Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety Handbook For Rowers · 2019. 4. 11. · Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety...

Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety Handbook

For Rowers

January3,2018

TableofContents

Introduction................................................................................................................4

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................4

Environment...............................................................................................................5FlowPatterns..............................................................................................................................................................5Wind................................................................................................................................................................................5WaterTemperatures................................................................................................................................................6Daylight..........................................................................................................................................................................6NightRowing...............................................................................................................................................................7FloatingDebris............................................................................................................................................................7BuoysandFloats........................................................................................................................................................7NavigationLights.......................................................................................................................................................8FrequentRoughWater............................................................................................................................................8Docks...............................................................................................................................................................................8Rocks...............................................................................................................................................................................9BeachLaunching.....................................................................................................................................................10Kayakers,PaddleboardsandCanoes..............................................................................................................10RecreationalPowerBoats...................................................................................................................................11CommercialBoats...................................................................................................................................................12SafetyEquipment......................................................................................................14RowingShells...........................................................................................................................................................14CoachBoat.................................................................................................................................................................15Boathouse..................................................................................................................................................................15NormalProcedures....................................................................................................16Qualifications............................................................................................................................................................16DecidingWhethertoRow...................................................................................................................................16PreparationforRowing.......................................................................................................................................16LaunchingandLanding........................................................................................................................................19OnWaterConduct..................................................................................................................................................20EmergencyProcedures–GeneralPrinciples..............................................................22Priorities.....................................................................................................................................................................22AttractingAttention...............................................................................................................................................22RowerBuddySystem............................................................................................................................................22StayWithTheRowingShellorSwimToShore?.......................................................................................23ActionsbyRowingShellsNotAffectedbyEmergency...........................................................................24OnSiteAuthority.....................................................................................................................................................25EmergencyCalls......................................................................................................................................................25EmergencyProcedures–SpecificSituations..............................................................27RapidlyDegradingWaterConditions............................................................................................................27Swamping...................................................................................................................................................................28Capsizing.....................................................................................................................................................................29Self-RescueWithoutCoach’sAssistance........................................................................................................30Self-RescueWithCoach’sAssistance...............................................................................................................31CoachBoatEvacuation.........................................................................................................................................31

Collision......................................................................................................................................................................32AvoidingCollisionswithHumanPropelledWatercraftandSwimmers.........................................32AvoidingCollisionswithRecreationalandCommercialWatercraft................................................32ReactingtoaPowerBoatCollision.................................................................................................................33ReactingtoaCollisionwithaKayak,Canoe,PaddleboardorSwimmer........................................33

ColdWaterShockandHypothermia..............................................................................................................33Hyperthermia...........................................................................................................................................................35Thunderstorm..........................................................................................................................................................35ThirdPartyEmergencies.....................................................................................................................................36SafetyImprovementProcess.....................................................................................38Suggestions&Feedback......................................................................................................................................38IncidentReporting&Documentation............................................................................................................38IncidentReview&Analysis................................................................................................................................39AppendixA–WaterTemperatures............................................................................40

AppendixB–DaylightHours.....................................................................................41

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IntroductionThishandbookdescribesthesafetypoliciesandprocedurestobefollowedbyparticipantsinrowingprogramsconductedbytheDeepCoveRowingClub.ThesepoliciesandproceduresarebaseduponthebestpracticesandguidelinesestablishedbyRowingCanadaAviron(RCA)andotherrowingclubs.ThepoliciesandprocedureshavebeenmodifiedtotakeintoaccounttheuniqueaspectsoftheDeepCoveenvironment.Rowersandcoachesaretheprincipalaudienceforthishandbook.Thishandbookfocusesoninformationyouneedtoknowinordertobesafe.Theinformationinthishandbookmaysaveyourlifeorthelifeofsomebodyyouarecoaching.Parentsofyoungrowersshouldreadthishandbook.Rowinghasalongtrackrecordofsafety,butitisawatersportandthereareinherentdangers.Thishandbookwillhelpyoutoproperlyassessthosedangers.Itwillhelpyoutoprepareyourchildsotheycanrowsafely.Ifanyerrorsarenoticed,pleasenotifythesafetycommitteeviaemailatsafety@deepcoverowingclub.com.

AcknowledgmentsTheDeepCoveRowingClubwouldliketothankthefollowingindividualsfortheircontributionstoitssafetyprogram,thecontentofthissafetyhandbookandtheemergencyactionplan:

• Judy&KeithEvans,MarineAve,Belcarra:forpermissiontousetheirdockinanemergency

• ColleenMcKenna,E-Comm:forinsightinto911callprocessing• BenPepa,RCMSAR:forinsightintotheircalloutandtaskingprocess

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Environment

FlowPatternsManyrowingclubsestablishtrafficflowpatternsonthebodyofwaterwheretheyrow.Aflowpatternreducestheriskandseverityofcollisionsbetweenrowingshellsbyensuringthatallshellsincloseproximitytoeachotheraretravelinginthesamedirection.Foranumberofreasons,theDeepCoveRowingClubhaschosennottoenforceaflowpattern.ThebodyofwateravailabletotheDeepCoveRowingClubisextensive.Thestyleofrowingisorientedtowardsrowinglongdistancesof10kmormoreoveranon-repetitivecourseratherthanrepetitivepatternsinaconfinedspace.GiventheextentofIndianArmandthepossiblenumberofcourses,theriskofcollisionbetweenrowingshellsisverylow.IndianArmweatherandwaterconditionscanvarysignificantlydependingonlocation.Safetyisenhancedifacourseischosentotakeintoaccountprevailingweatherandwaterconditionsatthetimeofarowingsession.TheDeepCoveRowingClubdoesnotallowunaccompaniedrowing.Becauseacoachaccompaniesallrowingshellsandtherowingshellsinthesessionarealltravelinginthesamedirection,theriskofcollisionbetweenrowingshellsislow.RowingshellsmustshareIndianArmwithlargenumbersofkayaks,paddleboards,personalwatercraft,skiboats,sailboats,yachtsandvariousothertypesofrecreationalwatercraft.Coachesfrequentlyhavetochooseacoursethatavoidsasmuchaspossibleencounterswiththirdpartywatercraft.Sincethesewatercraftcannotpracticallybemadetofollowaflowpattern,itisnecessaryforrowerstoadaptdynamicallytomaximizesafety.Nevertheless,theremayoccasionallybesituationswhereacoachdecidestoestablishaflowpatternforaparticularrowingsession.Onesuchflowpatternisacounter-clockwiseflowfromPanoramaBeachouttothesouth5knotbuoy,onwardstothenorth5knotbuoyandthenintoPanoramaBeach.Rowersarerequiredtofollowanyflowpatternestablishedbythecoachforarowingsession.

WindIntheVancouverarea,badweatherisoftenassociatedwithwindsoutofthesoutheast.Goodweatherisassociatedwithwindsoutofthenorthwest.WindswillblowintothecovefromthedirectionofBelcarraandPortMoodyduringbadweather.Windswillblowoutofthecovefrombehindtheboathouseduringgoodweather.Likeallgeneralities,therecanbenotableexceptions.IndianArmispartlyshelteredfromthewindbythesurroundingmountains.Iftheweatherforecastiscallingforupto20kph(10knot)winds,therewillnormallyonlybealightbreeze

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inIndianArmthatissuitableforrowing.Between20and35kph(10–20knots),rowingmayoccurifcareistaken(e.g.rowingonwindwardshorestoavoidthewaveskickedupbythewind).Beyond35kph(20knots)therewillprobablybewhitecapsandrowingwilllikelybecancelled.IndianArmissusceptibletooutflow(Squamish)winds.Thesearewindsthatracedownfromthemountainsandoutofthecoastalinletsathighspeed.Theywilloccurwhenthereisahighpressureareaovertheinterioroftheprovinceandalowpressureareaoffshore.Outflowwindscanariseveryquicklyandaredangerous.Themarineweatherforecastshouldmentionwhetheroutflowwindsareexpected.

WaterTemperaturesBetweenNovemberandApril,IndianArmwatertemperaturesarebetween40°Fand50°F(seeAppendixAfordetails).InMay,June,SeptemberandOctober,watertemperaturesarebetween50°Fand60°F.InJulyandAugust,watertemperaturesarebetween60°Fand70°F.Hypothermiaisariskatanyofthesetemperatures.Thefollowingtable12showshowtheriskincreaseswithreducedwatertemperatureandincreasedtimeinthewater.

Watertemperature(°F) LossofDexterity ExhaustionorUnconsciousness

ExpectedSurvivalTime

32.5–40 <3minutes 15–30minutes 30–90minutes40–50 <5minutes 30–60minutes 1–3hours50–60 10–15minutes 1–2hours 1–6hours60–70 30–40minutes 2–7hours 2–40hours

Thesituationisnotasoptimisticasindicatedbytheabovetable.Rowerstendtobethinnerthanaverageandwillcoolofffaster.Peoplewhoareswimmingortreadingwaterwillcoolofffastercomparedtosomebodywhoisnotmoving.Arower,whocapsizesinMarchandhastotreadwaterwithoutaPFDorlifejacket,willlosedexterityinlessthan5minutes,becomeexhaustedorunconsciousin15–40minutesanddrownshortlythereafter.

DaylightAppendixBprovidestheapproximatelocaltime(i.e.PSTandPDT)ofthestartofmorningciviltwilight,sunrise,sunsetandendofciviltwilightinVancouverfordifferentdatesduringtheyear.Fromfallthroughtospring,latesunrisesandearlysunsetswillcurtailearlymorningandeveningrowing.Theriskismoreseriousforeveningrowing,because,ifthereisanemergency,respondersfaceincreasingdarknesswhereasthelightisimprovinginthemorning.

1Retrievedfromhttp://www.theensign.org/uspscompass/compassarchive/compassv1n1/hypothermia.htm2Seealsohttp://www.shipwrite.bc.ca/Chilling_truth.htm

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ThemountainssurroundingIndianArmblocklightfromthesunnearsunriseandsunset.Consequentlyciviltwilightwillstartlaterinthemorningandendearlierintheeveningthanindicatedintheprecedingtables.Sunriseandsunsetsimilarlyoccurlaterandearlierrespectively.

