will start engine without choke. Check the tell-tale for good water flow; when engine is warm lower Fast Idle lever and clip back in place.

General

Before engaging gears check the propeller is clear. Always lift red button on control lever before trying to engage required gear.  Always engage neutral before/after gear changes and positive, precise movements. To kill the engine, turn the key anticlockwise.

All Safety Boats: Kill cord must around the helm’s leg to ensure the engine is cut should the helm fall out  of the safety boat. When coming alongside, always use fenders.    

To bring the boat ashore

  1. Take to slipway and float above trolley
  2. Remove fuel line and run engine until carburettor dry.
  3. Disengage lock and lift engine into shallow water drive. 
  4. Pull out the strap from the winch and hook onto trailer keeping it straight.
  5. In sufficient depth of water winch the boat onto the trailer and replace in the container.
  6. Lower the engine into drive position.
  7. Remove key and return to OOD (11ft dory)
Return fuel cans to security box and ensure fuel line and valve is NOT kinked/squashed.

Using the other boats

The outboard motors are stored in the security box at the back of the container.  The OOD has the keys.  Engines should always be locked up overnight in security box.  The fuel cans are kept in the box together with the outboard engine oil.   A few tools are kept inside the cover of the outboard engines.   It is usually easier to attach the outboards to safety boats before launching, as it eliminates the danger of dropping them in the water. Engines must be tied on before starting up.   

Before starting, ensure that the red 'cut-out' lanyard is clipped onto the stop button and removed after sailing.

Check that there is at least a half-tank of fuel.   Ensure that the air vent in the middle of the filter cap on the top of the tank is open.  Squeeze the bulb on the rubber fuel line until it is hard (usually 1-2 squeezes only).  Check engine is in Neutral.

Pull out choke, put throttle on the starting position (indicated on throttle), pull starting cord and leave out choke for a minute or so once the engine has started. 

If it does not start, try a few more pulls.   If it still does not start, find an expert to help solve the problem. (OOD, Coxswain, etc.)

Ensure that cooling water is flowing through the engine,only if no water is flowing use a small pin to clear the exit hole under the 'gear' side of the engine cover or seek assistance from OOD or Coxswain etc.

Restarting during the day normally requires only a sharp pull on the starting cord. If you have run out of fuel, refill the tank from the fuel can, and squeeze the bulb a few times to set up the supply, before pulling the starting cord.   You should not need to use the choke.

To stop the engine press the small orange rubber cut-out button next to the choke for a second or two to stop the engine.   Replace the engines in the box before returning the boats.

Safety boat handling

Keep a continuous watch on boats being sailed and remain close to the safety boat.   This can best be done from the shore near 'Bosuns Point'.   Always practise boat-handling when you start your duty, e.g. coming up to a buoy ('man overboard'), reversing.  If you need a break make sure that someone is watching the sailing while you do so.  

Never rush around the lake without good excuse, as excessive noise/wake interferes with either the racing or the pursuit of sailing  pleasures.

If any boat capsizes always move towards it in case there is a problem.   Often boats capsize but their crews do not wish to be rescued.  Do not interfere unless you can see they are in trouble, or are too tired to continue attempts to right the boat themselves.    

Wherever possible approach a capsized boat from downwind.    Never have the engine in gear when you are helping to right a capsized boat.  If you are picking up someone from the water the engine must be CUT.    

If a boat is stuck on a lee shore or it is too shallow for the patrol boat, don't get yourself stuck as well, nor attempt to bend the propeller on the outboard by going in to the shore stern first.   Just float or throw a towrope to the dinghy in trouble and tow gently into deeper water.

Towing boat reminders 

  • The centreboard  must be up
  • The sails should be down
  • Never go too fast as you will not be able to release in time if trouble occurs.
  • The crew of the dinghy must be told to sit in  the back of the boat.

Towing boats behind:

The tow rope should be attached to a cleat or bridle on the safety boat and not  hand held.  It should be attached to the mast rather than the forestay of the dinghy.

Towing alongside (e.g. when rudders have been lost):

Attach a line from the bow of the dinghy to the bow of the safety boat, and from the stern of the dinghy to the stern of the safety boat. The transom of the towed boat must be forward of the towing boats transom (approx 12”-18”) and the bow of the towed boat should be pointed in towards the towing boat. Watch for hands and fingers about to be crushed between the safety boat and the dinghy.

Righting capsized boats:

If the mast is stuck in the mud, tow the dinghy hull slowly sideways away from the point where the mast is stuck, to ensure the mast is not broken. You can often use the foresheet to tow with or the patrol boat painter looped around a shroud.  With a boat on its side, you can assist the crew by walking up the forestay, e.g. position the patrol boat such that the dinghy is head to wind, then gradually raise the mast upright by using the forestay.   Never drive the patrol boat over the sails of a capsized dinghy.

Communication

It is recommended that the Safety Officer take one of the two radios with him for communication with the OOD/Canteen Officer/Race Officer. In an emergency contact with the Safety boat from the shore can be by either Radio, a blast of the race hut hooter (not used during a race), or use  of the Megaphone.

End of Duty

After your duty is finished ensure the safety boat(s) are returned to the containers and the last boat in (normally the 13foot remote dory) is chained and padlocked. Return the container with the kill cord etc and the two way radio to the club house.

Assist the OOD with closing up the club.

First Aid

In any emergency situation:

  1. the First objective is to get the injured person ashore as soon as possible;
  2. the Second is to provide emergency first aid;
  3. the Third is to get professional help.
Always get the OOD to help.