This policy document has been written to meet needs identified in the SSSA Risk Assessments, and in conjunction with the Surrey County Council Guidelines for Dinghy Sailing and the NSSA Safety Afloat Policy Document. Reference has also been made to relevant RYA booklets and documents, and the Hayling Island Draft Youth Safety Policy.
A responsible, clearly identified, and suitably qualified person must be in charge of all sailing activities undertaken under the burgee of Surrey Schools Sailing Association. This person (the Director) should normally hold the RYA Senior Instructor's Certificate. For inland waters only, in a supervised situation (e.g. at TYM or PSC) and where a RYA Senior Instructor is in attendance, a person holding the RYA Instructor award may take charge of a sailing group.
At a SSSA Regatta, or other SSSA organised activity, the Director will normally be the Commodore, the Principal or the Race Officer. The Principal remains overall responsible for SSSA Safety Policy.
Staff in charge of individual schools or groups, must have signed the form at the end of this document, to declare that they have read, understood and agree to implement this Health and Safety Policy. This form must be renewed, and returned to the Principal each year.
At other activities such as School Sailing taking place at a agreed SSSA venue, the Director must be identified by the schools or sailing groups taking part, and must be fully familiar with the contents of this manual and any other local safety rules. These would include familiarity with any special requirements of the organisation under whose auspices the group is operating. For these activities responsibility for safety rests with the school or group concerned.
The Director is responsible for the conduct and safety of all concerned in the sailing activity. He or she must ensure that the sailing area is well defined, that recall signals are clear and fully understood, and that adequate rescue boats are allocated. On tidal waters the Director must ensure that weather and tidal conditions are fully taken into account, and that, when appropriate, the Coast Guard and/or Harbour Master is informed of the group's intentions. The Director should be prepared to amend or cancel the sailing activity, if the condition so warrant.
This will be determined by the Director, bearing in mind all relevant circumstances. These would include the prevailing and anticipated weather and tidal conditions, the rescue facilities available, the type of dinghy being used, the ability and experience of the students and staff, the water temperature, and the local environmental conditions. Instructor ratios should conform to RYA recommendations.
The Director must be satisfied as to the condition and level of equipment in every dinghy used, bearing in mind the prevailing conditions, the intended use, and the facilities available. It is strongly recommended that the Regatta Beachmaster Check Lists be used for all SSSA Sailing Activities
The Director must be satisfied with the fitness, general health and ability of pupils and staff to carry out all the tasks involved in the activity. They must be familiar with local conditions and be aware of any particular hazards. All should be confident in the water, wearing suitable and adequate clothing and Personal Buoyancy.
It is strongly recommended to all school and groups, that the policy requirements stated in the Regatta Regulations be applied to all SSSA Sailing Activities
The ability of young sailors to swim prescribed distances is of less significance than their ability to remain confident and competent in the water. Nevertheless the SSSA strongly recommends that all students sailing are able to swim at least 50m in light clothing. All students must be aware that in the event of a capsize, they should stay with the boats, unless it is carrying them into danger. They must also be familiar with suitable righting techniques.
The Director must ensure that arrangements are made to meet all foreseeable contingencies, that all concerned fully understand these arrangements, and that appropriate safety craft are in attendance. These must be staffed by personnel who are experienced in powerboat driving and sailing, and who hold the appropriate qualifications. (See Guidelines for SSSA Safety Boat Drivers)
At SSSA Regattas the ratio of rescue boats to sailing dinghies will be as laid down in the Regatta Regulations
All members of sailing groups and instructors must be informed of any risk of pollution and/or disease which could result from water activities. This would include any risk from Weil's Disease.
There must be suitable first aid equipment (see Guidelines for SSSA Safety Boat Drivers) and suitably qualified First Aiders present at all SSSA activities. There will be a first aid box with the Race Officer during SSSA Regattas. There must be quick access to a telephone for emergency calls. For a list of qualified First Aiders, please see the SSSA List of Qualified Instructors.
The Sailing Centre used by SSSA should be equipped with hot showers and adequate warm heating for use by those who are cold and wet.
Sailing should take place during the following periods:
| Inland waters with good facilities (Hot showers, warm accommodation) |
All year round |
| Inland waters without these facilities | April to November |
| Estuary and Coastal Waters | April to October |
| Capsize practice and righting technique (Capsize practice outside this period recommended only if water temperature is greater than 10°C) |
May to October |
All accidents, and the action taken, must be recorded in the SSSA Accident Book as soon as possible after the incident. The accident book will be maintained by the Principal, and should be available from the Principal or the Race Officer at all SSSA regattas and centrally organised activities. Schools and groups sailing on their own at SSSA venues should make their own arrangements for recording accidents. Staff in charge of groups are responsible for contacting next of kin in the event of a serious accident. They must have their own lists of telephone numbers and next of kin for the young people under their care. They must conform to any School, Group or LEA requirements in this respect.
Last updated: 16 October, 2002