NightRowingTherecreationalrowingprogramexperiencesdarknessduringeveningrowinginthefall.Themastersrowingprogramexperiencesdarknessduringthemorninginthespringandfall.Rowingatnightcanbemagical,butextracautionisrequired.Docks,buoys,crabtraps,floats,debrisinthewaterandmooredboatsareveryhardtosee.Somelandmarks(e.g.GreyRocks)arehardtodistinguishfromsimilarlookingbackgrounds(e.g.CoveCliff).Recreationalandcommercialboaterswillnotbeexpectingrowingshellstobeoutonthewaterinthedark.Theriskofcollisioncanbereducedby:

• chooseacoursethatdoesnothugtheshorelineinordertoavoiddocksandmostofthecrabtrap/mooringfloats

• learnwherethebuoysarelocated• learnwhereboatstypicallymoor• learnthetypicalpathsfollowedbycommuterboats• usenavigationlightsontherowingshell• wearaflashinglight

Thecoachcanusuallyseeobstaclesbetterthanrowersandcancalloutawarning.Forthistowork,rowersmustbegroupedcloseenoughtogetherthatthecoachcanseewhatisaheadofalltheshellsand,mostimportant,therowerscanhearthecoach.Don’tspreadouttoofarapartinthedark.

FloatingDebrisFloatinglogs,branchesandotherdebrisarecommoninIndianArmespeciallyafterawinterstorm,heavyrainorahigherthanusualtide.Debriscanrangeinsizefromsmallbranchestowholetrees.Portionsofdocksthathavebrokenawayhavebeenseeninthepast.DebrisiscommonbetweenAdmiraltyPointandBurnsPointwhenheadingtowardsPortMoody.Debrisfloatslowinthewaterandisoftendarkincolour.Debrisisveryhardtoseewhentakingaquicklookovertheshoulder.

BuoysandFloatsTwowhitebuoyswithorangemarkings(the“5knotcans”)arelocatedatthemouthofthecove:oneonthenorthsideandoneonthesouthside.Whenleavingthecoveorreturningtothecove,watchcarefullyforthesebuoys.

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Thereisanother5knotcaninBedwellBaytwothirdsofthewaydowntowardsthesouthernend.ThroughouttheshallowerportionsofIndianArm,rowerswillencounterfloatsanchoredtothebottom.Theyrangeinsizefrom6inchestothreefeet.Thesmallonesareusedtomarkthelocationsofcrabtraps.Thelargeonesareusedtomoorboats.Floatsarehardtoseewhentakingaquicklookovertheshoulder.Despitetheiroftenbrightcolours,afloatwillonlybeseenwhenitisrelativelyclosetotherowingshell.Itiscommontohaveclosemissesorgrazinghitswiththesmallerfloats.

NavigationLightsNavigationbeacons(whitepillarsthatmaybetoppedwithredorgreenlights)areusedtomarkrocksorshallowwater.Thesebeaconsandanyassociatedexposedrocksrepresentariskofcollisionforrowingshells.Watchoutespeciallyforthefollowingbeacons:

• southendofPrettyHouseIsland(LoneRockPt)• entrancetoBedwellBay• immediatelysouthofHamberIsland• southofthepublicwharfinBelcarraBay

ItisespeciallyimportantnottocutinbetweenthebeaconattheentrancetoBedwellBayandtheshore.Thereisarockridgeextendingfromthebeacontoshorethatishiddenjustbelowthewatersurfaceatcertaintidelevels.

FrequentRoughWaterWhenrowersleaveDeepCovesouthwardstowardsCatesPark,thereisanareajustaroundthecornerfromtheCovewheretheshorelineisfairlysteep.ThisisCoveCliff.ThewaterimmediatelyoffshorefromCoveCliffisfrequentlyrougherthanothernearbywaters.Itmaybeduetotheprevailingwindblowingintheoppositedirectiontothetidalcurrent.Theresultisshortsteepwavesthatareworsethanelsewhere.Ifwaterconditionsaregenerallymarginal,itwouldbeprudenttoavoidthisareabychoosingacoursefurtheroffshore.

DocksRowingshellsfrequentlyrowonthenorthsideofDeepCovefromthemarinaintoPanoramabeach.ThenorthernshorelineofDeepCove,betweenthemarinaandPanoramaBeach,appearstobefairlystraightatfirstglance.Itiscurvedhowever.AstraightcoursefromthemarinatoPanoramaBeachdoesnotfollowtheshoreline.Numerousrowersinthepasthaveunconsciouslyfollowedtheshoreline.AstheynearPanoramaBeach,theylookovertheir

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shouldersonlytodiscoverthattheyareracingdirectlytowardsthedocksonthenorthsideofPanoramaBeach.Whenreturningattheendofarow,onehastobecautiousaboutthegovernmentdock.Thereisusuallyonlyabout50–100feetbetweenthegovernmentdockandboatsmooredonthesouthsideofthecove.TherearenumerousdocksthroughoutIndianArm.Ifyoufindyourselfhavingtoconstantlylookoveryourshoulderfordocks,youarerowingtooclosetoshore.

RocksRocksthatareawash,shallowlysubmergedorotherwisehardtoseearelocatedatseverallocationsthroughoutIndianArm.Thegreatmajorityoftheserocksarelocatedclosetoshore.AdmiraltypointliesattheentrancetothechannelleadingtoPortMoody.Therearetworockshelvesoffshoreofthepoint.Theinnershelfistypicallyexposedatlowtide.Theisonlyexposedatthelowestoftides.Bothshelvescanbejustunderwateratintermediatetides.Theoutershelfcanbejustunderwateratlowtide.Theoutershelfisespeciallydangerousbecausethecoveringseagrowthisdarkgreenincolourmakingtheshelfalmostimpossibletosee,evenwhenyouarealmostontopofit.Stayatleast100feetoffAdmiraltypointathighertidesand150feetawayatlowtides.Thereisanunnamedpointonthewestsideofthearm,southofDeepCove,attheboundarybetweentheDollartonresidentialareaandCatesPark.Athighertides,thewateroffshoreofthispointappearstobeclear.Hiddeninthewaterareanumberofisolatedboulders.Atmiddletides,theserocksliejustunderthewatersurface.Therocksaredarkandimpossibletosee.Stayatleast150feetofftheexposedshorelineatthispoint.OnthewestsideofRacoonIsland(theDeepCovesideoftheisland),therearetwosetsofrocks.Oneoftherocksisduewestofthenorthendoftheisland.Theserocksarenearthesurfaceatmoderatetidesandexposedatlowertides.TherocksareabouthalfthelengthofRacoonIslandoffshore.Fewrowersexpecttoencounterrocksthisfaroffshoreoftheisland.WhenheadingtowardsTwinIslandsfromDeepCove,coachesandrowersshouldavoidtheareaonthewestsideofRacoonIslandbyalwayspassingtheislandonthesouthandeastsides.IfyouarereturningtoDeepCovefromthenorthsideofRacoonIsland,alwaysheaddirectlyforthewestshoreofIndianArmwellnorthofPrettyHouseIslanduntilyouareatleastonelengthofRacoonIslandoffshoreofRacoonbeforeturningtoheaddirectlyforDeepCove.

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BeachLaunchingTheDeepCoveRowingClublaunchesrowingshellsfromthebeachinfrontoftheboathouseorfromPanoramaBeachduringregattas.Rowershavetowadeintothewatersufficientlyfartoplacetherowingshellintothewaterwithoutdamagingthefinkeel.Thewaterinearlyspringandlatefalliscold.Therocksonthebeacharesharp.TherocksatPanoramaBeacharecoveredwithrazorsharpbarnacles.Stingingjellyfishhavebeenknowntowashashore.Properfootwearisnecessarytoprotectyourfeetandankles.

Kayakers,PaddleboardsandCanoesTheDeepCoveRowingClubsharestheboathousewiththeDeepCoveCanoe&Kayakrentalshop.Whentheweatherisnice,thereareswarmsofpeoplewalkingaroundonthebeachandwaterfrontwalkway.Thebeachinfrontoftheboathousecanbejammedwithkayaks,canoesandpaddleboards(collectivelyreferredtoaskayakshereafter).Inthewater,justoffthebeach,outtotheendofthegovernmentdock,kayakswillbeleavingandreturning.Someofthepeopleinthekayakswillbepaddlingaroundinrandomdirectionsgettingusedtothefeelandhandlingoftheirboats.Manyofthepeopleusingtheseboatshavelittle,ifany,boatingexperience.Itisextremelycommonforthemtobeoblivioustothepresenceofrowers.Manykayakersdonotnoticearowingshelluntilitistoolate.Kayakersregularlymakesuddenturnstopassinfrontofarowingshellwhilegrosslyunderestimatingthespeedoftheshell.Thecoursefollowedbykayakerscanoftenbebestdescribedasaimlessmeandering.Rowersoftendonotnoticekayakers.Unlessthereisagroupofkayakerstalkingamongstthemselves,thereislittleornonoise.Iftherowersdonotlookovertheirshoulderoftenenoughordonotlookoverbothshoulders,theymaynotnoticethekayak(s).Kayakerscanbeencounteredatanytimeandatanyplaceduringarowingsession.TheyaremostcommonlyfoundonthewestsideofIndianArm:betweenDeepCoveandPrettyHouseIslandandbetweenDeepCoveandCatesPark.TheywillalsobefoundatJugIsland,RacoonIslandandTwinIslands.TheywilloccasionallybeencounteredoutinthemiddleofIndianArm.Itisimportantthatacarefulwatchbekept.Akayakercanbeseriouslyinjuredorkilledifthetipofarowingshellbeingdrivenatspeedhitsthem.Therubberballonthebowoftherowingshellwillnotprotectthekayaker.Trytostayawayfromkayaks,especiallytheonesthatappeartobeinexperienced.Ifthisisnotpossible(e.g.nearthebeach),slowdownwhilepassingthekayaks.DeepCoveishometoseveraldragonboats.Theywillbeoutpracticingduringeveningsandweekends.Normallythedragonboatsaresteeredbyexperiencedhelmspersonswithgoodjudgment,buttherehavebeenexceptions.Dragonboatsandrowingshellstravelatsufficientlyhighspeedsthattheseparationbetweenboatscanquicklydisappear.

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OutriggercanoesoccasionallyvisitIndianArmfromPortMoody.TheywillbeencounteredontheeastsideofIndianArmbetweenAdmiraltyPointandJugIsland.

