Top white facebook2x Top white twitter2x Top white linkedin2x Top white youtube2x Top white instagram2x Top white phone2x 01243 372850 Top white email2x Email us Top white search2x Basket Login
Home / News / Have fun but please be safe!
Home / News / Have fun but please be safe!

Have fun but please be safe!

1071821 orig
Published 20:54 on 3 Aug 2022

It was great to see so many happy faces at COW Week last week and so much fun being had both on and off the water, which is ultimately what it's all about. That said, we did spot some potentially very dangerous behaviours that we need to bring to the attention of all parents and guardians of our Juniors, ahead of what will be a long hot summer of fun at the Club.

Swimming under pontoons. It should go without saying, but this is an extremely dangerous activity and one that we must ensure doesn't become this summer's 'thing'. Not only is there a risk of the swimmer popping up on the other side into the path of an approaching craft, but even more seriously, there is a real risk of entrapment under a pontoon float which would almost certainly result in a tragic drowning, with the young victim not being discovered until the tide went out hours later. I can't even begin to comprehend the impact this would have on a family suffering a loss in this way, so I implore you all to stop anyone you see attempting to do this immediately.

Jumping from the railings at the side of the slipway. This looks like a lot of fun, doesn't it? And for the most part maybe it is. However, this always seems to occur once the formal sailing sessions end and therefore on a falling tide. We all know how quickly the water can suddenly disappear after a long stand at high water, but sadly some of our younger members may not be quite so aware, meaning that a jump into a relatively safe depth 10 minutes earlier could quickly turn into a jump that could cause a nasty injury or break on the hard concrete slipway. I hate to be a party-pooper, but we need to prevent this practice happening. There are plenty of other ways to jump into the sea where the landing is softer, if not a bit muddier, if the tide suddenly goes out.

I guess all the above comes back to the role and responsibility of parents and guardians when the kids are having fun on and around the water. You need to be aware of what they are up to at all times and just take a bit of a common-sense check on the 'what ifs?' of their activities.

As the title says, we want everyone to "Have fun but please be safe!"

Tim Keeping
© 2024 Emsworth Sailing Club powered by Sailing Club Manager