Safety cover for rowing (powerboats)

[m***@gmail.com]

Background: I'm RYA safety boat qualified, a very experienced RYA dinghy instructor and I think one the years I dealt with all manner of situations with about every variety sailing there is inc cats, high performance dinghies, grounded yachts etc.

Now, the RYA course covers sailing dinghies, windsurfers (and more recently kitesurfers) but nothing on rowing. Dinghies (especially modern trapeze boats) have their specific issues with entrapment but at no time is any part of the crew actually restrained into the boat.

I'm quite aware despite my training and experience if I was to be asked to do safety cover at rowing events I'd be outside of any proper training I've been given. I've also observed very poor powerboat handling at my own and other rowing clubs (trouble even picking up a buoy or coming alongside!) which does concern me.

Are there any guides on there on how best to handle the various situations that can typically occur? Of particular concern are obviously entrapment situations both for the crew and in bowloaders, coxes. Otherwise more general things like swamped boats and towing would also be nice. Any less obvious must-haves in the onboard safety kit would also be welcome.

[m***@gmail.com]

I'm an RYA powerboat instructor and have also done the safety boat qualification, but it is pretty much all sailing with some kayak stuff.

Common problems:
- running aground/into reeds etc
- capsizes (especially small boats like 1x, 2x, 2-
- swamping
- collisions

Initial thoughts:
- know how to approach a rowing boat as the oars and riggers limit your options for coming alongside
- remember not to 'helpfully' grab and oar and lift it up
- get to know the equipment, especially the shoes/heel restraints and oarlocks. You'll probably need to know how to work these.

Care coming alongside. Err on the side of further away, then draw yourself in by holding an oar (or your crew does this).

Rowing boats are a lot more fragile than most dinghies.
Rowers are more susceptible to being washed-down by wake.

I'll have a think about it and update with more things later.

[m***@gmail.com]

Oops probably should also have said I've have been rowing 2 years too.

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Oops probably should also have said I've have been rowing 2 years too.

I've seen you posting so I knew you rowed!

If you drive a safety boat at a regatta you will (or should) have at least one crew on board. Just let the organisers know that you are inexperienced with rowing and to allocate you a more experienced crew member for the event. That way this person can teach you stuff and guide you.

[Stewie]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Background: I'm RYA safety boat qualified, a very experienced RYA dinghy instructor and I think one the years I dealt with all manner of situations with about every variety sailing there is inc cats, high performance dinghies, grounded yachts etc.
Now, the RYA course covers sailing dinghies, windsurfers (and more recently kitesurfers) but nothing on rowing. Dinghies (especially modern trapeze boats) have their specific issues with entrapment but at no time is any part of the crew actually restrained into the boat.
I'm quite aware despite my training and experience if I was to be asked to do safety cover at rowing events I'd be outside of any proper training I've been given. I've also observed very poor powerboat handling at my own and other rowing clubs (trouble even picking up a buoy or coming alongside!) which does concern me.
Are there any guides on there on how best to handle the various situations that can typically occur? Of particular concern are obviously entrapment situations both for the crew and in bowloaders, coxes. Otherwise more general things like swamped boats and towing would also be nice. Any less obvious must-haves in the onboard safety kit would also be welcome.

I'm not aware of any specific guidance, but OURCs worked with our medical company to train our launch drivers and their medics on rowing-specific situations a few years ago. Unfortunately some of that knowledge has been lost and we haven't had another opportunity to do the same kind of training. In addition what was done was very specific to bumps racing and focussed entirely on eights - how to extract a cox from their seat to a spinal board, for example.

By comparison, most "safety" boats I've seen at BR regattas have been the exact opposite. Either very large and unsuitable RIBs or tiny coaching boats with no capacity for casualties. The drivers tend to know how to handle a launch in general terms from an RYA course, but have no idea how to drive near a swamped or capsized shell, or how to come alongside a shell such that people can be extracted. I've also never seen one with propguard - imagine escaping a capsized double, swimming to the surface, only to be severely injured (or worse) by the "safety" boat rushing to your aid.

