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Sail in Stunning Northumberland

Duty Descriptions

OOD.............

You will find a detailed discussion of the role of the OOD and the duties of the OOD on the OOD Checklist page.

 

 

Galley Duties

Coming soon.....

Patrol Crews

These procedures are intended to guide you though the role of Patrol Boat Crew from Pre-Launch Checks to End of Day procedures on Club Race Days. There is no substitute for attending a Level 2 PowerBoat course and following that a Safety Boat course which the club runs every year. Contact Dave or Julie to ask about ths. We will be emphasising these course mch more in the future.
 
These Procedures have been split into four sections –

Pre-Race Procedures

The Race Officer is responsible for managing Safety for the duration of the race.
In general, this is delegated to the Safety Boat crew. On occasions conditions can arise when the Race Officer may require to direct the Safety Boat to specific emergencies.

You are also an aid to the Race Officer - ensuring all boats start correctly, round marks and finish in the correct direction. 

The Race Officer should ensure that the Patrol Boat crew fully understand the course and position of any marks they are required to lay for the course start or finish line. Usually on the water guidance is given to the final position of any marks.

The Patrol Boat should launch around 60 minutes prior to the start. This will leave plenty of time to deal with launching problems and laying marks. It will also encourage the competitors to get afloat in plenty of time.

  • Arrive for 09:30 and report for duty to the Officer Of the Day (Race Officer).
  • Check other crew members have arrived and the requirements for the day.
  • Get changed – Clothing. YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO ENTER THE WATER - DRESS ACCORDINGLY.
  • Prepare the boat(s) – Check boats Equipment.
  • Collect Fuel - Fill and connect fuel tank – Prime system as required.
  • Check working order of Radio.
  • Launch boat.
  • Report to O.O.D. – Patrol Boat ready.
  • Lay Marks as required.
  • Check Course to be sailed - Time of start – Type of Start.
  • Check signing on list – Intention to sail. How many are sailing?
  • Man the Patrol Boat.
  • Check for late starters.
  • Re-check number of boats participating in race.
  • Patrol Start Line.
  • Stand by for start signal.
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On the Water Requirements

  • At the Start Line assist the Race Officer for early starters “Over the Line”
  • Standby to inform any early starter of “Individual Recall”
  • or Racing Fleet of “General Recall” as requested by Race Officer
  • Beware of collisions at the start line by boats jostling for position
  • When boats are clear of the start line check the number of boats taking part
  • Keep a check on the number of sails / boats taking part
  • Keeping clear of the fleet follow the boats to the first mark
  • Position yourself clear of the first mark and view the fleet around the mark
  • If the fleet is to sail downwind to the next mark hold your position upwind and follow the back of the fleet as required
  • The Gybe mark and the down wind dead run are the most likely places for a capsize
  • Every capsize must be attended within three minutes to check on crew
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Dinghy Rescue

  • Approach a capsize and check crew are all right – count heads
  • Shout and ask crew if every thing is ok
  • If everything is fine stand off and wait for crew to ask for assistance
  • Crew of patrol boat looks around and check other boats, Coxswain watches dinghy and crew
  • Stand by as Safety boat within earshot of crew
  • If it is necessary to attend another capsize do so if the dinghy crew are ok

Capsize Recovery
Approaching a dinghy which requires immediate assistance

If dinghy is capsized to 90 degrees
Approach towards the forestay
Engine clear of the boat
Full inversion can be prevented by holding the forestay or mast

If dinghy is fully inverted
Come alongside so that both bows are pointing in the same direction
Check Engine is clear of any ropes in the water
Once righted to 90 degrees is easily moved head to wind for fully righting

Assymetric boats
Check for crew trapped under inverted boats
Lift bow or stern of the boat clear of the water to free crew members
Stand by to enter the water
IF NECESSARY RIGHT THE BOAT IMMEDIATELY
Assymetric boats should have their spinnakers lowered and, if possible, poles retracted before any attempt at recovery.
This should be done by the dinghy crew if they are still in the water.
If not, the safety boat crew should be ready to get into the water and do it for them.

Single handers are easily righted by the safety boat crew lifting the mast

Multihulls follow the same general principals as monohulls

  • Because of the high speed of these boats the crew has a tendency to become separated from the boat during a capsize.
  • Sheets and travellers must be released before righting
  • After 90 degree capsize, approach the forestay and walk the mast up

Key Points for dealing with Capsizes

  • Help the dinghy crew to help themselves before taking over
  • Prompt action “walking the mast up” may be all that is required
  • If necessary get the crew into the safety boat before dealing with the capsize
  • When involved with one boat, keep a lookout for other incidents which may take priority

Towing

Towing Alongside

This is the most convenient method providing the waters are reasonably calm.

