Reality check - the aftermath.

Where to from here....

Where should small sailing clubs go from here? I am of the opinion that the clubs should have regular scheduled racing, even if it's very low key, to help keep peoples interest up. Almost everyone has a competitive streak somewhere. Training should also be a key function, at all levels the club can manage. For some clubs, this will be just basic skills teaching, for others it may go all the way to coaching olympic hopefuls.

Make it all fun, hand out spot-prizes of a mars bar (or something) for worst start, best capsize, best start, anything really. After all, if you're going to charge up to $20 entry for a day, make it worthwhile. A bag of choccy bars only cost about $5, the smiles on the kids faces make up for that!.

And travel, support other clubs. If your members perform well at other clubs events, people will come to your club to have another go at them. If the organisation is good that day, they may even join you.

Extra bits.

First aid certificates should be kept up to date, as memory fades, and first aid techniques are always evolving.

Powerboat training is really important, both for instructing and for rescue boat duties. Anyone can drive a boat fast in good conditions, but the fact is, the days when things go wrong are not good conditions, and you wont get any help from your students, as they will be more concerned with survival. So, powerboat training needs to cover low-speed handling, getting the rescue boat to exactly where it is needed and can be most effective, in conditions where you are likely to need to use it. Without injuring swimmers, or damaging boats. A good powerboat driver should be able to turn a boat through 360degrees in less than one and a half times its length, even in rough conditions. It is also important to be able to get close to the boom of a boat that is sailing to offer advice and instruction.

Could I do that? Probably not, as I am out of practise, and am not familiar with the rescue boats at our club, however give me a chance to practise a bit, and I could. Skills fade if not used regularly.

A few years back I had a narrow escape, when the boat I was in got hit by a keelboat tacking less than a boat length away from us. The only warning we had was the sound of a flapping jib, about 1 second before their kite pole came through our jib. moments before, we had been sailing parallel to them, upwind and slightly faster, we had just lost sight of their bow. We were rolled over by the impact, and our rig was torn out. My partner ended up stuck under the upturned boat. She was fine, in the air pocket, but unable to free herself. After a brief discussion through the centrecase I dove under the boat to help her get free. While we were under the boat, a well meaning rescue boat approached, they slowed but as they had approached from upwind, in around 30knots, the rescue boat continued to move quite fast downwind, riding straight over the capsized dinghy. Had either of us been on the upturned hull, we would likely have been very badly injured, or even killed.

The choice of rescue boat is also important. Deep V RIB's are ideal for semi-coastal conditions, as they are more stable than conventional craft, track well in waves because of the V bottom, and are softer to bump into when things go wrong. Aluminium dinghy's are too light, and get blown around, almost impossible to control at low speeds in strong winds. The choice of engine is also important. 4 Strokes offer better fuel economy at lower revs, however that is reversed with the throttles fully open. They are also more expensive to purchase when new. But they do tend to provide more torque at low speeds, essential when towing a damaged or submerged boat.

Another thing to remember is that rescue boats really need two people onboard at all times. One dedicated to driving, one to assisting the troubled.

Right, thats all from me on this topic, any comments please stick them in the box below.
And above all, Happy sailing for the upcoming season!