SAFETY AND TRAINING

We provide instruction, safety cover, buoyancy aids and wet weather gear. The Senior Instructors are qualified in first aid and both the rescue boats and the sailing base are equipped with first aid kits.

Students are strongly advised to bring a change of warm clothing and towel, suitable headgear and UV protection for skin and eyes.

We do require a young person to be confident in the water, no-one, adult or young person alike is allowed on or near the water unless they are wearing a buoyancy aid.

We operate two Rescue Boats, both of which are crewed and in attendance during all sailing sessions.

They are powered by 20 hp Mariner 4 stroke outboard motors fitted with propeller guards.

A Shore Contact is in attendance for each session to liaise with those on the water and also with the emergency services should they be required.

Both Rescue Boats have radio contact with each other, the Shore Contact and the Emergency Services.

 To prevent inversion in the event of a capsize, all our dinghies are fitted with floatation equipment.

The Hartley 15 has a floatation collar fitted to the mast above the mainsail, all of our RS Fevas have a floatation pad sewn into the head of the mainsail, and the Toppers have floatation buoys attached to the mast head.

We are inspected annually by the RYA. Such inspections ensure that our procedures are safe and that all our staff are suitably qualified.

Our staff members, all of whom are volunteers, hold an Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate within the meaning of sections 113B and 116 of the Police Act 1997, as do the Senior Instructors. The Senior Instructors also have valid RYA approved First Aid Qualifications.

We have a detailed Child Protection Policy, which is available to download from the ‘Documents and Reports’ link at the bottom of this page.