RYA safety boat RYA safety boat presentationpresentation

Suggested methods for Suggested methods for dealing with small craft in a dealing with small craft in a

sheltered environmentsheltered environment

Guiding principlesGuiding principles• Count heads!Count heads!• Ask if help is required, and if so, what.Ask if help is required, and if so, what.• Recover and return students to shore if Recover and return students to shore if

the situation is becoming serious.the situation is becoming serious.• Leave the craft ‘tagged’ to let other Leave the craft ‘tagged’ to let other

crews know it has been dealt with.crews know it has been dealt with.• Don’t become another casualty Don’t become another casualty

yourself .yourself .

Guiding principlesGuiding principles• If students are in the water near to your If students are in the water near to your

boat, turn the engine off.boat, turn the engine off.• Even if they are not, consider turning the Even if they are not, consider turning the

engine off. engine off. • Involve the casualties in their rescue.Involve the casualties in their rescue.• Holding or raising the tip of the mast may be Holding or raising the tip of the mast may be

all that is required if sailors are tired.all that is required if sailors are tired.• Whilst dealing with a rescue, the rest of the Whilst dealing with a rescue, the rest of the

fleet may be without cover. Remain alert for fleet may be without cover. Remain alert for them.them.

KayaksKayaks•If the kayaker needs If the kayaker needs

assistance, get them to come assistance, get them to come alongside the safety boat, it’s alongside the safety boat, it’s easier.easier.

Ensure that you are holding on Ensure that you are holding on firmly to the paddler, before firmly to the paddler, before you take their paddles.you take their paddles.

Get them to sit on the back Get them to sit on the back deck of their kayak, before deck of their kayak, before shuffling across into the safety shuffling across into the safety boat.boat.

Stow kayak either in or across Stow kayak either in or across the safety boat.the safety boat.

Dealing with a capsized Dealing with a capsized kayak (with the paddler still kayak (with the paddler still in it.)in it.)•Position safety boat Position safety boat

alongside kayak.alongside kayak.

Reach over the upturned hull Reach over the upturned hull and grab the victim.and grab the victim.

Roll them up, then pull them Roll them up, then pull them towards you.towards you.

Make sure that you hold onto Make sure that you hold onto them. (no paddles)them. (no paddles)

Dealing with capsized paddlers Dealing with capsized paddlers out of their kayaks.out of their kayaks.•Recover casualty in standard Recover casualty in standard

MOB way.MOB way.•Position kayak at 90 deg to Position kayak at 90 deg to

safety boat.safety boat.

Lift the bow gently.Lift the bow gently.

Draw the inverted hull over the Draw the inverted hull over the safety boat.safety boat.

Keep going until the kayak Keep going until the kayak over-balances itself.over-balances itself.

Place paddler back in kayak, or Place paddler back in kayak, or return them to shore. return them to shore.