Safety Coxswain Training

Our Safety Boat coxswains are an essential part of the Datchet Water Sailing Club team and are headed up by Emma Bancroft who Coordinates the Safety Boat Coxswains along side Jon Senior who supports the ongoing development and training of all our coxswains. Any member who undertakes safety boat duties is required to do 3 full days or 6 half-day duties a year. There are further opportunities to volunteer for large events hosted by the club.

All Safety Boat Coxswains must hold an RYA Safety Boat certificate and a valid first-aid certificate. Any club member who holds a Powerboat level 2 certificate can put themselves forward for the Safety boat course. The safety boat course and the first aid certificate are provided free of charge to members who sign up to the safety boat roster.

A typical safety boat coxswain duty starts with checking current and forecast weather conditions, and making an assessment if cover can be adequately provided for the reservoir. The club jeep is then used to bring the boats up the hill from the storage yard, checking equipment, fuel, and vessel condition, before launching into the reservoir. Depending on the weather conditions and the day's events, it may be just one that is needed or all five ribs & the Rigiflex that need launching. If the duty falls on an event/club racing day, coxswains will help the race officer to lay and recover marks. If the day is breezy or busy, its best to spend the duty on the water attending to any incidents that may arise. On windless or quieter days, it may be more suitable to spend time ashore, saving fuel, but keeping a very close lookout for incidents that may occur. Safety boat coxswain duties are varied and will depend on conditions and events of the day, sometimes it may involve standing by a capsize, providing reassurance to the sailor, to towing in a disabled vessel after a breakage. The day ends with the reverse of the start using the club Jeep to pull the boats off the water, check their condition, refuel, and place securely back in the storage yard.

RYA Safety Boat

Find out more about the course.

Club Safety Boat Training

A chance to practice your skills and to keep up to date on DWSC procedures. These sessions will cover using the club vehicles, techniques to recover people from the water, capsize recovery and much more.

Last updated 20:08 on 14 May 2024