Sailing In Dublin Club

1. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety seminar 2000 Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

2. Why Safety and Rescue cover 1 • Things do go wrong!!! • 2 experienced crew dead after boat washed up off Meath coast 4/6/00 • Up to 17 masts and other damage during Saturday racing, IMES rescue helicopter called out. “Black Saturday” • Death of rescue crew falling overboard and hit by engine “ Viking report” • Serious injuries caused by propeller. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

3. Why rescue safety cover 2 • Not always bad weather • On a warm day with little wind rescue crew decided to return to inner harbor with first boat. As the rescue was taken out of the water a tailender capsized dunking the helmsman and crew in the water. The helmsman, nose broken by the boom and dazed, still managed to duck under the hull and surfaced clear: his crew, trapped face down in a tangle of rope and wire did not. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

4. Responsibility of captains • Assess weather and conditions and make appropriate decision • Know the crews abilities and decide appropriate sailing plan • Plan, lead and direct the session • Recognise and avoid any potentially dangerous situations • Responsible for safety on the night • Fill out log book before and after sailing • Fix any damage if possible Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

5. Preparation for sailing 1 • Check the weather forecast • Weathercall : (Dublin) 1550 122112 • Radio 1 at 6.00, 12.53, 18.34 (Sat, Sun, Public Holidays), 19.02 (Mon-Fri), 23.55 • www.rte.ie/aertel/p160.htm • www.onlineweather.com • Aertel Page 160 • TV weather reports • IMES weather forecast on VHF • Eircell Eirtext “WTHR” to 1745 Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

6. Preparation for sailing 2 • Access weather conditions and make appropriate decision • Other factors : wind, rain, weather improving/worsening, way sailors are clothed, experience of crew, amount of other sailors out, other rescue boats about etc. • Tides • Ensure boats are in safe condition and properly rigged • Properly clothed and all wearing life jackets Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

7. Responsibility of Rescue/Safety crews 1 • Responsibility towards others • AND responsibility towards themselves • RESCUE : urgent, possibly immediate, action where there is risk to life. • SAFETY : support to prevent or minimise injury or damage. • Hopefully most time is spent on Safety duty. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

8. Responsibility of Rescue/Safety crew 2 • Ensure that the instructions of the Captain are carried out • Attend every capsize • Priority are • 1. Safety of crews being rescued • 2. Safety of other crews • 3. Prevention of damage to boats • Life before property Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

9. Rescue boat crew • Minimum of 2 in rescue boat ALWAYS • 2 needed for certain rescue situations • Impossible for one person to keep a lookout when dealing with an incident • At least one crew should be ready to enter the water if required • Be properly attired (cold in rescue boat) and wearing buoyancy. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

10. Rescue boat 1 • All Fenders attached • 2 Oars (secured in boat) and oar locks • Rescue bag • Anchor and warp • Towing, heaving line and warps stored neatly • Bridle at stern for towing line • Engine secured correctly to boat • Full fuel tank • Follow Operating procedures checklist Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

11. Rescue Boat 2 • Always use Kill cord • Kill engine when approaching someone in water • Ensure no-one is in way when starting engine Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

12. Rescue operation checklist • Preperation • Starting • Engine Running • Control your speed • Storage • Ensure fuel line etc is kept clean and dry. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

13. Safety Boat Handling • Sit opposite side to tiller • When moving astern it is best to stand up and face astern with tiller in one hand and the other hand free for the gear shift. • High speed maneuvers are only required to reach a incident or bring injured sailors ashore. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

14. Coming alongside • Get dinghy to “heave to” • Rescue boat comes along on windward side Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

15. Attending a capsize 1 • First task at a capsize is to make an assessment • 1. Immediate rescue is needed • 2. No immediate danger but safety boat should stand by until crew are in safe condition • 3. No danger to life or safety or crew and safety boat can depart Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

16. Attending a capsize 2 • People cannot always be relied on to provide self-help. • Don’t try to shout from a moving boat • Reduce actual number of instructions to a minimum • Always look for acknowledgement • Don’t leave crew in water too long Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

17. Attending a capsize 3 • If boat is capsized to 90 degrees best to approach towards forestay • Alternative is to approach capsized hull so crew can right boat by levering down on centerboard • When approaching a fully inverted boat best to approach alongside with both bows in same direction • AND always keep a good lookout for other incidents which may take priority ! Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

18. Lee shore Rescue • Best method to rescue boat from a lee shore is to anchor off and then veer down on your anchor until a heaving line can be thrown • Tow line is passed with heaving line to dinghy • Once towing line is secure the safety boat can haul in on its anchor until both boats are in deep water. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

19. Rescue of people in the water • Final approach is made from downwind at a slow speed • Kill engine 2 boat lengths if person in water • Use oars for close maneuvering • Person picked up on either side • Keep airway open if person unconscious • Avoid further injury Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

20. After rescue • When dinghy crew and boat safe • if crew can continue sailing safety boat can depart • If the crew want to return ashore (or if the safety crew make that decision) the simplest option is to lower the mainsail and return on jib alone, or tow boat home if required. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

21. Towing/Being towed • Use painter • Alternatively use tow rope and get dinghy crew to make two turns around the mast • Tug should start off slowly • Slow down before stopping • When being towed • Lower mainsail especially if windy • Raise centerboard • Sit well aft and steer to follow rescue boat Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

22. Multiple capsizes • Access situation and see who needs rescue boat most • May be necessary to tell one (or more ) crews to sit on upturned boat until rescue can attend • With Repeated capsizes crew will be tired and cold • Take appropriate action! Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

23. Abandoning dinghies • People over boats and equipment • Priority may be to get cold or injured crew ashore as quickly as possible • Capsised 420s’ will not drift far. A buoy should be attached to the mast head to prevent full inversion and to indicate to others that a rescue has been made. • Advise emergency services if boats abandoned. Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

24. Rescue boat positioning during session • Brain damage occurs when a person is deprived of oxygen for more than 3 minutes • SO rescue boat should be within 3 minutes of any boat - close sailing by all boats and tactical positioning of safety boat is required • In heavy winds and seas safety boat is best positioned upwind Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

25. Anchoring • Go head to wind • Drop Anchor • Let out warp slowly • Check if anchor has gripped by taking a transit • Length of chain/rope Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

26. RYA Safety recommendations for clubs • All safety boat crew should have level 3 of the powerboat scheme • Boat handling skills of rescue should be second nature Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

27. SID and safety • ALL members are responsible for safety • SID is not a teaching establishment • crews should take appropriate courses to be competent sailors/rescue crews • Courses can be organised especially for SID members • Power boat course • VHF courses • First Aid course Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

28. SID and safety Issues • Falling numbers • Less experienced members • Visitor fees (not insured if no visitor fee paid!!) • Where do we go from here ?? Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

29. First aid • Skills most likely required • Resuscitation • Treatment of Hypothermia • Control of bleeding • Blows to head concussion • A person hit on head by boom could suffer concussion and should be taken to hospital Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000

30. Other topics to consider • Flares (video and have flares at meeting) • Ruffian safety (recommended reading I.e. free books + Good Crew book) • use of launch • harnesses • emergency equipment • storm jib • MOB equipment • engine failure (engine notes from last years course) • VHF radio procedures ( certification and audio tape) • Rights of way e.g. HSS + Sailing rules Sailing In Dublin Club Safety Seminar 2000