Safety

Equipment

The following equipment must be carried at all times on all Club boats: small first aid kit, throw-bag, mobile phone or VHF, space blankets, bucket and bailer.

Carrying additional safety equipment, such as flares, smoke and EPIRB/PLB, should be considered on more exposed trips.

When on the water in a Club boat, or taking part in the launch or recovery of a Club boat, all members at all times shall wear a life-jacket or buoyancy aid. In races, the Cox and Stroke should consider the current circumstances, including the crew, weather, sea and visibility conditions.

Boarding and landing

• The cox is responsible for safe boarding and disembarking.
• Keep a lookout for incoming washes from passing vessels.
• When landing, row the boat very slowly towards shore with rowers at 3 and 4 until the bow rower's feet touch the bottom.
• When boarding, push the boat into deeper water to keep her afloat.
• If the boat is left to dry out on the beach, take the rudder off.

Local hazards

• Be aware of choppy seas around Ynys Moelfre.
• Y Swnt has limited water at certain heights of tide and is impassable at low tide.
• There are sewerage outflow pipes in Moelfre and Benllech which are hazardous at low tide.
• A reef extends a cable length to seaward of the rocks at the south of Traeth Bychan.
• There are strong tidal streams in the Menai Strait. When possible, go up-tide first and return with the tide.
• Do not row under Beaumaris Pier.

Specific emergencies

Man overboard

• Point to the person until they are back holding on to the boat.
• Bring them to the side opposite the stroke gate; cox and stroke assist in lifting.
• Heel the boat down towards the person and move other crew to balance the boat.
• Carry a strop if it is not possible to get the person back into the boat.

Swamping

• Carry one or more buckets.
• The crew bar-one may need to get out of a swamped boat so one rower can bail.
• If the water is choppy and bailing does not work, all crew should get out, hold on and await rescue.