RecreationalPowerBoatsIndianArmispopularwithrecreationalboaters.Wakeboardandwaterskiboatsarecommon.Smalltolargeyachtsandsailboatsarecommoninthesummerandwillbeencounteredatalltimesoftheyear.Personalwatercraft(jet-skis)willbeencounteredattimes.ThereareeventwoorthreecigaretteboatsthatfrequentIndianArminthesummer.Alsoincludedinthiscategoryarecommuterboats.TheyaresmallbarealuminumpowerboatsthatareusedtoferryresidentsbetweenDeepCoveandhomesupIndianArm.Commuterboatscommonlydockatthemarinaonthenorthsideofthecoveandatthegovernmentdock.Commuterboatsarecommonatalltimesoftheyearandareespeciallyfrequentduringearlymorningsessions.Recreationalboatscanbeaproblemduetotheirwake.Mostoftherecreationalboatershavenoideahowunstablearowingshellis.Theyfrequentlypassnearby.Theyseldomalterspeedtominimizewake.Thefewthatdoslowdownoftenmaketheproblemworsebecausetheyslowtheirboattoamediumspeedthatgeneratesmorewakethanathighspeed.Theyarenotdoinganyofthisdeliberately.Theyjustdon’tunderstandtherelativedynamicsoftheirownboatsversusrowingshells.Largewakesarebesthandledwiththerowingshelleitherparalleltothewakeorat90degreestothewake.Beingparalleltothewakeisbestifthecrewknowshowtousetheiroarstostayupright.Thewholeshellwillrideupthefaceofthewaveanddownthebackside.Whentherowingshellis90degreestothewave,itwillcutthroughthewave.Somewaterwillentertherowingshellasthewavetravelsthelengthoftheshellbutitshouldnotamounttomorethananinchortwoforsmallertomidsizewakes.Encounteringalargewakeatanythingotherthanparalleltothewakecanbedisastrous.Therowingshellistoolongandheavywithrowerstoliftupoverthewave,sothewavecurlsinoverthesideoftheshellasittravelsthelengthofthehull.Theresultisaswampedrowingshell.TheEmergencyProceduressectiondiscusseshowtohandlebeingswamped.Encounteringwakesatanyangleotherthanparalleltothewakeishardontherowingshell.Thelargewavesdonotproperlysupportthelongnarrowrowingshellwithitsloadofrowers.Thereisariskofover-stressingthehull.Itisconceivablethattherowingshellcouldsnapinthemiddle.Collisionwithrecreationalwatercraftisaconstantrisk.Rowingshellsarehardtoseeatthebestoftimes,lesssoinmarginalweather.Recreationalwatercraftoperatorshavewidelyvaryingexperienceandjudgment.Closeencountersaremostfrequentwithwakeboard/skiboatsandcommuterboats.Bothtypesofboatfrequentlytravelathighspeed.

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Thereisacommonassumptionthatpowerboatsarerequiredtoyieldrightofwaytohumanpropelledcraft,butthisisnotthecase.Theregulationsonlyspecifyrightofwayforencountersbetweenpowervesselsandbetweenpowervesselsandsailingvessels.Theydonotspecifyanyrequirementsregardinghumanpropelledcraft.RecreationalcraftmoorinvaryingnumbersonthesouthsideofDeepCove.Theirpositionshiftswithwindandtide,becausetheyareanchoredorattachedtoamooringbuoy.Whenheadingoutandcomingbackin,itisnecessarytokeepawatchfortheseboats.AfewrecreationalcraftalsomooroffPanoramaBeach.WhenpracticingracepiecesintoPanoramaBeach,acoursemustbechosenthatavoidstheseboats.

CommercialBoatsCommercialboatsincludefreighters,tugs(withandwithoutbarges)andfishboats.FreightersanchorsouthofBoulderIsland.FreightersandtugswillbeencounteredunderwayanywherebetweentheIronWorkersMemorialBridgeandPortMoody.TugswillalsobeencounteredassistingfreightersinthemooragesouthofBoulderIsland.VeryinfrequentlyatugwillbeencounteredhaulingabargeupordownIndianArm.FishingboatscanoccasionallybeseenunderwayoranchoredanywhereinIndianArm.ThereisonecrabboatthatvisitsDeepCoveonadailybasisinthesummer.Mostboatersbelievethatthenormalmaritimerulesoftheroadapplytolargecommercialboats.Inopenwatersthatistrue.InVancouverharbour(includingIndianArm),itisnottrue.TransportCanadadelegatesauthorityforsettinglocalrulestotheportauthoritiesofmajorharbours.ThelocalrulesforVancouverharbour3statethat“[smallcraft]includingthoseunderoarsshouldkeepwellclearofallcommercialvesselsunderwayandnotimpedetheirpassage.Inaddition,avesselatanchororberthedataterminalmaybeexpectedtomovewithoutwarningandasafedistanceshouldbemaintained.”Regardlessoftherulesoftheroad,rowersmuststayclearofcommercialboattraffic.Commercialboatsdonotstopquicklyandtheycannotsteeraroundarowingshellinthetight(forthem)confinesoftheharbourandchannels.Beingrunoverbyacommercialvesselhasalowprobabilityforsurvival.Tugstowingbargesontheendofatowlinecanbeespeciallydangerous.Thetugcanstoprelativelyquickly,butthebargehasnobrakesandcannotstopatall.Thebargewillrunoverboththetugandtherowingshell.Tugsmaybeencounteredpushingabarge.Somebargeshaveanotchintherearwherethetugcannestleforpushing.Thiscombinationcanbothsteerandstop,butitwouldbefoolishtoassumethateitherwillhappenquickly.

3VancouverFraserPortAuthority,HarbourOperationsManual,section6.4.1

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Anotherdangerouscombinationisabargebeingpushedbyatugattachedtothebargeneartherearofoneside.Thetugmayhaveverypoorvisibilityforwardstowardstheoppositesideifthebargeblocksitsview.Ifyoucan’tseethetugwheelhouse,theycan’tseeyou.Thecenterofthrustisoffsetfromthecenterofdrag,sothetugcanonlypushthebargeinastraightlinebyvectoringitsthrust(eitherdirectlyorviatherudder)offtooneside4.Thismeansthatitprobablyhasarestrictedabilitytoturninonedirectiontoavoidacollision.Ifthetugtriestostopthebargequickly,thetugandbargemayveeralarminglytooneside.Giventheinertiaoftheselargevessels,itisamistaketothinkthatthereisplentyoftimetocrossinfrontofthemandgetclear.Iftherowingshellcapsizesforsomereasoninthepathofoneofthesevessels,everybodywillonlybeabletowatchhelplesslyasthecommercialboatrunsovertherowingshelldespiteeveryefforttostop.Earlymorningandlateeveningrowersmustwatchcarefullyfortugstowingbargesinthedark.Thetugwillbewelllighted.Thebargesareoftenverypoorlylightedanddifficulttosee.Ifavesselissuspectedofbeingatug,lookforwhitelightsonamast.Onewhitelightindicatesthatthetugisunderwaywithnotow.Twowhitelightsdisplayedverticallyoneabovetheotherindicatesthetugistowingoneormorebargesonashorttowline.Threewhitelightsdisplayedverticallyoneabovetheotherindicatesthetugistowingoneormorebargesonatowlinesuchthatthetailendofthelastbargeismorethan200metresbehindthesternofthetug5.Rowingshellsmustnotcrossbehindatugwithtwoorthreeverticallyorientedwhitelights.CommercialboatsareespeciallylikelytobeencounteredinthechannelbeyondAdmiraltyPointleadingtoPortMoody.Whenrowinginthischannel,stayonthenorth(Belcarra/Anmore)sideofthechannel.Thechannelmakesthreeslightturnstotheleft(atAdmiralty,BurnsandCarrahollyPoints)whenheadingtowardsPortMoody.Rowerscommonlydonotnoticetheseturnsandcontinuestraightoutintothemiddleofthechannelwheretheyaretheninthepathofcommercialboats.Watchfortheseturnsandstayclosetotheshore.

4https://towmasters.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/tugboat-how-to-towing-alongside-101/5http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1416/FullText.html,Rule24(a)

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SafetyEquipment

RowingShellsAccordingtotheCollisionRegulations7,eachrowingshellmustcarrythefollowingsafetyequipment:

• iftherowingshellisoperatedaftersunsetorbeforesunrise,navigationlightsmeetingthefollowingrequirements:

o red(port)andgreen(starboard)sidelightsthatarevisiblefromdeadaheadto22.5degreesabaftthebeamontherespectivesidesoftheboatvisibleforonemile

o whitesternlightthatisvisibleinanarc67.5degreestoeithersideofdeadasternvisiblefortwomiles

o alternatively,thesidelightsandsternlightmaybereplacedbyanelectrictorchorlightedlanternshowingawhitelight

Itisimportanttonotethattheaboverulereferstosunsetandsunrise,nottheavailablelight.Intheperiodofciviltwilight,therewillstillbeplentyoflight,buttherowingshellmusthaveitsnavigationlightsturnedon.InaccordancewithRCAsafetyguidelines,eachrowingshellmusthavethefollowingsafetyequipment:

• awhiteballofnotlessthan4cm.diametermadeofrubberormaterielofsimilarconsistencyonitsbow,unlesstheconstructionornatureoftherowingshellissuchthatthebowisproperlyprotectedoritsshapedoesnotrepresentahazard

• heelrestraintstopreventshoeheelsfromliftingmorethanthreefingerwidths• a‘quickrelease’mechanismtosimultaneouslydisengagetheVelcrostripsholding

feetintobothshoesTheDeepCoveRowingClubrequiresthefollowingadditionalsafetyequipmenttobecarriedineachrowingshell:

• iftherowingshellisoperatedaftersunsetorbeforesunrise,awaterproofflashingredorwhitelightwornontheheadorupperbodyofeachrower(seeRowers–PreparationforRowing)

Inadditiontotheabovesafetyequipment,acoxmayoptionallywearaPFD,butonlyifthecombinationofshelldesignandwornPFDallowsunrestrictedegressfromtherowingshellintheeventofacapsize.RowersdonotwearPFDswhilerowing,becausetheoarhandleswillgetcaughtinthem.Atbest,therowingrhythmisdisrupted.Intheworstcase,acaughtoarhandlecancausetheshelltocapsize.ThecoachcarriesPFDsforrowersinthecoachboat.

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TheDeepCoveRowingClubdoesnotpermitrowingwithoutanaccompanyingcoachboat(safetycraft).Ifunaccompaniedrowingwereallowed,thereareadditionalrequirementsforsafetyequipment(inadditiontoPFDs)tobecarriedontherowingshell.

CoachBoatBecausethenatureofrowingprecludescarryingnecessarysafetyequipmentintherowingshell,therearespecialregulationsforrowingshellsafetyequipment.AccordingtotheSmallVesselRegulations6andtheCollisionRegulations7,acoachboataccompanyingrowersonthewaterisconsideredtobeasafetycraftandmustcarrythefollowingsafetyequipmentfortherowingshell:

• aPFDorlifejacketforeachperson(rowersandcoxswain)onboardtherowingshellwiththemostpersonsonboard

o thePFDsandlifejacketsforthecoachboatoccupantsarenotincludedinthisrequirement

TheDeepCoveRowingClubrequiresthefollowingadditionalsafetyequipmenttobecarriedoneachcoachboat:

• acellphoneoramarineVHFradio• firstaidkit• warmingblankets

BoathouseTheboathouseisequippedwithadditionalsafetyequipment:

• firstaidkit• fourwarmingblankets

6http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-91/FullText.html,section2227http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1416/FullText.html,rule25

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NormalProcedures

QualificationsAllrowersmustbeabletotreadwaterfor10minutesintheeventtheirrowingshellcapsizes.Allrowersmustbeabletoswim50metresincasetheyneedtoswimtothecoachboatorarescueboat.EachrowermustreadthisRowerSafetyHandbookbeforetheyparticipateinarowingprogram.

