Fowey Maritime Centre RYA Safety Boat Course Syllabus

RYA Safety Boat Course Syllabus

To introduce the techniques used in powerboats escorting racing fleets of dinghies and windsurfers, providing safety and rescue cover for training fleets, and assisting in race management. Techniques for canoes/kayaks and kite surfers should also be discussed. It is strongly recommended that a member of the rescue crew should hold a first aid certificate (or should have experience of first aid). The ratio of students to instructors should not exceed 6:1 (using two boats).

Eligibility

RYA Level 2 National Powerboat Certificate

Duration

2 days

Minimum age

16 years old

SECTION A - PRACTICAL

Preparation

Understands:

• Boat checks
• Safety equipment including kill cord management, sharp knife and first aid kit
• Crew communication
• Race management duties including marling abandoned boats

Can:

• Stand off another craft
• Come alongside under way – other powerboats and sailing craft
• Lay and recover marks
• Demonstrate the correct use of an appropriate length kill cord at times

Dinghy Rescue

Understands:

• Methods for recovering personnel from the water and techniques for lifting heavy casualties
• How to deal with entrapments
• How to right a multihull
• Procedures for the righting high performance dinghies
• The dangers of lee shores

Can:

• Approach capsized craft and boats in need of assitance
• Right capsized and inverted or partially inverted dinghies, both crewed and single handers

Windsurfer rescue

Understands:

• Recovering several boards

Can:

• Demonstrate the correct approach
• Recover personnel from the water
• Rescue single board without de-rigging
• Stow rigs

Kayak or Canoe rescue (can be covered as theory)

Knowledge of:

• The correct approach
• How to rescue different types of kayaks and canoe
• How to return the paddler to his kayak or canoe
• How to stow  empty Kayaks
• Towing occupied and empty kayaks or canoes

Towing

Understands:

• Length of tow line
• Multiple tows
• Towing fragile high performance boats

Can:

• Tow alongside
• Position to pass a tow line
• Pass a tow line
• Use a bridle
• Cast off a tow

End-of-day procedures

Understands:

• Refuelling including risks from static electricity and mobile phones
• Returning equipment
• Reporting faults and problems

 

SECTION B - THEORY

Safety

Understands:

• Use of VHF
• Use of tower or club race box for improved vision
• First Aid
• How to carry out a search
• Operating from a beach or in shallow water

Suitability of craft

Knowledge of:

• Byelaws and regulations

Communication

Understands:

• Crew communication
• Communication with other vessels

Rescuing other water users

Knowledge of:

• How to rescue swimmers, rowing(sculling) boats, water skiers and towed inflatables, personal watercraft, canoeists and larger craft
• Special considerations for dealing with kite surfers