My personal preference is for low-decked catamarans, either of the older-style umpiring launch type (Reading RC have two of these and they're excellent) or the 16' version of Rowing Solutions' Topaz-based launch. Highly stable and manoeuvrable, but the low deck allows you to get in among the riggers of a sweep boat and extract injured rowers (exhaustion, asthma attacks, anything's possible in bumps). The carrying capacity is also excellent - we reckoned we could extract the crew of an eight onto two Topaz 16 based launches, which would already have a driver and medic aboard.

On one memorable occasion, a sculler at Reading snapped a spoon off on the way to the start of the Small Boats Head. He was able to hold himself steady until the ex-umpiring cat got alongside - he then simply stepped into the launch as if he was on a landing stage. By comparison, I was rescued into a small RIB after feeling the icy embrace of the Mersey back in the autumn. Getting from a RIB into a 1x is probably the most awkward thing I've ever tried to do.

Cheers
Stewie

[Jesse]

I've driven/manned the safety boat for a few coastal regattas and observed the safety boats at many more....

Our UK south coast coastal boats (not FISA type) often deal better with rough conditions than small safety ribs.

Big ribs are just too high above the water to either render much assisstance to those in a boat or to recover rowers from in the water.

Briefing and/or coordination is occasionally very poor. We have seen pro rescue boat tems insist on removing oars from rowlocks so the can come alongside whilst crew are on board. They were then surprised when the boat capsized.

It's very important to keep a "big picture" view even when concentrating on one boat or rower and be aware of all that is happening.

A rescue boat with only one person on board is not a rescue boat, it's just a coaching or observation point.

Dealing with anything bigger than a scull in open water is very hard.

Just a few observations...

[m***@gmail.com]

A bit concerning there is no best practice for boats which are very unstable and hard to approach (oars) with crew attached to them!

Would be nice if RYA/British Rowing got together and produced something.

[m***@gmail.com]

Post by m***@gmail.com
A bit concerning there is no best practice for boats which are very unstable and hard to approach (oars) with crew attached to them!
Would be nice if RYA/British Rowing got together and produced something.

Yes, it would be nice! Some experimentation and trials to see what works etc.

I've found that bringing the narrower nose of the RIB into the area behind the rower and rigger often works - even if a topstay/backarm is fitted. Your crew can lean over the tubes and put their hands on the rigger to support it.

[Chris A]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Background: I'm RYA safety boat qualified, a very experienced RYA dinghy instructor and I think one the years I dealt with all manner of situations with about every variety sailing there is inc cats, high performance dinghies, grounded yachts etc.
Now, the RYA course covers sailing dinghies, windsurfers (and more recently kitesurfers) but nothing on rowing. Dinghies (especially modern trapeze boats) have their specific issues with entrapment but at no time is any part of the crew actually restrained into the boat.
I'm quite aware despite my training and experience if I was to be asked to do safety cover at rowing events I'd be outside of any proper training I've been given. I've also observed very poor powerboat handling at my own and other rowing clubs (trouble even picking up a buoy or coming alongside!) which does concern me.
Are there any guides on there on how best to handle the various situations that can typically occur? Of particular concern are obviously entrapment situations both for the crew and in bowloaders, coxes. Otherwise more general things like swamped boats and towing would also be nice. Any less obvious must-haves in the onboard safety kit would also be welcome.

I've seen far too many safety boats when asked to respond do so as quickly as they can with the inherent risk of swamping every other boat which is on the water. Often a hugely rapid response is not needed as the umpire's boat is on the spot and can can provide initial assistance if not recovery of the swimming sculler, or keeping them upright if a medical issue until the safety boat arrives.

[Stewie]

Post by m***@gmail.com
Background: I'm RYA safety boat qualified, a very experienced RYA dinghy instructor and I think one the years I dealt with all manner of situations with about every variety sailing there is inc cats, high performance dinghies, grounded yachts etc.
Now, the RYA course covers sailing dinghies, windsurfers (and more recently kitesurfers) but nothing on rowing. Dinghies (especially modern trapeze boats) have their specific issues with entrapment but at no time is any part of the crew actually restrained into the boat.
I'm quite aware despite my training and experience if I was to be asked to do safety cover at rowing events I'd be outside of any proper training I've been given. I've also observed very poor powerboat handling at my own and other rowing clubs (trouble even picking up a buoy or coming alongside!) which does concern me.
Are there any guides on there on how best to handle the various situations that can typically occur? Of particular concern are obviously entrapment situations both for the crew and in bowloaders, coxes. Otherwise more general things like swamped boats and towing would also be nice. Any less obvious must-haves in the onboard safety kit would also be welcome.