DecidingWhethertoRowAcoach,orapprovedsubstitute,andacoach(safety)boatmustaccompanyallrowersonthewater.Ifacoachdoesnotshowupforarowingsession,therowingsessionmustbecancelled.Therewillbenoexceptionstothispolicy.Becauseacoachandcoachboatmustaccompanyallrowers,rowerswillnotusearower’sout/inlogbook.Rowersareencouragedtochecktheweatherforecastbeforeattendingarowingsession.Rowersshouldevaluatetheirrowingskillsagainsttheanticipatedweatherandwaterconditions.Iftheweatherorwaterconditionsaremarginal,rowersmaydeclinetorowwithoutaffectingtheirstandinginarowingprogram.Appropriateweatherforecastsandthewebcamcanbeaccessedonthewebpagesetupforeachrowingprogramathttp://www.deepcoverowingclub.com/.TheDeepCoveCanoeandKayakclubhasawebcamthatcanbeusedtocheckcurrentconditionsinthecove.

PreparationforRowingRowersshouldbringtheequipmentinthefollowingchecklistthatisappropriatefortheanticipatedrowingconditions:

EquipmentToBring WhenToBringCareorServicesCardnumber AlwaysEmergencycontacttelephonenumber AlwaysLayered,closefittingclothing:-stayswarmwhenwet-hasfulllengthpocketclosuresonfrontoftorso

Always

Pogies(mittswithextraholeforoarhandle) Latefall,earlyspringwhenairtemperaturebelow5°C

Footwearforbeachthatfullyenclosesfoot AlwaysHeadcovering Coldand/orsunny

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Drinkingwater AlwaysSunscreen SunnyorlightovercastWaterproofflashinglight Beforesunrise,after

sunsetRowersmustalwaysbringtheirCareorServicesCardnumberwiththem.Intheunlikelyeventthatmedicalattentionisneeded,emergencyorotherwise,thehospitalormedicalclinicwillneedthisnumber.Rowersshouldcarryanemergencycontacttelephonenumber.Ifarowerisinjuredandcan’tcommunicate,police,fireorambulancepersonnelwillusethetelephonenumbertonotifytherower’sfamilyorsomebodyelsewhocanspeakontheirbehalf.Anemergencycontacttelephonenumbercanbecarriedonawalletcard.ItcanalsobeenteredintoamobilephonebycreatingacontactnamedICEorthathasICEinthename8.Properclothingisimportanttoavoidbothhypothermiaandheatprostration(hyperthermia).Sprayfromsplashingoarsorraincansoakclothingcausingheatloss.Whenarowerfirstgoesoutonthewater,theyaregeneratingverylittleheatandcanquicklygetcold.Oncerowingcommences,thesituationcanreverseastherowergeneratessubstantialheat.Rowingonahotdaycangenerateheatfasterthancanbeeffectivelyremovedleadingtohyperthermia.Thesolutionistowearmultiplethinlayersthatcanbeaddedorremovedtocontrolwarmth.Choosefabricsthatwillstaywarmwhenwet.Ifrainorsubstantialsprayisanticipated,averylightbreathablewaterproofjacketmaybeappropriate.BetweenNovember1andApril30,rowersarenotpermittedtowearshorts,T-shirtsorotherclothingthatisnotsuitableforcoldweatherandwaterconditions.BetweenDecember1andMarch31,rowersarestronglyencouragedtowearsometypeofheadcovering.Clothingmustbesnugfittingandpocketsonthefrontofthetorsomusthavezippersorsomeotherformoffulllengthclosure.Atthefinishoftherowingstroke,theoarhandlesarepulledinandlowerednexttothetorso.Theoarhandleswillsnaginanyloosefabricoropenpockets.Duringtherowingstroke,thebodyandseatmoveforwardsandbackwardsonthesliderails.Loosefittingshortsorpantswilljamintherails.Alongshirtorjacketwillalsojamintherails.Inaquad,snagsandjamsareembarrassinganddisruptive.Inasingle,theycancausetheshelltocapsize.Properfootwearisrequiredtoprotecttherower’sfeetfromrocks,barnaclesandotherbeachhazards.Footwearshouldcompletelycoverthefoot.Neoprenekayakingbootiesorbootsaregoodchoices.

8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_case_of_emergency

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Flipflopsarenotagoodchoice,becausetheydonotprotectthefootandtheydon’tstayon.Theweightoftherowingshellbeingcarriedontheshouldersgrindstheflipflopintothebeachcausingrowerandflipfloptopartcompany.Rowersarestronglyencouragedtobringwater.Rowinggenerateslotsofsweatanditiseasytogetdehydrated.Onahotdaythiscanquicklyleadtohyperthermia.Ondayswithlittleornocloudcover,sunscreenisstronglyrecommended.RowersreceiveUVraysdirectlyfromthesunbutalsoUVraysreflectedoffthewater.Itisnotunusualfortheundersideofachinornosetogetburnedduetoreflectionoffthewater.Arowerwillburnmuchfasteronthewaterthanonland.Foragivenintervaloutonthewater,burnswillbemoreseverethanonland.Ifrowingwilltakeplaceafterduskorbeforedawn,eachrowermustbringandoperateawaterproofflashinglight.Theflashinglightmustbewornontheheadorupperbody.Therowingshellscarryregulationnavigationlights.Experiencehasshownhoweverthatflashinglightscanbeseenatagreaterdistancebyotherboats.Waterprooflightsarerequired,becausesaltwaterwillquicklydisableanon-waterprooflight.Ifarowerendsupinthewater,andpossiblyseparatedfromtherowingshell,aflashinglightistheirbesthopeforbeingfoundbythecoach.FlashinglightsthatuseLEDsorxenonbulbsarethebestchoice.FlashinglightscanbeacquiredatMountainEquipmentCoop,bikestoresandotheroutdoorequipmentretailers.Rowersmustarriveattheboathousenolaterthanthescheduledtimeforarowingsession.Youngrowersmustarrivenoearlierthan15minutesbeforethescheduledtimeofarowingsession.CoachesandtheDeepCoveRowingClubshallnotberesponsibleforsupervisionofyoungrowerswhoarriveoutsideofthisinterval.Coachesassignrowerstorowingshellsandarrangeforrowingshellstobelaunchedatthestartofarowingsession.Reorganizationduetoalatearrivingrowercansignificantlydelaythestartofrowing.Adaptingtothedisruptioncancompromisethesafetyofparticipantsandthirdparties.Consequently,latearrivingrowerswillonlybeacceptedatthediscretionofthecoach.CoachesandtheDeepCoveRowingClubshallnotberesponsibleforsupervisionofyoungrowersthatarrivelateandarenotaccepted.Becauserowinginvolvesstrenuousexercise,itcantriggerorexacerbateanexistingmedicalcondition(e.g.diabeticshock).Thecoachmustbeinformedaboutanymedicalconditionthatmightcauselossofconsciousness,inabilitytoroworinabilitytomaintainbalanceoftherowingshell.Thecoachshouldbetoldwhatsymptomstolookfor.Havingamedicalconditionwillnotpreventarowerfromparticipating,butitisprudenttoensurethatthecoachisprepared.Priortocommencingarowingsession,rowersmustcheckthesafetyequipmentintherowingshell.

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Theshoesintherowingshellhaveheeltiedownlacesorstrapstopreventtheheelsfromrisingtoofarandtrappingthefootduringacapsize.Theheeltiedownlacesmustbeadjustedsotheheelcannotraisemorethanthreefingerwidthsabovethefootrest.FeetareheldintheshoesbytheshoetongueandVelcroclosures.ManyshoeshaveaquickreleasestraprunningbetweentheVelcroclosuresonbothshoes.Bypullingonthequickreleasestrap,theVelcroclosuresaredisengagedsimultaneouslyonbothshoes.Thequickreleasestrapmustnotbetangledanditmustbeeasilyaccessed.Thebowandsternofarowingshellhavelargeaircavitiesthatkeeptheshellafloatifitcapsizes.Thecavitymayhaveaventplugorcapthatcanberemovedtodrainwaterfromthecavityandallowairin.Theplugsorcapsmustbereinstalledbeforerowingtopreserveshellbuoyancy.AcoxmaychoosetowearaPFDintherowingshell.APFDshallonlybewornifthecombinationofshelldesignandwornPFDallowsunrestrictedegressfromtherowingshellintheeventofacapsize.Somerowingshelldesignshavethecoxlyingdowninsidethehullwithdeckingcoveringtheirlowerbody.APFDcangetjammedintheseshellspreventingthecoxfromeasilyexiting.

LaunchingandLandingBeforecarryingarowingshelldowntothebeachorbacktotheboathouse,eachcrewmustassesswhethertheyhavethenecessarystrengthanddexteritytocarrytheshell.Ifthereisanydoubt,askthecoachorotherrowersforassistance.Itissaferforyou,thepublicandtheshelltoensurethatthereareenoughpeopletosafelycarrytheshell.Whencarryingarowingshell,allcrewmembers,andespeciallythebowandsterncrewmembers,mustkeepawatchoutforpedestrians.Yelloutwarningstograbtheattentionofpedestriansandmakethemawareoftherowingshell’spresence.Apedestriancanbeseriouslyhurtiftheyarehitintheheadorelsewherebythetiporsideofarowingshell.Whenthebeachiscongestedwithkayaks,itisimperativethatapathdowntoandbackfromthewaterbecarefullyplanned.Thebeststrategyistocarrytherowingshellsoitisparalleltothewater’sedgeandgostraightdownbetweenthekayakstothewaterorbackupfromthewater.Allcrewmembersmusthaveaclearpathandgoodfootingbetweenthekayaks.Eachcrewmembermustwatchnotonlytheirownfootingbutensurethatothercrewmemberswillnotbeforcedintoasituationwheretheyhavenowheretostepcausingthemtotriporletgooftherowingshell.Attimesitwillbenecessarytocarryarowingshellovertheheadsofkayakersseatedintheirboatsonthebeach.Extracareisrequiredinthesesituationstoavoiddroppingtherowingshell.Oncetherowingshellhasbeenlaunchedfromthebeach,orwhenarowingshellisreturningtothebeach,acarefulwatchmustbekeptforkayakerspaddinginrandomdirections.Mostofthemhavelittleornoexperience.Experiencehasdemonstratedthattheydonotwatchwheretheyaregoingandhaveaverypoorabilitytojudgerelativeboatspeeds.Itmustbeexpectedthatakayakerwilldartacrossthepathoftherowingshellwithoutwarningand

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withoutenoughspeedtoavoidacollision.Rowingshellsmustmaneuveratadeadslowspeedatalltimesbetweenthebeachandtheouteredgeofthegovernmentdockwhenkayakersarepresent.Rowerswillonlyplacetheirfeetintherowingshellshoesaftertheyhavepushedofffromthebeach.Theshoesmustnotbedoneupsotightthatthefeetwillnotslipoutiftherowingshellcapsizes.Ifkayakbootiesarewornonthebeach,removethembeforeplacingyourfeetintheshoes.Therubberandneoprenecomponentsofthebootiescancatchontheshoesandpreventyourfeetfromslippingout.

