Guidelines For Safety Crew 2026
THE PRIME FUNCTION OF THE RESCUE CREW IS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF CLUB MEMBERS. PEOPLE ARE YOUR PRIORITY!
a. Before Arrival at the Club
· Familiarise yourself with these Safety Boat Guidelines.
· Familiarise yourself with the Guidelines for Officer of the Day as you will be working with him/her as a team on the day.
· Check the weather forecast, tide, race type and times.
b. Before Launch
· Report to the Officer Of The Day (OOD) 1 hour before scheduled start time.
· Consult with the OOD regarding weather conditions and whether to hold a race. The decision to race MUST be made jointly by the OOD and Rescue Crew. If there is any doubt discuss the situation with a member of the General Committee or Sailing Sub-Committee.
· Prepare BOTH boats: the second boat may have to be launched at short notice if it is not already rostered.
· Collect boathouse keys from the safe, unlock the boathouse and engines and return the keys to the safe.
· Crew - No less than two Club Members. Both shall be adult members of the Club. The helm will be a category A, and the crew at least category B. Junior Club members should only be on board under good weather conditions. Crew members shall be properly attired having due regard to the weather conditions expected including air and water temperatures.
· The OOD and Rescue Crew will decide which boat to use.
· The OOD will inform the Crew whether any buoys are to be laid. Prepare buoys, anchors weights etc. Check all knots and shackles.
· Collect ignition keys and safety equipment from the cupboard in the clubhouse foyer. Familiarise yourself with the equipment that you have available, and carry in the containers provided.
· Check fuel. Mariner 1 has two fuel tanks, main tank & reserve tank. For normal Club racing only the main tank should be used (to prevent fuel in the reserve tank going off). For long distance races both tanks need to be filled. There is a 3 way valve to switch between each tank.
· Collect a handheld radio from the race office, which should be attached to a non-driving person and left switched off until required.
· Check boat equipment: paddles, boathook, anchor, flares.
· Ensure boat tubes are correctly inflated.
· Ensure hatch covers are secured on the control console and close the battery isolation switch.
· Fit the cooling water muffs to the engine with the muffs fully covering the inlet holes. Turn the water tap fully on & ensure propeller is clear
· Ensure hands, arms, legs and feet are well clear of the propeller before starting engine.
· Start engine and confirm the cooling water tell-tail is correct. Leave the engine running for 1 minute.
· Radio check with race hut (Ch 37 always).
c. Launching
· Launch boat as requested by OOD in time to lay marks before scheduled start time (minimum 20 minutes).
· If launching manually:
o You’ll need a minimum of 6 people to launch small boat Mariner 2.
o You’ll need a minimum of 8 people to launch large boat Mariner 1.
· If using the winch, see the winch instructions and guidelines
· Take responsibility for the launch, slow and steady and encourage teamwork to get the rescue boat down the slip safely.
· Crew should be aboard the rescue boat before it is put in the water.
d. Recommended Equipment
· Adequate clothing for prevailing conditions.
· Drinks and food - you could be afloat for two to three hours.
· Each boat is provided with a container in which essential safety equipment is stored; knife, pliers, bolt cutters, first aid kit etc.
e. After Launch
· Paddle away from slipway, lower and start engine, move away from shore slowly. Watch out for swimmers!
· Ensure “kill switch cord” is properly attached to the helmsman.
· Lay buoys as required.
f. Duties Whilst Afloat
· The main purpose of being afloat is the preservation of lives and the recovery of property. Always remember: ‘People before Boats’.
· Ensure your own wellbeing.
· Stay in visual contact with the fleet and in radio contact with the OOD.
· Keep a tally of the number of boats sailing.
· Liaise with OOD to check retirements and additional cruising boats.
· Watch out for commercial shipping and escort if necessary.
· Attend to capsized boats. Give help if required.
· Remember to stop the engine when recovering persons from the water.
· Tow boats in difficulty to safer waters or to the slipway.
· Be prepared to take crews from boats and leave boats for recovery later.
· Should it prove necessary to transfer crews between rescue boats, this must be done in calm waters with the engine switched off.
· In case of serious incident, radio the OOD to call emergency services.
· If required you can request the OOD to contact the Avonmouth Signal Station who in turn can speak directly to shipping.
g. Reminders / Checks
Radio
· Check you are on channel 37A.
· Check and adjust volume and squelch settings to the conditions.
· Take care not to accidentally change from channel 37A or to inadvertently transmit.
· When transmitting the microphone should be about 3 inches from your mouth.
· In wet conditions, shake / blow water from the microphone prior to use.
· Set the radio to low power (LO) except in extreme circumstances.
· In an emergency use channel 16
Engine
· Ensure kill switch is in “up” position (or engine will not start!)
· Starter motor will only operate when gear shift is in neutral.
· Check cables / fuel lines are connected.
· Check fuel tank vent is open / unobstructed.
· Ensure engine is completely lowered when running.
· Should the engine overheat alarm sound, then check coolant ‘tell-tail’. Report fact to OOD.
General
· Keep a good lookout at all times.
· Be aware of your own situation at all times.
· Operate vessel with due regard for existing wind and sea conditions
· Do not use excessive speed at any time.
· Beware of objects floating in or just beneath the surface of the sea.
· Under no circumstances should you exercise sharp turns and/or wave jumping.
· Ensure your crew person(s) is/are safe at all times.
· Always use the kill switch cord.
h. Recovery of the Rescue Boat
· Half raise engine when approaching trolley. Approach at a slow speed.
· Cut engine at the earliest opportunity. Props are Expensive!
· Paddle/pull boat onto trolley.
· If manually recovering the boat, ensure there are enough people to recover the boat to the boathouse. If using the winch, see the winch instructions and guidelines
i. After Recovery to the Boathouse
· Ensure radio is switched off.
· Rinse the front of the radio with fresh water to ensure saltwater is removed [manufacturer's recommendation].
· Rinse the throttle control unit on the side of the console with fresh water to ensure saltwater is removed.
· Rinse the outside of the engine and the steering mechanism and other engine parts at the stern.
· Open the console hatch cover so air can flow freely to enhance the "drying off" of the back of the radio. [manufacturer's recommendation]
· Rinse the handheld radio with fresh water and return it to its charging point in the race office.
· Fit the cooling water muffs to the engine with the muffs fully covering the inlet holes. Turn the water tap fully on & ensure propeller is clear
· Ensure hands, arms, legs and feet are well clear of the propeller before starting engine.
· Start engine and confirm the cooling water tell-tail is correct. Leave the engine running for a MINIMUM of 5 minutes.
· Open the battery isolation switch.
· After flushing, turn off taps, wind the wash-down hoses onto their wall stowage drums and fit the cooling water muffs and hose on the wall rack.
· Once the engine has fully stopped, refuel (main tank only on Mariner 1) and lock the fuel bin.
· Stow buoys, anchors & ropes tidily at the rear of the boathouse.
· Report all boat or buoy defects to the OOD and in the Rescue Boat Log in the cupboard in the clubhouse entrance hall.
· Return ignition keys and black equipment box to the hall cupboard.
· Collect keys from the safe, lock the engines and the boat house, return the keys to the safe.
REMEMBER: PEOPLE ARE YOUR PRIORITY!