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Member Safety Policy
Our attitude to safety will not be compromised and the following simple rules will be followed.
- Your decision to race is yours and yours alone. Club members will not pressure you in any way to sail. In strong winds, do not leave the shore unless confident of your own ability and safety
- Whether racing or not, all sailors must always wear an approved Personal Flotation Device.
- You must ensure that the foils and mast are secured to the hull and cannot detach if the hull turns upside down. A Club Committee Member will provide advice if needed.
- In strong winds, you should always keep clear of a lee shore and breaking waves.
- Always stay with your boat.
- If you are excessively tired and/or cold or for other issues retire from the race, then advise the Race Committee Boat, or at least another competitor if possible.
- If you are in trouble, raise an arm above your head and wave it backwards and forwards.
- On race days, always sign-on.
- Boats must be seaworthy and comply with Class and Australian Sailing regulations and rules; and particularly the requirements to have centreboard, mast and rudder securely fastened to the hull.
- Participants are required to stop sailing and render assistance to any sailor who could be experiencing difficulty with capsize, gear failure, imminent danger, or injury – provided safe to do so. Alternatively raise the alarm with Race Officer and/or others who may assist.
- If you need to board the Race Committee Boat be aware of the propeller. To avoid risk of injury the Race Officer should have turned the motor off before you are at the stern of the vessel
Be aware of your limitations and remember Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing:
“The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue is hers alone.”
Risk Statement
- By participating each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and sea conditions, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes.
- Competitors are warned by the Club that regardless of their best intentions, they may be unable to render assistance to participants who are in distress, and by participating they accept this risk.
- Competitors agree that they will not hold the Club or its Officers liable for any injury to persons, or damage to equipment, in the event of a mishap on the water, or on the Club’s premises
Graham Jennings
Commodore
February 2022