OnWaterConductRowingshellsmustnotproceedbeyondthemarinadocksinDeepCoveuntilaccompaniedbytheirassignedcoach.Whilewaitingforthecoach,trynottoimpedethepassageofboatstryingtoreachorleavethegovernmentdock.Coxesshallmaintainacontinuouswatchforhazardsaheadoftherowingshell.Ifarowingshelldoesnothaveacox,thebowpersonshallfrequentlycheckovertheirshoulderforhazardsaheadoftherowingshell.Itisimperativethatthebowpersonchecksoverbothshouldersinsteadofjusttherightorjusttheleftshoulder.Itisnotpossibletoseeallhazardsbyjustcheckingovertheoneshoulder.Unlessotherwisedirectedorallowedbythecoach,rowingshellsshallstaytogetherinagroup.Thecoach’svoiceonlycarriesalimiteddistanceoverwater.Onceashellgetsbeyondthisdistance,itwillnotbepossibleforthecrewtohearwarningsaboutimminentcollisionsorotherproblems.Foranyrowingotherthanracinginaregatta,rowersmustremainwithinvisualsightofthecoachatalltimes.Beyond500metres,itisdifficultforthecoachtoseewhatishappening.Unlessdirectedotherwisebythecoach,rowersmustremainwithin500metresofthecoach.Ifarowingshellgoesbeyondthisrangeaheadofthecoach,itmustslowdownorstoptoremainwithinrange.BetweenNovember1andApril30,rowersmustremainwithin500metresofthecoachwithoutexception.Exceptinanemergency,rowingshellsshallnotleavethegroupandreturntoDeepCoveontheirown.Duringaregatta,raceofficialsorsafetyboatswillbestationedonthecourseinsufficientnumberstomaintainvisualcontactwithracers.Rowersarenotrequiredtoverifyvisualcontactwiththeofficialsorsafetyboats.Allrowingshellsmustreturntothevicinityofthecoachunderthefollowingcircumstances:

• arowingshellcapsizes• arowingshellstopsandisbeingattendedbythecoachboatforalongerintervalthan

wouldbeusualforcoachinginstruction

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Thereasonforthispolicyisthataseriousemergencymaybeoccurring(e.g.aheartattack).Ifso,thecoachwillbefocusingtheirattentiononavictimandwillnothavetimetokeeptrackof,locateandretrieverowingshells.Ifaproblemoranemergencyoccursthatnecessitatesareturntoshore,allrowingshellsandthecoachshallreturntoshoretogether.Norowingshellsshallreturntoshoreunaccompaniedbythecoachunlessexplicitlydirectedbythecoach.Norowingshellsshallremainonthewaterunaccompaniedbythecoachunlessexplicitlydirectedbythecoach.

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EmergencyProcedures–GeneralPrinciples

PrioritiesThefirstandparamountpriorityisthesafetyofrowersandcoaches.Recoveryofequipmentisadistantsecondpriority.Equipmentcanbereplaced.Livescannotbereplaced.Noequipmentshallberetrieveduntilthehealthandsafetyofallrowershasbeenassured.Rowersshallnotretrieveequipmentunlessitissafetodoso.

AttractingAttentionIfrowersareindistressandneedassistance,theyshallrepeatedlyraiseandloweroutstretchedarms.Contrarytopreviousguidelines,armsshouldnotbewavedoverheadasthisisnotconsideredtobeadistresssignal.Atnight,rowersshallholdasteadylightintheirhandwhiletheyareraisingandloweringoutstretchedarms.Asteadylightshouldbeused,becausetheraisingandloweringmotionmaynotbedetectableassuchwithablinkinglight.

RowerBuddySystemDuringrapidlydegradingwaterconditionsoranemergency,rowersshalluseabuddysystemtoensurethat:

• Allrowersaretrackedthroughtotheendofthesituationoremergency,sonobodygetsleftbehindorgoesmissing

• Eachrowerhassomebodyelsewhocanhelpthemsurviveiftheyareinjuredorsufferingfromhypothermia

Rowingshellsshallmanoeuvretoformgroupsoftwoorthreerowingshells.Aslongastherowingshellsinagroupremainuprightandabletorow,theyshallremaintogetheruntilthesituationoremergencyhasbeenresolved.Groupsareformedincasetherowingshellshavetoproceedtoshoreunaccompaniedbythecoach.Therowingshellsinthegroupcankeeptrackofeachotherandprovideassistancetoeachotherwhilethecoachisunavailable.Ifoneormoreoftherowingshellsinagrouphasswamped,capsizedorisotherwiseunabletorow,theotherrowingshellsinthegroupshallremainwiththedisabledrowingshell(s)untiltheyareexplicitlyreleasedtoproceedbythecoach.Thecoachwillonlyreleasetheremainingshellsinagroupifthereareatleasttworowingshellsremaininginthegrouporthesingleremainingrowingshellcanbeattachedtoanothergroup.Otherwisethesingleremainingrowingshellshallremainwiththedisabledrowingshell(s)untilthedisabledrowingshell(s)areabletorowagainorthecoachhasrecoveredtherowers.

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Withinarowingshell,rowersshallformbuddypairsorthreesomessotheycanhelpeachotherifthepairorthreesomeendsupinthewater.Adjacentrowersinadoubleorquadshallformabuddypair(e.g.1and2seat,3and4seat).Acoxshalljointheclosestbuddypairtoformabuddythreesome.Therowerofasingleshalljoinasinglerower,buddypairorthreesomeofanearbyrowingshell.Ifasinglerowerjoinsathreesome,thefourrowersand/orcoxesshallsplitupintotwobuddypairswitheachrowerandcoxconfirmingtotheothersthattheyunderstandthenewpairingarrangement.Alargergroupissplitupintosmallerbuddypairsandthreesomes,becauseinalargegroup,itiseasierforonepersontoslipawayunnoticed.Arower’sattentionisnaturallydrawntothegroupratherthanaseparatedrower.Whenthereareonlytwoorthreepeopleinabuddygroup,itismucheasiertokeeptrackoftheoneortwootherpeople.Ifarowerisseparatedfromtheirnormalbuddypairorthreesome,theyshalljointhenearestpairorthreesome.Iftherowerjoinsathreesome,thefourrowersand/orcoxesshallsplitupintotwobuddypairs.Ifabuddypairorthreesomeendsupinthewater,thepairorthreesomeshall:

• staywitheachother• keeptrackofeachother• talktoeachothertomaintainmorale• assisteachother

Untilabuddypairorthreesomeisextractedfromthewater,theyshalldistributethemselvesonoppositesidesoftherowingshell.Thebuddypairorthreesomeshallholdontoeachotheracrossthetopoftherowingshelluntilthecoacharrives.Holdingontoeachotherisimportanttoensurethatanexhaustedrowerorcoxdoesnotslipawaywithoutbeingnoticed.Thecoachwillrecoverbuddypairsorthreesomesasaunit.Nobodyinabuddypairorthreesomeshallbeleftaloneinthewater.Thereshallbenoexceptionstothispolicy.

StayWithTheRowingShellorSwimToShore?Ifrowersendupinthewater,theywillbefacedwiththequestionofwhethertostaywiththerowingshellorswimtoshore.Conventionalwisdomistostaywiththeshell.Inaveryfewcircumstances,swimmingtoshoremaybeapracticalchoice.Therearemanyproblemswithtryingtoswimtoshore:

• RowersdonotwearaPFDorlifejacket.Ifarowerbecomesexhaustedorisimmobilizedbycoldwater,theydrown.

• Distancesonthewateraredeceiving.Theshorelineisfurtherawaythanyouthink.

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• Swimminginroughwatertakesmoreenergythanswimmingincalmwaterandprogressisslower.Aswimmerwillcoveramuchshorterdistancebeforebecomingexhausted.

• IndianArmtidescausewatertoflownorthorsouthatahalfknot.Ifyoutrytoswimagainstthetidetowardsshore,youeffectivelyhavefurthertogoandyouwon’tendupwhereyouareaiming.

• Swimmingincreasesheatlossby35%to50%.Arowercansurvivelongerinthewateriftheystaywiththerowingshellinaheat-conservingposition.

• Aswimmerismuchhardertofindwhentheyareseparatedfromtherowingshell.Whenonlytheheadisvisible,aswimmerisalmostimpossibletoseeatadistancemorethantwohundredfeetinroughwater.Ifthecoachoremergencyrespondersarelookingforrowers,theywillbemucheasiertofindiftheyremainwiththerowingshell.

Giventheseconsiderations,rowersarestronglyencouragedtostaywiththerowingshell.Arowershouldonlyattempttoswimtoshoreifallofthefollowingconditionsexist:

• Allrowersand/orcoxesinabuddypairorthreesomedecidetoswimwithoutcoercion.Ifasinglerowerofthebuddypairorthreesomedeclinestoswim,allrowersinthepairorthreesomeshallstaywiththerowingshell.

• Therowersand/orcoxesinthebuddypairorthreesomeareallstrongswimmers.• Thenearestshoreisclose(<50metresinwinter,<100metresinsummer).• Rescuebythecoachoremergencyrespondersisnotpossibleinthenext15minutes

inwinteror30minutesinsummer.• Theconditionofthenearestshorelineallowstherowerstogetoutofthewater.

Thereisnopointswimmingtowardsashorelinethatisaverticalwallofrock.Rowersofsingles,andpossiblydoubles,shouldconsiderusingtheirrowingshellasflotationwhiletryingtoswimtoshore.Theshellwillmovethroughthewaterevenifitisfullofwater.Itwilltakemoreenergytoswim,buttheconsequencesarenotassevereiftherowerbecomesexhausted.Ifrowerssuccessfullyswimtoshore,theyshallpreferablystayontheshorelineuntilretrievedbythecoach.Ifitisnecessarytoseekshelterorassistance(e.g.duetoweather,hypothermia),therowersshallcontactthecoachassoonaspossible.Thecoachprobablyhasnoideawheretherowersare,soawatersearchforthemissingrowerswillbeinitiated.

