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General Safety Sailing Precautions
GENERAL
•
Take into account the actual and forecast weather conditions.
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Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) must be worn by all persons when afloat.
•
The sailing area should be clearly defined and known to all afloat. The safety boat should
be able to view the entire sailing area at all times.
•
There should be a simple signal for all boats to return to shore, which is known by all
afloat.
•
The safety of sailors and volunteers must be considered at all time. If weather conditions
alter, sails are to be reefed accordingly, or if necessary activities cancelled should condi-
tions prove unsafe.
SAFETY BOAT
•
When Access Dinghies are sailed a safety boat should be on the water at all times, with at
least two crew on board. Generally a safety boat should provide cover for no more than
six dinghies, but prevailing conditions must be taken into account.
•
Safety boats should carry a first aid kit and should be equipped with radio communication
to the shore.
•
In all planing powerboats, a kill cord should be fitted and used.
•
All persons in the safety boat must wear an approved buoyancy aid.
•
All safety boat personnel should be instructed on how to reef sails.
•
If an Access Dinghy needs to be towed, it is safer and easier to tie the dinghy close along-
side and remove the rudder blade so that the dinghy cannot be “steered” in the wrong di-
rection.
Important Note:
Whilst Access Dinghies have inherent design features ensuring maximum stability thereby re-
ducing the chance of capsize, it should be remembered that these are small sailing dinghies
and under certain weather, water and sailing conditions sensible precautions should be taken :
•
Always reef the sails according to the weather conditions.
•
Always have a manned safety boat in the sailing area.
•
Always cancel sailing activities if inclement weather conditions dictate.
The safety of the sailors should come first under all circumstances.
Access Dinghy Sailing Systems Pty Ltd
2/7 Bungaleen Court
Dandenong South Victoria 3175
Australia
Phone: 61 3 9768 3101
Fax: 61 3 9768 3103
Email: [email protected]
www.accessdinghy.prg
USA Fax:
520 563 8203