Had a great time at Chester Regatta yesterday - probably the oldest regatta in the country, innovating by running a new format that produced exciting and interesting racing.

I was concerned, though, by the totally unsuitable "safety boats" - two enormous 30ft-long 8-seat RIBs with twin 90HP engines. Very nice, I'm sure, for the lads zipping about in them all day - but utterly useless as safety boats. They are simply too large and unwieldy to render any form of assistance to a capsized crew or crew member having a medical issue. And if they can't do that, what's the bloody point?

Cheers
Stewie

[Henry Law]

Post by Stewie
They are simply too large and unwieldy to render any form of assistance

I'm sure you're right in your assessment; it's not something I have
experience of; but the fact that you say they're too large puzzles me.

One of the main criticisms I have voiced about so-called safety boats is
that they usually have insufficient capacity to rescue the occupants of
anything other than a single or a pair. But now I hear that a regatta
has deployed a larger boat, capable (perhaps) of actually rescuing the
crew of an eight, but I'm being told that it's too big. What, then, is
the right kind of launch for a mixed regatta?

[Brian Chapman]

Post by Henry Law

Post by Stewie
They are simply too large and unwieldy to render any form of assistance

I'm sure you're right in your assessment; it's not something I have
experience of; but the fact that you say they're too large puzzles me.
One of the main criticisms I have voiced about so-called safety boats is
that they usually have insufficient capacity to rescue the occupants of
anything other than a single or a pair. But now I hear that a regatta
has deployed a larger boat, capable (perhaps) of actually rescuing the
crew of an eight, but I'm being told that it's too big. What, then, is
the right kind of launch for a mixed regatta?
--
Henry Law Manchester, England

We have used Chester Boat Company for the Dee Head and I know Collet Park have also been used on the Dee. Both organisations provide qualified safety crews and both use these Ribs. At the British Masters the same weekend ribs are again the safety boat of choice. I agree with Henry, coaching launches are not suitable so we spend money getting proper cover, which is then deemed not appropriate. Unless the region want to fund some "approved" safety launches or find a source who can supply them. Having said all that the regatta course at Chester is so shallow that most crews could stand up if they capsize.

[Richard]

Post by Brian Chapman

Post by Henry Law

Post by Stewie
They are simply too large and unwieldy to render any form of assistance

I'm sure you're right in your assessment; it's not something I have
experience of; but the fact that you say they're too large puzzles me.
One of the main criticisms I have voiced about so-called safety boats is
that they usually have insufficient capacity to rescue the occupants of
anything other than a single or a pair. But now I hear that a regatta
has deployed a larger boat, capable (perhaps) of actually rescuing the
crew of an eight, but I'm being told that it's too big. What, then, is
the right kind of launch for a mixed regatta?
--
Henry Law Manchester, England

We have used Chester Boat Company for the Dee Head and I know Collet Park have also been used on the Dee. Both organisations provide qualified safety crews and both use these Ribs. At the British Masters the same weekend ribs are again the safety boat of choice. I agree with Henry, coaching launches are not suitable so we spend money getting proper cover, which is then deemed not appropriate. Unless the region want to fund some "approved" safety launches or find a source who can supply them. Having said all that the regatta course at Chester is so shallow that most crews could stand up if they capsize.

At Dorney for the 2005 World Cup and 2006 World Championships, the water safety team's fleet included a couple of ZapCats (see http://www.zapcat-racing.com) which seem to me to be an excellent design for rowing safety launches. Very fast when necessary, low wash and very low freeboard making it easy to rescue someone in the water or to come alongside a casualty boat (unlike big RIBs or hard-sided doreys). I don't know why they aren't more widely used. They're easy to transport. You can put them on a trailer if you wish, but you can also deflate them and put them in the back of a small van.

Oh... and LOTS of fun to play in when you have the lake to yourself ;-)

[Henry Law]

Post by Richard
which seem to me to be an excellent design for rowing safety launches

"Design", that is the basic principle of an inflatable twin-hull, maybe,
but their rated payload is 250Kg, in other words three not-too-hefty
people of weight less than mine, two of them presumably being the crew.