ActionsbyRowingShellsNotAffectedbyEmergencyAllrowingshellsnotaffectedbyanemergencyshallgatherneartheemergencyscene.Therowingshellsshallremainoutofthewayofthecoachandemergencyrespondersunlessdirectedotherwisebythecoach.

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Ifitisnecessaryforthecoachtotransportvictimstoshore,unaffectedrowingshellsshallaccompanythecoachtoshoreunlessdirectedotherwisebythecoach.Onereasonforsuchdirectionmightbethatvictimsinthewaterareholdingontotheunaffectedrowingshelloritsrowers.Ifanunaffectedrowingshellaccompaniesthecoachtoshore,rowersshallexitfromtheshelluponreachingshore.Therowersshallnotre-entertheshellunlessthecoachispresent.Rowersshallnotleavetheshorelinelocationunlessdirectedotherwisebythecoach.Ifweatherorotherconditionsareunfavourable,thecoachmaydirecttherowerstoseekshelter.Beforedoingso,thecoachandrowersshallagreeonalocationtomeetlater.Thedefaultlocationshallbetheboathouse.

OnSiteAuthorityTheseniorcoachpresentwillassumecommandintheeventofanemergency.Rowersarerequiredtofollowthedirectionsoftheseniorcoach.Ifarowingshellgetsintotrouble,thecoxswainorbowpersonshallassumecontroluntilsuchtimeastheseniorcoacharrives.Thecoxswainorbowpersonshall:

• trytokeepeverybodycalm• keeptrackofallcrewmembersandtheircondition• assignresponsibilities• considerallideasandinputofferedbycrewmembers

Crewmembersshallworkasagrouptoresolvetheemergency(e.g.offeringideasandsuggestions).Crewmembersshalldefertothedecisionsofthecoxswainorbowpersonincharge.

EmergencyCallsIfanemergencyarisesanditisnotobviousthatitcanberesolvedwithouthelp,callforhelp.Ifthereistheslightestuncertainty,callforhelp.Theemergencyserviceswouldfarratherhaveyouwastetheirtimethanhavesomebodybeinjuredorkilledbecausetheywerecalledintoolate.Foranemergencyonland:

1. Call911.2. Youwillbeaskedforthemunicipality.IfyouareinDeepCove,onthewestsideof

IndianArmornearCatesPark,respondwithNorthVancouverDistrict.IfyouareontheeastsideofIndianArmbetweenCampHowdyandBedwellBayorinBelcarraBayeastofHamberandBoulderislands,respondwithAnmore/Belcarra.IfyouareonthesouthernshoreofBurrardInletneartherefineriesorBarnetMarinePark,respondwithBurnaby.IfyouareeastofthesecondsetofoverheadtransmissionlinesinPortMoodyinlet,respondwithPortMoody.

3. Youwillbeaskedforthetypeofemergencyserviceneeded.Respondwithfire,ambulanceand/orpolice.

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4. Youwillbeaskedforalocation.Ifassistanceisrequiredattheboathouse,theaddressis:2156BanburyRoad,attheboathouseinDeepCoveParkIfyouhavepulledoffthewateratoneofthepublicaccesspoints,refertothemapontheemergencyactionplansheetforanaddress.Asalastresort,sendsomebodytofindastreetintersectionoraddress.

5. Provideaconcisedescriptionofthecurrentsituationandthenatureoftheassistancerequired.Imaginethatyouaretheemergencyrespondersrespondingandtrytoanticipatewhattheyneedtoknowtohelpyou.

Foranemergencyonwaterrequiringawaterrescue:

1. CalltheCoastGuarddirectlyat*16onamobilephoneoronVHFchannel16.2. IftheCoastGuardcannotbereached,call911andaskfortheCoastGuard.E-Comm

willtransferthecalltotheCoastGuard(butnotbeforetheyaskquestionsincasetheconnectionislost).

3. TheCoastGuardwillaskyouforalocation.RespondfirstwithIndianArmandthenidentifyanearbylandmark(e.g.JugIsland).Givethedistanceanddirectionfromthelandmark(e.g.1kmSWofJugIsland).PleasenotethattheCoastGuardwillnotbeawareof“PrettyHouseIsland”or“CampHowdy”.Ontheircharts,theselocationsareknownasLoneRockPtandFarrerCoverespectively.Allotherlandmarksusethesamenamesthatyouarealreadyfamiliarwith.IfyourcellphonehasGPScapability,givetheCoastGuardaGPSlocation.

4. Provideaconcisedescriptionofthecurrentsituationandthenatureoftheassistancerequired.Mentionthatrowingshellsareinvolvedandthattheyareverylowonthewaterandconsequentlyhardtosee.ImaginethatyouaretheCoastGuardrespondingandtrytoanticipatewhattheyneedtoknowtohelpyou.

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EmergencyProcedures–SpecificSituations

RapidlyDegradingWaterConditionsDespitecheckingtheweatherforecast,rowerswilloccasionallybesurprisedbywindsthatrapidlyintensify.Thesurprisecanbeminimizedifbothcoachesandrowerskeepaneyeoutforthefirstsignsofincreasingwind.Theseincludewaterthatappearstobedull(non-reflective)androughinthedistance.Ifthewindsbuildquicklyenough,whitecapsmightbeseeninthedistancegettingcloser.Rowerswhoaresomedistanceaheadofthegroupandthecoachmustbeespeciallyvigilant.Bythetimethecoachrecognizesthesituationandgetseverybodyturnedaround,itmaytakeseveralminutestoretrievetheseparatedrowers.Thismaybeseveralminutesthatyoudonothave.Inaworstcasescenario(probablyaSquamishwind),thewindmaybuildsoquicklythatyouaresurroundedbywhitecapsbeforeyoucanreachshelter.Toreducetheprobabilityofswamping,usethefollowingstrategies:

• Rowingat90degreestothewindandwavesisthemostdangerous.Thewaveswillbegettinglarger.Eventuallytheywillstartcominginoverthesidecausingtherowingshelltoswamporcapsize.

• Rowdownwindinpreferencetoupwind.Thiswillreducetherelativespeedofwindandwaves.InIndianArm,ashorelineisalwayspresentdownwindevenifitisfurtheraway.Yourprimarygoalistogetoffthewater.GettingbacktoDeepCoveisadiscardablesecondarygoal.

• Iftherowingshellmovesfasterthanthewaves,youwillhaveasmoother,morestablerideataslightangleawayfromdirectlydownwind.Themoststablerideisachievedwhentherowingshellspeedmatchesthespeedofthewaves.

• Considerseekingshelterbehindanearbyisland.Evenasmallislandwillbreakthewind.Considerlandingontheleeward(downwind)shoreoftheisland.

• Angleawayfromshorelinethatishighbank,rockyorhascliffsdroppingdirectlyintothewater.Headtowardlowbankwaterfront.Beextremelycarefulifthelowbankwaterfrontisrockyandwavesarecrashingontotheshore.

• Despitepreviousguidelinestothecontrary,headingforadockisnotagoodidea.MostofthedocksinIndianArmareafootortwohigh,sotheriggerswillnotpassoverthetopofthedock.Withoarsinplaceandriggersintheway,itwon’tbepossibletogettherowingshellcloseenoughtothedocktogetout.Ifanattemptismadetoremovetheoarsinroughwater,therowingshellwillprobablycapsize.Insteadofheadingforthedock,headfortheshorelinebehindthedock.

• Ifadockistheonlyoption,approachitfromdownwindorcrosswind.Donotapproachthedockfromupwind,aswindandwaveswillpushtherowingshellontothedockandcauseittocapsize.Sinceitprobablywillnotbepossibletolandonthedockitself,considergettingwithin5to10feetofthedockandthenbailoutofthe

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rowingshellandswimtothedock.Makesureeverybodyhasremovedtheirfeetfromtheirshoesbeforeanybodyleavestheshell.Makesureeverybodygetstothedock.Thisoptionshouldonlybeconsideredifeverybodyintherowingshellisastrongswimmer.

Inrapidlydegradingwaterconditions,itisimperativethatallrowingshellsstaytogetherinagroup.Strangelyenough,thispolicyisdirectedatthestronger,experiencedrowersratherthantheweaker,inexperiencedrowers.Itwillbethestrongerrowersthatthinktheycanmakeittoshoreontheirown,nottheweakerrowers.Theproblemwithseparatingisthatthecoachcannotbeintwoplacesatonce.Thecoachwillhavetochooseandwillprobablyopttobewiththeweaker,inexperiencedrowers.Iftheexperiencedrowersgetswampeddespitetheirconfidence,theymayfindthemselvesalone.Duetotheseparation,thecoachmaynotnoticetheyareindifficultyortheirlocation.Inroughwater,aswampedshellisveryhardtoseebeyondacoupleofhundredmetresbecauseriggers,oarsandheadsvisuallyblendintothewavesandspray.Eveniftheswampedrowingshellisnoticed,thecoachisnowfacedwithadilemma:howtoshepherdtheinexperiencedrowerswhileatthesametimetryingtorescuetheexperiencedrowers.Thedistancebetweenthetwogroupsmaybepracticallyinsurmountable.Thereisabenefitinhavingtheexperiencedrowersstaynearbytheinexperiencedrowers.Theexperiencedrowerscanoffermoralsupportbytheirpresence.Ifarowingshellcapsizes,theexperiencedrowersmaybeabletohelpeffectarescueevenifitisonlytoofferarowingshelltoclingto.

SwampingOncearowingshellhasbeencompletelyswamped,itisunlikelythatitscrewcanemptythewateroutbythemselvesormovetherowingshellanysignificantdistancebeforetheybecomeexhausted.Crewmemberscanattempttobailouttherowingshell,butifthiseffortfails,theremainderofthisproceduremustbefollowed.Firstandforemost,thecrewisstronglyencouragedtostayintherowingshell.Bykeepingatleastsomeofthebodyoutofthewater,heatwillberetainedlonger.Thecrewmustgetthemselvesintothemostcomfortable,survivablesituationuntilhelparrives.Ifpossibletherowingshellshouldbeorientedbowtowind.Thiswillminimizefurtherwateringressandmaximizestability.Thebowpersonwillpartiallysheltertheotheroccupantsoftherowingshellfromthewind.Oarscanbeusedtokeeptherowingshellupright.Crewmembersshallremovetheirfeetfromtherowingshellshoesoratleastloosentherowingshellshoes.Thispreventsfeetfrombeingtrappediftherowingshellturnsoverbeforethecoacharrives.Uponarrivalthecoachwillevacuatetheshell,sothecrewmightaswellgetready.Theonlyreasonforkeepingfeetinloosenedshoesisiftheyprovidesomewarmth.

