Safety Boat Training Report
Published 10:47 on 13 Nov 2025
We were lucky once again to have the fantastic resources at the Club to run another round of Safety Boat Training and what a weekend it was! A huge thanks to our brilliant trainers Matt and Paul, whose calm, patient and expert approach made the course both highly informative and great fun.
Day 1 couldn't have been better proper RYA training video-style conditions with light winds, sunshine, and glassy water. Perfect for getting to grips with windsurfer, canoe and small dinghy recovery, including plenty of hands-on practice righting capsized boats. It had a great balance of classroom theory and on-water practical sessions, setting everyone up for what was to come.
Then came Day 2 a very different story! Overcast skies, a chilly breeze and 1012 knots of wind whipped up a choppy harbour, giving us real-life rescue conditions. This time, we took out the Bahias ( those "aircraft carriers" of the dinghy world) and quickly discovered how lively they can be when not the right way up!
After an engaging classroom session while waiting for the tide, we towed the Bahias out to deeper water, carefully avoiding the Hare & Hounds fleet (who seemed determined to occupy every patch of the harbour). Simulating full inversion and practicing how to get the crew safe and the boat back up took some real effort at times, highlighting the need for preparation, communication and using the techniques taught to speed up the recovery. Things got even more interesting when the Marker buoy decided to drift off mid H&H race, forcing a cancellation and giving us the perfect 'real' exercise opportunity to replace it, ticking off another syllabus item in the process. Finally, we performed a real 'man overboard' exercise as Matt needed to find the hole in his dry suit and happily we all succeeded!
It's safe to say this course is highly recommended. Not only does it build practical rescue skills, but it also strengthens our shared commitment to keeping our friends, families and fellow members safe while sailing, rowing, or taking part in any of the Club's many activities afloat.
Volunteering for rescue boat duties is a fantastic way to get involved, for those volunteering for RIB crew. I recommend getting hold of a copy of the RYA safety boat booklet (from the office) to be aware of the core techniques as it will be a real confidence booster. For our RIB coxes (I think that should be coxwains but in 60 years' boating I've never used that word!) the course provides invaluable experience in managing situations calmly and effectively as part of an ESC safety team and it will also allow you to volunteer for down harbour and round island events.
A big shout-out to Ann for the superb organisation, Matt and Paul for their expert instruction, and Nige the Bosun for keeping all the kit in top shape, allowing us to train safely and without a hitch.
Here's to more successful training sessions ahead and plenty of safe sailing on the water!
Jonny and the other 5 lucky 'coxwains'