Safety Boat - Rescue Guidance

All powerboat drivers should review these guidelines regularly. When changes to these guidelines occur, they will be re communicated to all BSC powerboat drivers.

Introduction

These guidance notes are designed to support the operation of safety boats at Broxbourne Sailing Club. They should be read alongside the RYA Safety Boat Course notes, club powerboat operational procedures, and relevant video coaching material, such as the RYA YouTube Rescue guide videos. Please note that while this guidance does not require both a helm and crew for every safety boat, operation by a driver alone is permitted, subject to prevailing conditions and the experience of the operator. It is essential that the kill cord is always worn when operating the safety boat.

Basic Principles

• People Before Boats: Always prioritise rescuing people over the recovery of boats or equipment.
• Stay alert and the safety boat positioned to see all lake users and reach any casualty within two minutes. If anchored, release the anchor line from the cleat for a faster response. The anchor line will float.
• Always ensure that you have an unobstructed view of the North-East corner of the lake (known as The box) when it is being used.
• Assess the Risk: Assess each rescue situation carefully. The engine must be switched off by removing the kill-cord when in contact with a boat or person in the water. Always be aware of the potential for trailing ropes to entrap people in the water or to foul the safety boat's propeller.

Capsize Recovery Procedures

Your role is to assist and support as necessary, but wherever possible, encourage self-recovery by the sailors involved. The following rescue sequence should be followed:

• Communication: Call out to check for a response, offer instructions, and inform the individuals what you intend to do. Alert the shore early using the radio or by waving if you believe you need extra help or if there is an injury.
• Shout - establish contact and give instructions.
• Reach - extend a hand or paddle if possible.
• Throw - provide a rope or throw-bag if within range.
• Go - only enter the water to assist if absolutely necessary, as your ability to provide help diminishes if you are also in the water. Before you do this, inform the shore using the radio and establish how you will get back into the powerboat from the water. Boat Contact: Make contact at the bow if conditions permit.

Engine Off: Always stop the engine by pulling the kill-cord before making contact with boat or person in water.

Anchoring: Drop anchor where appropriate to maintain position having already secured the capsized boat to the safety boat. This is essential in high winds.

Righting the Boat: Capsized boat should be positioned head to wind before attempting to right the boat. Assist by pushing down on the centreboard or lifting the end of the floating mast if the boat is capsized. If fully inverted, help boats crew into the safety boat. Then, either have two people pull on the boats centreboard or attach a righting line and tow the end of mast clear of the mud until the boat is level with the waters surface. Only as a last resort should you tow an inverted boat in a circle to right it, due to the risk of mast damage.

Trapped Crew under boat: RYA guidance is that it is faster & safer to right the boat with the trapped crew inside than for the safety boat crew to enter the water to assist and cut the person free. Club safety boats contain a knife and steel wire cutters if needed to release entangled crew.

Recovery: From the safety boat lift the mast up above your head and scoop the person into the boat from the water if required.

After Righting: Keep the righted boat head-to-wind alongside the powerboat until the helm is ready or tow it back to the clubhouse if necessary. Older boats may take longer to recover, so stay alert for other sailors who may need assistance on the lake.

Towing Boats and Windsurf Boards

Boats can be towed either alongside or astern:

• Alongside Towing: Position the towed boat as far forward of the powerboats engine as practical. Be alert to the possibility of trailing ropes fouling the powerboat propeller. Tow slowly, preferably with the sails down or at least flapping. Be aware that the boats boom can strike the powerboat crew in medium or high winds.
• Astern Towing: Attach the boats painter to the towing bridle at the rear of the engine. Again, be alert to the possibility of trailing ropes fouling the powerboat propeller. Tow slowly.
• Helm in Boat: The helm should remain in the towed boat, centreboard raised, and steer from the back to keep the bow elevated.
• Windsurf Boards: Tow windsurf boards alongside, facing forwards, with the board up and the rig/sail placed across the safety boat. The sailor should hold the mast at the front of the safety boat or sit on the mast. Alternatively, windsurfers may be towed astern using a towline or by holding the mast tip.

Recovering a Person into a Safety Boat

• Positioning: Bring the person to the port side of the safety boat, as this side provides more space and keeps them further from the helm controls.
• Lifting Technique: For young people or small adults, pull them out of the water by their buoyancy aid, facing them away from the boat (per RYA/RNLI/MAIB guidance) and encouraging use of their arms and legs.
• Heavier or Unconscious Individuals: Roll them into the safety boat. If necessary, the side of a dory can be sunk (as dories will remain afloat even when waterlogged). For a RIB, reduce the pressure in a side tube to make this easier. Position the person so that one leg and one arm are inside the boat, then reach out to grasp their buoyancy aid and roll them in carefully. You may need assistance from the shore to do this.
• First Aid: Apply basic first aid as needed until the person is returned to shore or able to resume sailing.

If First aid is applied or needed, alert the shore before returning the injured person.

Skills to Practice as a driver

• Holding the powerboats position near a fixed point, such as a flagpole, for a duration of 30 seconds. Keeping the powerboat head-to-wind works best.
• Slow speed manoeuvring near an object in the water.
• Approaching a fixed mark with the engine off and coming to a controlled stop, both upwind, downwind, and across the wind.
• Recovering a man overboard dummy into a safety boat.
• Anchoring or dropping the anchor line in an emergency and then recovering it later.

Document next review date: 2028.

Last updated 17:33 on 8 March 2026