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Crewmembersshallputonallavailableclothingtominimizeheatloss.Iftherowingshellhasbeenpositionedbowtowind,thebowpersonwillbeexperiencingthemostheatloss,somakesuresheorhehasatleastthesameprotectionaseverybodyelse.Crewmembersshallhunchovertominimizeexposedsurfaceareawhileholdingtheoarhandlestotheirchesttomaintainstability.Iftheaircavitiesateitherendoftherowingshellhavealeak,therowingshellmaystartsettlinglowerinthewater.Ifso,thecrewshallexitfromtherowingshellandfliptherowingshellovertotrapanyremainingairinsidetheoverturnedhull.Atthispoint,theemergencyhasnowtransformedintoacapsizeandshouldbehandledassuch.Thecoxorbowpersonshallassignresponsibilitytoonecrewmembertowavetheirarmstodrawtheattentionofthecoach.Theacceptedsignalfordistressisraisingandloweringoutstretchedarms.Atnight,theassignedpersonshouldsettheirflashinglighttoasteadylightifpossibleandwavetheirarmsupanddown.Wavingaflashinglightislesseffective,becausethewavingmotionishardertosee.Uponarrival,thecoachwillapproachtheswampedshellfromthedownwinddirection.Thecoachwilldeterminewhethertheshellcanbebailedoutorthecrewwillbeevacuatedtothecoachboat.Ifevacuationisnecessary,crewmembersareevacuatedintothecoachboatoneatatime.

CapsizingWhenarowingshellcapsizes,thefirstactionofcrewmembersmustbetogettheirfeetoutoftherowingshoes.Mostofthetimethiswilloccurautomatically.Ifitdoesnot,thecrewmembermustnotpanic.Whentherowingshellstartedtoturnover,yourautomaticreactionwillhavebeentodrawinair,soyouhaveenoughtimetogetfree.Bendatthewaistsoyoucanreachyourshoes.PulltheVelcrostraporthelacejoiningthetwoVelcrostrapstoloosenthestraps.Wiggleyourfeettoloosentheshoeandpullout.Ifyouhavesuccessfullyextractedyourselffromtherowingshellandarefloatingalongside,doaheadcount.Makesurethattheotherrowershavegottenfree.Ifnot,identifywhoismissing.Firmlyholdontoariggerandcheckthemissingrower’sseat.Iftheyarestuckintheirshoes,helpfreethemfromtheirshoes.Becarefulthatthetrappedrowerdoesnotdragyouunderinapanic.Asalastresort,ifsomebodycannotbefreedfromtheirshoes,tryflippingtherowingshellupright.Putyourfeetonthenearsideriggerandreachacrosstothefarsiderigger.Partiallystandupanduseyourweighttofliptheshell.Ifyoucanevengettherowingshellonitsside,thismaybeenoughtogetairtothetrappedrower.Therearethreeoptionsforrecoveringfromacapsize:

• Performaself-rescuewithoutthecoach’spresenceorassistance• Performaself-rescuewiththecoach’spresenceorassistance

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• EvacuatetothecoachboatTheself-rescueoptionsareonlyviableifthereisareasonablelikelihoodthatwaterconditions(waves,wind)willallowtheshelltoberightedandanywaterbailedout.Iftherowingshellcannotbebailedout,rowersshallevacuatetothecoachboat.Ifaself-rescuewithoutthecoach’spresenceisnotpossible,therowingshellshallbeturnedupsidedowntotrapasmuchairaspossibleinsidethehull.Oncethecoacharrives,eitheraself-rescuewiththecoach’sassistanceoranevacuationtothecoachboatcanbeperformed.Ifthewateriscold,itisimperativethatrowersandcoachesperformwhicheverrecoverymethodwillgetthemoutofthewaterthequickest.Coldwaterwillincapacitatearowerquickly.Oncetheyareincapacitated,theywillnotbeabletogetthemselvesoutofthewaterandtheywillnotbeabletoputonaPFDorlifejacket.

Self-RescueWithoutCoach’sAssistanceTheself-rescueoptionwithnoassistancewillbemostfeasiblefordoublesandquadsincalmwater.Oarsareleftintheoarlocks.Theshellisrighted.Ifthewindisstrong,rolltheshelloverinthedownwinddirection.Crewmembersshallsplitupevenlyonbothsideoftheshell.Crewmembersshallgrabtheriggersandusetheirweighttostabilizetherowingshell.Oneatatime,crewmembersshallpullthemselvesbackintotherowingshellusingthefollowingprocedure:

1. Placeonehandonthemiddleoftheriggerandonehandontheseatplatformandpullyourselfupsoyouarelyingonyourstomachontheseatplatform.Thepelvicareamustbeatleastpartwayontotherowingshell.Makesurethatyourribsdonotlandontheedgeoftheboatastheyareeasilyfractured.

2. Rotateonyourstomachsothebodyislyingontheseatplatformwithheadclosesttothesternoftheboatandoneleghangingovereachsideoftheshell.

3. Leveruprightintherowingshellwhileswingingthelegsdownwardintothewater.4. Bringthelegsintotheshell.5. Grabtheoarhandlesandpositiontheoarsoutwardswithbladesflatonthewaterto

maximizerowingshellstability.Iftherowingshellisfullofwater,itmaybenecessaryfortheremainingcrewmemberstowaituntilthefirstcrewmemberbackintherowingshellhasbailedoutmostofthewater.Otherwise,bailingcanwaituntilallthecrewmembersarebackintherowingshell.Donotwaittoolongtogetthecrewbackintotheshell.Ifcrewmembersgetcold,theywillstarttolosetheabilitytogetintotheshellunaided.

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Asinglerowercanalsoperformaself-rescue,butitisonlylikelytobesuccessfulincalmwater.Thefollowingvariantoftheaboveprocedurecanbeused:

1. Theoarsintheoarlocksareorientedat90degreestotheshellwiththebladesflatonthewaterjustasiftherowerwasintheshelltryingtoprovidestability.

2. Thehandclosesttotheoarsisusedtograbbothoarhandlesandpushthemdownontothemiddleoftheriggerorthefootstretcher.Theoarsbladeswillbeupintheairandtheoarswillnolongerbeat90degreestotheshell.

3. Theotherhandisplacedontheseatplatform.4. Bypushingdownwardontheoarhandlesandontheseatplatform,liftyourselfonto

theshell,soyourstomachandpelvicareaarecentredovertheseatplatform.Again,makesurethattheribsdonotlandontheedgetoavoidafracturedrib.Becausetheoarhandleshavebeenpresseddownwardsontotheriggerorfootstretcher,theshellwillleanuntilthebladescontactthewater.Theoarbladeswillstillpreventtheshellfromflipping.

5. Whilecontinuingtoholdtheoarhandles,pullthelegthatisfurthestfromthesternovertheshell,soonelegishangingovereachsideoftheshell.Youwanttoenduplyingontheshellfacingthestern.

6. Continuingtoholdbothoarhandlestogether,rotateuprightwithlegshangingoverthesides.

7. Continuingtoholdbothoarhandlestogether,bringthelegsintotheshell.

Self-RescueWithCoach’sAssistanceSelf-rescuewithassistanceisprobablythemosteffectiveself-rescueoptionforsinglesandmakesself-rescueeasierfordoubles.Ifthecoachwilltakeawhiletoreachtherowingshell,thecrewmembersshallrolltheshelloversoitishullup.Thisensuresthatthemaximumamountofairistrappedinthehulldespiteanyopenventplugsorcaps.Onlyoncethecoachhasarrivedwilltheshellbeturneduprightagaintoattempttheself-rescue.Ifthewindisstrong,itwillbeeasiertorolltheshelloverinthedownwinddirection.Crewmembersshallformpairsandthreesomesdistributedoneithersideoftheshellandshallholdontoeachother.Thecoachshallapproachtherowingshellfromthedownwinddirectiontopreventthecoachboatfrombeingblownorpushedontothecapsizedshellandrowers.Theassistedself-rescueproceedsthesameastheunassistedself-rescueexceptthatthecoachgrabsariggertohelpstabilizetherowingshelluntilallcrewmembersarebackintheshell.

CoachBoatEvacuationCoachboatevacuationwillberequiredif:

• waterconditionsaretoorough

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• therowersarenotagileorathleticenoughtoperformaself-rescue• sufficientwatercannotbebailedfromtherowingshelltoreturnittoarowable

conditionAswiththeassistedself-rescue,therowingshellshallbeturnedhullupwardsuntilthecoachboatarrives.Crewmembersshallformpairsandthreesomesdistributedoneithersideoftheshellandshallholdontoeachother.Thecoachwillapproachthecapsizedshellfromthedownwinddirection.Allofthecrewmembersareevacuatedintothecoachboatoneatatime.

Collision

AvoidingCollisionswithHumanPropelledWatercraftandSwimmersRowersmustmaintainaclosewatchforotherrowingshells,kayaks,canoes,paddleboardsandeventheoccasionalswimmer.Wheneverarowingshellisinthevicinityofothershells,smallerboatsandswimmers,itwillslowdownsothatacollisionwillnotcauseanyseriousdamage.Speedshallremainreduceduntiltheriskofcollisionhaspassed.Thebowofarowingshellislikeaspear.Itcanimpaleanotherrowingshell,asmallboatorswimmercausingdeathorseriousinjury.TheCanadianOlympicrowerSilkenLaumannhadherlowerlegrippedapartwhenaGermancoxlesspairstruckherduringtraining.Silkenwasluckyandrecovered.Thepersonyouhitmaynotbesolucky.

