CONISTON SAILING CLUB SAFETY BOAT POLICY THE KILL CORD MUST BE WORN BY THE DRIVER WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING IT IS THE AIM OF CONISTON SAILING CLUB THAT ALL SAFETY BOAT DRIVERS SHOULD HAVE THE MINIMUM OF A CSC AWARENESS COURSE or PREFERABLY AN RYA POWER BOAT LEVEL 2 or higher. The club has three safety boats: 2 rigid inflatable boats (RIBS) and a dory (Dory). All have outboard engines and are the responsibility of the Bosun. This policy and the rules apply to all safety boats used by CSC. PURPOSE OF THE SAFETY BOATS The primary function of the safety boats is in relation to safety. Accordingly, safety related usage (Supporting dinghy racing/training) takes priority over any other non-safety related usage. When not required for CSC organised events or other safety related usage, the safety boats can be used for other purposes. Guidance as to acceptable use is given at the end of this document. If used for purely private purposes the club expects an appropriate donation to be made towards the cost of fuel and usage. GENERAL Only those approved by CSC Management Committee can drive the boats. A list of approved drivers will be kept in the race hut. The driver should have undertaken a minimum of the CSC awareness course. Whatever purpose the boats are being used for there must be 2 people on board. The driver must be 16 or over unless they are 14+ and hold a PB2 certificate. Where the driver is 14 the other crew must be a suitably experienced/qualified adult. The minimum age for all crew members is 14. All crew must be competent, capable and suitably dressed to assist a dinghy sailor in the case of an incident. When a safety boat is being collected or delivered it must have 2 suitable crew members onboard unless it is being escorted by another safety boat.
Except in an emergency, or during an RYA training session, no child under the age of 14 is permitted to ride in a safety boat. Buoyancy aids must be worn by the crew at all times from the point when the boat leaves the jetty to when it returns. Any person who does not have a buoyancy aid may borrow one from the CSC store. There must be a charged VHF radio on board that is switched on to the appropriate channel. Channel 1n or 37a for club use and 15 for lake users. The last person to drive one of the safety boats on a particular day should ensure that the fuel tank is returned to the store, the boat is put away, the keys are returned and the log book is filled in. Any incidents must be reported to a member of the Management Committee as soon as possible. USAGE The safety boats are potentially very dangerous and due care and attention must be employed when you are using them. They are a necessary and vital club asset and must only be used for proper purposes. In determining what proper purposes are, discretion and common sense must be used. Examples of what might be acceptable are given below. In the case of any doubt a Committee Member s view should be sought. In any case, other than an emergency, permission from a member of the Management Committee must be sought. Supporting dinghy racing/instruction is safety related For the purposes of CSC, social sailing is deemed to be sailing organised by CSC members that is not racing, training or coaching and involves dinghies Taking members to and from their cruisers in inclement weather is safety related Escorting a stricken cruiser to and from a mooring is safety related Maintaining club assets is safety related Assisting with the management of buoys on the lake is not safety related Maintaining private moorings is not safety related
The RIBS should only be used for dinghy related issues. The Dory should be used for all other activities, including servicing club marks, laying temporary marks or servicing private moorings. In these instances 2 people must be on the boat. AFTER USING A SAFETY BOAT FOR NONOFFICIAL ACTIVITIES AN APPROPRIATE DONATION TO COVER FUEL AND USAGE COSTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE CLUB. It is recommended that when dinghies are out for social sailing a safety boat is made ready for use and positioned at the end of the jetty. A suitable crew (2 people) should be ready and prepared to take this boat out in the event of an incident. This crew should be aware of the activities on the water. When juniors are sailing other than during an RYA organised training event they are the direct responsibility of their parent/guardian. CSC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE JANUARY 2018
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE GUIDANCE FOR AUTHORISING THE USE OF SAFETY/ESCORT BOATS Is the use really necessary? Does the safety boat need to be out on the water or ready for use on the jetty? Is the driver qualified? Is there a second crew member? Is the crew over the age of 14 and is the driver over the age of16? Are the crew ready to attend a rescue Have they made a donation for fuel and usage? Ensure that they have fuel and a radio Remind them to complete the log book (if necessary) and return fuel, keys and radio
CONISTON SAILING CLUB SAFETY/ESCORT RULES - RULE 78 A KILL CORD TO BE WORN BY THE DRIVER WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING 1. Kill cords must be worn by the driver when the engine is running 2. Buoyancy aids must be worn by all occupants 3. Two crew must be on board when a boat is being used for any purpose. 4. The driver of the boat must be 16 or over unless they have a PB2 certificate 5. The minimum age for all crew is 14 6. The engine must be switched off when near people in the water 7. The crew must not be under the influence of alcohol 8. The crew must not be under the influence of drugs or any medication that inhibits their ability to react quickly and appropriately 9. The crew must not smoke or vape in the boat 10. No member can operate a club power boat (except in a genuine emergency) without PB2, unless they have been approved or attended a club rib awareness course. 11. The crew should check the condition and contents of the boat 12. Any missing or damaged equipment must be reported to the race officer/bosun/or a member of the Management Committee and noted in the log book 13. The crew must wear appropriate clothing for assisting in the water 14. In the event of an emergency the safety of people is paramount. Any casualty should be taken for medical attention as soon as possible 15. The VHF radio must be used to notify the race officer/event organiser of any medical attention needed. Channel 1n/37A 16. All other lake users are on channel 15 17. If a member wishes to use a safety boat for other than a CSC organised activity the permission of a member of the Management Committee must be obtained and the driver be appropriately authorised. A contribution to CSC towards the cost of fuel and usage is expected 18. There is a speed limit of 10mph on Coniston Water. This MUST NOT be exceeded unless you are going to an emergency