     This method allows close control at all times and is more manoeuvrable

  • Sails should be lowered and stowed.
  • Centreboard Raised – Rudder and Tiller removed.
  • Towing lines should be attached at the bow and at the stern.
  • Also a rope from the towed vessels stern to the Tugs bow.
  • Crews should balance the boat
  • The towing vessel should have its stern clear of the towed vessels.

Towing Astern

This method is used if there are several boats or the water is choppy.

  • Sails should be lowered and stowed.
  • Centreboard Raised.
  • Rudder and Tiller removed except for the last one in the tow.
  • Crew sits on opposite sides of the boat well aft.
  • It is possible to have two lines of boats astern.
  • Or perhaps three single tows.
  • It is important that the boats can be released quickly.
  • The tow line is secured to a strong point or load spread over the boat.
  • A simple method of communication should be agreed.
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End of Day Procedures

  • Last boat on the water
  • Recover any Marks that have been laid
  • Recover Patrol Boat
  • Return Fuel
  • Switch off Radios
  • Return Radios
  • Results / Signing in Sheet
  • Put Boats away
  • Ensure Garage is left tidy
  • The outside Garage door shut and locked
  • Report to OOD / Race Officer – Duties Complete
  • Get changed
The Safety Boat crew’s responsibility ends ONLY when all craft are ashore
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PowerBoat Checklists

A copy of this checklist wll be found in each Patrol Boat.

DESCRIPTION

COMMENTS

INITIALS

Check overall condition of Craft and Launch trailer

 

 

BOATS EQUIPMENT

 

 

Paddles Attached

 

 

Painter Attached - shorter than boat

 

 

Bridle Attached To Strong Towing Eyes

 

 

Anchor / Warp Stowed

 

 

Bucket / Bailer Stowed

 

 

Fire Extinguisher

 

 

Engine Spares / Tools Stowed

 

 

Bellows - Are tubes well inflated

 

 

OUTBOARD ENGINE

 

 

Securely Clamped

 

 

Engine Tilt

 

 

Steering working normally

 

 

Ignition Key & Kill switch cord (safety lanyard)

 

 

Fuel tank filled, secured & vented

 

 

Fuel Line connected & primed

 

 

Reserve Fuel - as needed

 

 

Check oil level as required

 

 

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

 

 

Throwing Line

 

 

Tow Lines - 2

 

 

First Aid Kit

 

 

Survival bags

 

 

Spare Shackles

 

 

Distress Flares

 

 

VHF Radio - check communications with “Home Base”

 

 

Tool Kit - Including Knife

 

 

Bolt Cutters (P1 and P2 only)

 

 
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Radio Protocols

Kielder Water Sailing Club is equipped with Short Wave radios to aid communications while on the water.

  • The clubhouse has a fixed ‘Base Station.’
    The Large RIBs have a fixed unit e.g. under the Drivers seat.
    Also several hand held units.

Call Signs used are :-

  • Clubhouse – “Home Base”
  • Committee boat (when in use) – “Race Control”
  • Large RIB – “Patrol Boat One”
  • Any other Patrol Boats follow on e.g. “Patrol Boat Two” – “Patrol Boat Three” etc.
  • When hand held radios are used on board the Wayfarers whilst training we use – “Wayfarer One” – “Wayfarer Two” etc.

Operation of the radio

The use of these radios is quite straightforward.

  1. Switch on, and set the volume control midway.
  2. Select the appropriate channel.
  3. Adjust the squelch control until the background noise is barely audible.
  4. Only use low power if the other station is in sight.
  5. Hold the microphone about 5 cm away from your mouth. (In windy weather shield the microphone from th wnd and hold it at right angles to your mouth - not directly facing you).
  6. Press the switch on the microphone to transmit, speak normally.
  7. Release the switch immediately after speaking then await the reply.

Unlike the telephones we normally use, the radio sets have a microphone with a switch. This switch must be pressed to speak, and released to listen. (Hand held radios have a microphone and speaker as one). Ideally, communications should be short and to the point.

To start your communication you need to ask for them specifically, and let them know who is calling e.g.

“Patrol Boat One, Patrol Boat One, this is Home Base, Over.”

(and release the press to speak switch)

The word “over” is used as an invitation for Patrol Boat One to reply.
And the reply will be…

“Home Base, Home Base, This is Patrol Boat One, Over.”

Communications have now been established, and Home Base is ready to pass his message. He does so, and Patrol Boat one acknowledges the message.

On completion Home Base will end his communication with the word “Out”. This tells Patrol boat One communication with Home Base has Finished.

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