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October so far in the Forces-of-Nature Diaries
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Member Details Session Description
Toys Used
Owner: plugsie
Member



Member#: 95
Location:
Registered: 23-12-2002
Diary Entries: 38

Mood: Wanting to get back on the wat
1st March 2008
Other: Axbridge
Wind Direction: West
Wind Stength: 20kn
Surf / Sea State:
Air Temperature: 6
Sea Temperature:
Weather: Gusty
Max Speed:
Distance Covered:

Going against the theme of the site, but an absolute necessity for H&S. Powerboat and rescue training. The session was a busy one as we were also the rescue boats for the day. Good hands on training if you ask me! The day started with just getting used to the the boats with some simple maneuvers, S-turns, 360's in both forward and reverse. During lunch there was a theory session on rescues of both people, man over-boards and finally boat rescue.
Straight after lunch it was back to the powerboats, but first we needed to find some willing guinea pigs to be rescued. That sorted it was time to put into practice what we had learnt. We hadn't been out on the water long though when we were putting our new found skill into practice on a real rescue. Winds were strong and gusty and had taken one of the laser sailers by surprise whilst going down wind. This capsized her with the centre board up, although she had managed to stop her boat from being completely inverted, the boom was caught up on the centre board. Holding the top of her mast and shading the boat from the wind she managed to release the tangle and re-set her centre board. We then righted the boat and the sailor climbed back aboard her boat. Still holding onto the Laser the sailor sorted herself out and re-composed, all OK and she was off again.
Back to the training session we went off in search of one of the club boats that we had left inverted in the reservoir. We found the Mirror and righted this on fairly easily, shrouds made it easier than the Laser we had just done. Our instructor climbed aboard the Mirror and sailed away, leaving me and one other trainee crew in the powerboat. We followed for a while. Then one of the other powerboats came alongside her and they also tried a rescue with the Mirror. While they were doing this we decided to go off and rescue the Topper that was now drifting close to the edge of the reservoir. Think we done a good job of this righting and pulling the boat upwind and away from the edge. By the time we had done this our instructor had climbed aboard the other powerboat and was once again joining us in our boat. Not happy though that she had not witnessed us righting and rescuing the Topper, she made us do it again! Happy with that it was onto the man over-board, I found this the easiest of all, I think that all those years of pulling fully kitted up Scuba divers into boats helped with this exercise. Last of all was the rescue of the sailboard, again a reasonably easy rescue as these are not as heavy as boats. We were quickly alongside and pulling the sail onto the back of the boat followed by the board. Now heading back to shore to conclude the day. All the power boats were put away and locked down before getting our RYA level 1 powerboat log books and certificates. :) passed :). Now changed back into the car and drive home.
Toys Used:
Rib craft  30cc

 

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