Following the publication of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s Safety Bulletin 1/2013 today the RYA is reminding everyone driving powerboats and RIBs to wear a kill cord.

In its bulletin the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) says that the RIB involved in the tragic accident in Padstow over the May Bank Holiday was fitted with a kill cord but that it was not attached to the driver at the time.

The RYA echoes the MAIB’s safety bulletin message and reminds all owners and operators of such vessels fitted with a kill cord to:

• Test them regularly to ensure that the engine      stops when the kill cord mechanism is operated
• Make sure that the cord is in good condition
• Always attach the cord to the driver, ideally      before the engine is started, but certainly before the engine  is put      in gear
• When      changing drivers it is strongly recommended that you should turn the      engine off before transferring the kill cord from one driver to the other.      The engine should only be restarted when the kill cord has been securely      attached to the new driver.

Richard Falk, RYA Training Manager and Chief Examiner said: “The kill cord serves only one vital purpose, to stop the engine when the driver moves away from the controls for whatever reason.”

“No one wants a repeat of this tragic accident and so the RYA is urging everyone driving a powerboat, RIB or personal watercraft to make sure that they attach the kill cord around their leg before they switch on their engine.”

“RYA safety guidance and training advocates the wearing of a kill cord. In this type of boat it is just as important as wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Both are there to protect you”.

For more information on using a kill cord and how to attach it properly go to www.rya.org.uk/go/killcord.

You can read the MAIB Safety Bulletin 1/2013 on the MAIB website at www.maib.gov.uk/home.

The purpose of an MAIB Safety Bulletin is to communicate any safety lessons that have been identified from an incident prior to the full report on an investigation being published.

The RYA Honda Youth RIB Championships Regional Finals are taking place at Strathclyde Country Park on Sunday 9th June, and it’s open to boys and girls aged 8 – 16 years of age.  Each competitor needs to have taken part in a heat before they can be nominated, and a word of warning, we can only take 1 entrant in each age group – there are two age groups, 8 – 12, and 13 – 16 years.

It’s a great fun activity for young water users to try, and an opportunity to develop their skills. The course is a fun thing for adult drivers to try too – see how many penalties you pick up on the way round!

If you are unsure of how best to deliver this activity, please do contact Simon Paterson at sdg1@ryascotland.org.uk.  You can also find more information, the application form and even a sample course, by clicking on the link below.

http://www.rya.org.uk/programmes/hondaryayouthrib/Pages/hyrguidelines.aspx – the entry form is a download on the right hand side of the page

One last word – everyone that takes part MUST have sent in their entry form, please get the forms in by 29^th May, to ensure we know how many people to cater for. Please either scan and email forms to gail.joyce@ryascotland.org.uk, or send them to RYA Scotland, Caledonia House, 1 Redheughs Rigg, South Gyle, Edinburgh EH12 9DQ.

Hi,

I am the Mirror Class Association rep for Scotland, and based at Helensburgh SC. I have been offered some funding by the UK Class Association to support class training sessions in Scotland, and wondered if there are any Mirror sailors in your club dinghy section who would be interested if, say, we ran an event at Helensburgh.

There is a bit more information on the Scottish Mirror Class website http://www.mirrorsailingscotland.org/

Hope to hear from you,

Regards,

Mike Heath

A new tab has been created under Sailing containing the updated rota.

Please check in case any of the updates affect you.

Below is Race Officer and Rescue Boat Rota for Primary Series.
If you cannot make your turn please arrange to swap with someone else and then advise David Taylor so he can update rota
If you cannot open the downloadable version below there will be hard copies in Racing Bag

We only managed 4 boats racing on 24th April, however good breeze and good racing.
It would be great to see you all down on 1st May
Andy Taylor is RO this week

Downloadable version RR Rota 2013 – 1

This can be downloaded here
2013 Sailing Schedule