AvoidingCollisionswithRecreationalandCommercialWatercraftLargerpowerboats,yachtsandcommercialcraftmayhaveadifficulttimeseeingarowingshell.Thehumaneyeismuchmoresensitivetomovingobjectsthanstillobjects.Stillobjectsblendintothebackground.Therowingshellwillbemorevisibleifitismoving.Aboatapproachingamovingrowingshellfromthesidewillseetheshellmovingagainstthebackground.Thedangerousapproachesarepowerboatsapproachingheadonorfromthestern.Therowingshellhasasmallvisualcrosssectionandappearstobestationarybecauseitismovingdirectlytowardsorawayfromthepowerboat.Themostvisiblepartoftherowingshellistheblades.Thebladeswillflashastheyalternatebetweensquaringupandfeathering.Despitetheirsmallersurfacearea,thebladeswillbenoticedatgreaterdistancesthantherestoftherowingshell.Ifapowerboatisclosingandyoudon’tthinktheyhaveseenyou,startwavingyourarms.Hopefullythemotionwillcatchthepowerboatoperator’sattention.Itisprobablyawasteoftimeyellingasthepowerboatoperatorisunlikelytohearvoicesoverthenoiseoftheirmotor.Agroupofrowingshellswillbemorevisibleiftheystaytogetherinagroup.Thevisualcross-sectionislarger.Observedmotionwithinthegroupwilldrawtheattentionofthepowerboattothegroup.Conversely,arowingshellthatisseparatedfromthegroupwillbe

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hardertosee.Thegroupwillattractthepowerboatoperator’sattentionwhichmayresultintheseparaterowingshellnotbeingseen.Youareonacollisioncoursewithanotherboatifit’sbearing(directionrelativetotherowingshell)doesnotchange.Youcanaffecttheoutcomebyspeedingup,slowingdown,stoppingorchangingdirectionandwatchhowthisaffectsthebearing.Ifthebearingstartstochange,theriskofcollisionisdecreasing.Continuetheactionuntiltheriskiseliminated.Ifacollisionisunavoidable,tryspeedinguporstoppingtoavoidadirecthit.Aglancingcollisionispreferabletoadirectcollision.

ReactingtoaPowerBoatCollisionIfyourshellishitbyapowerboat,youarelikelytoendupinthewater.Getyourselffreefromtheshellifyourfeetdidnotcomeoutoftheshoes.Findeverybodyelsewhowasintheshellandmakesuretheygotfreefromtheshell.Ifarowerisinjuredbythecollision,oreveniftheyarenotdirectlyinjured,theymaygointoshock.Theymayloseconsciousnessanddrown.Itisimperativethatallrowersformbuddypairsandlookoutforeachother.Useanyavailableflotation.Holdontotherowingshellifitisstillfloating.Ifatallpossible,swimtoanearbyrowingshellthatwasnothitandholdontotheshell.Rowersintheuninvolvedshellsshallholdontotherowersinthewaterifpossible.Therowersinthewatermayhaveinjuriesthattheyarenotawareofortheirinjuriesmaybemoreseriousthantheyrealize.Holdingontotherowerwillpreventthemfromdrowningiftheyweretobecomeunconscious.

ReactingtoaCollisionwithaKayak,Canoe,PaddleboardorSwimmerIfyourshellhitsahumanpropelledwatercraftorswimmer,thethirdpartymaybeseverelyinjured.Attracttheattentionofthecoachasquicklyaspossible.Ifthecoachisnotimmediatelyavailable,trytodetermineifthethirdpartyhasbeeninjured.Ifyoususpectthatthethirdpartyisinjuredandtheyareinthewaterormaygointothewatershortly,trytomanoeuvreyourshellovertothethirdparty.Needlesstosay,avoidhittingthemagainwiththeshelloroars.Takeyourtimeandmanoeuvreslowlytoavoidfurtherinjury.Onceyouhavereachedthethirdparty,stabilizetheirwatercraftiftheyarenotinthewaterorholdontothemiftheyareinthewater.Keeptheirheadabovewatertopreventdrowning.

ColdWaterShockandHypothermiaForhalfoftheyear,IndianArmwatertemperaturesarebetween5and10°C.Thesetemperaturesarecoldenoughtoinducecoldwatershock(<15°C)andhypothermia(<25°C).

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Coldwatershockoccursimmediatelyafterenteringcoldwater.Thefirstphaseisaninvoluntarygaspforair.Thisisfollowedbyapproximatelyoneminuteofhyperventilation.Breathingdifficultiescancausepanic.Heartrateincreasesandsomepeoplecanexperienceheartfibrillationforaminuteortwo.Coldwatershockisdangerous.Theinvoluntarygaspandhyperventilationcanresultiningestionofsignificantwaterintothelungsifthefaceisimmersedatthetime.Heartfibrillationcancauseaheartattack.Panicisalwaysdangerous.Accordingtoonewriteronmarinesafety9,20%ofthepeoplewhodieincoldwaterdieinthefirsttwominutesafterentryintothewater,wellbeforetheonsetofhypothermia.Thefirststageofhypothermiaisincapacitation.Incapacitationoccurswhenthebodyreactstocoldwaterbyshuttingofftheflowofbloodtoarmsandlegsinordertoretainheatinthetorso.Withnoblood,swimmingbecomesimpossible.Withoutsomeformofflotation,deathbydrowningquicklyfollows.Thesecondstageofhypothermiaisreductionincorebodytemperature.Thisleadseventuallytounconsciousness.Itistheleastdangerouseffect,becauseittakesquiteawhiletooccur.RowersareatriskofcoldwatershockbetweenOctoberandMay.Rowersareatriskofhypothermiaanytimeoftheyear.Ifarowingshellisswampedorcapsizes,themostimportantthingforrowerstodoiskeeptheirheadabovewaterandstaycalm.Theeffectsofcoldwatershockaretemporaryandwilldisappearwithinaminuteortwo.Duringthistime,itmaybedifficulttodoanythingelse.Afterthecoldwatershockhaspassed,itisimportanttogetoutofthewaterorgetintoaPFDorlifejacketbeforebeingincapacitatedbythecoldwater.DependingonthedesignofthePFDorlifejacket,self-rescuemaynotbepossiblewhilewearingthePFDorlifejacketandextractionintothecoachboatmaybecomemoredifficult.Ifmultiplerowingshellsareinvolved,thecoachwillbetryingtoextractrowersfromthewaterbeforetheyareincapacitated.Iftherearetoomanyrowerstofitinthecoachboat,theywillbeferriedasquicklyaspossibletothenearestshoreline.Becausecorebodytemperaturereductionoccursquiteawhileafterincapacitation,theprioritywillbetogetrowersoutofthewaterbeforeworryingaboutgettingthemwarm.Ifnotallrowerscanbequicklyextractedfromthewater,itisimperativefortherowersinthewatertoreduceheatlosstoaminimum.Therowingshellshouldbeturnedovertoensurethatitremainsafloatwithairtrappedinside.Rowersshouldpullthemselvesasfaroutofthewateraspossiblebydrapingthemselvesoverthehulltominimizeheatloss.If9http://gcaptain.com/cold_water/

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practical,armsshouldbeheldatthesideofthebodyandlegsshouldbekepttogethertominimizeheatlossfromthetorsoandgroinareasrespectively(HELP:HeatEscapeLesseningPosture).

HyperthermiaHyperthermia(heatstroke)occurswhenthebodycannotdisposeofexcessheatfastenoughandbodytemperaturerises.Rowersgeneratealotofheat,especiallyduringarace.Ifthedayishotand/orhumid,hyperthermiacanresult.Symptomsofmildhyperthermiaincluderedskin,hotskin,dryskin,swollenlips,nausea,vomiting,headachesandlowbloodpressure(fainting,dizziness).Symptomsofseverehyperthermiaincludeconfusion,hostility,apparentintoxication,highheartrate,highrespirationrate,paleskin,bluishskin,seizuresandunconsciousness.Avoidhyperthermiabynotrowingduringtheheatoftheday.Wearlooserclothingandahat.Clothingshouldprovideprotectionfromthesunyetbeporousenoughtoallowsweattoevaporate.Avoidsalttabletsandsportsbeverageswithhighlevelsofsodiumastheycancausedehydration.Dilutewithwateranydrinkcontainingmorethan2.5%sugartoaidinabsorption.Rowersandcoachesmustwatchforsignsofhyperthermiaonhotand/orhumiddays.Ifhyperthermiaisdetected,takeimmediatemeasurestoresolvetheproblembeforeitbecomesserious.Mildhyperthermiacanbecorrectedbydrinkingwater,restinginacoollocation,removingexcessclothing,usingawetclothorspongetoapplywatertothebodyandimmersionincoolwater.Severehyperthermiaisamedicalemergency.Callforanambulanceimmediately.

ThunderstormThefirstindicationofathunderstormisusuallytherumblingofthunderinthedistance.Ifthunderisheardorlightningisseen,donotgooutonthewater.Ifalreadyoutonthewater,therowingsessionmustbeimmediatelyterminatedandrowersmustproceedtoshore.Ifthethunderappearstobefaraway,itisacceptabletoheadbacktotheboathouse.Ifnot,rowerswillproceedtothenearestshore.Evenifthethunderappearstobefaraway,acoursethatfollowstheshorelinebacktotheboathouseshallbechosenincasethestormmovesinquickerthananticipated.Ifitisnecessarytoheadforthenearestshore,rowerswilldisembarkandseekshelterinabuildingorvehicleifpossible.Getridofandstayawayfrommetalobjects.Thisincludesoarsandrowingshellsasthecarbonfiberisconductive.Donotstandunderatreesincelightningprefershittingtallobjects(andanythingnearthem).Asalastresort,findalow

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spotandcrouchdownontheballsofyourfeetwithyourheelstogether10.Donotlieontheground,becausecurrentflowingthroughthegroundfromanearbystrikecanelectrocuteyou.

ThirdPartyEmergenciesWhenrowersareoutonthewatertheymaywitnessemergenciesinwhichtheythemselvesarenotinvolved.Examplesincludeaccidentsinvolvingkayakersorrecreationalboats.Thequestionthatwillariseiswhetherthecoachand/orrowersshouldgetinvolved.Thereisnoeasyanswer.Factorstoconsiderare:

• Inmostcases,arowingshellisnotaneffectiveplatformtoaidinarescue.Oneexceptionmightbeasituationwhererowerscankeepsomeoneinthewateralivebyholdingontothemuntilemergencyrespondersarrive.

• Apersoninthewater,grabbingatariggerinpanic,caneasilyupsetasingleandpossiblyadouble.

• Arowingshellhaspoormaneuverabilityandstability,soitislikelytogetinthewayandmaycapsizewhenotherboatsoremergencyrespondersarrive.

• Arowingshellishardtosee.Thiscombinedwithotherboatersracingtothesceneisarecipefordisaster.

• Ifthecoachrespondstotheemergency,sheorhewillnotbepayingattentiontotherowers.Thisincreasestheirrisk.

Giventhesefactors,thefollowingguidelinesshouldbefollowed:

• Noviceandbeginningrowersmustnotgetinvolved.Experiencedrowersinsinglesmustnotgetinvolved.Iftheygetintotrouble,theywillcompromisetheabilityofresponderstoassistthirdpartyvictims.

• Experiencedrowersshouldonlygetinvolvedifnobodyelseisavailablewhocanassist,itisclearwhattheirroleshouldbe,anditiscleartheycaneffectivelyperformthatrolewithoutgettingintotrouble.

• Ifrowersdecidetogetinvolved,theyshouldwithdrawassoonastheycanrelinquishtheirroletoanotherresponder.

• Coacheswithnoviceorbeginningrowersshouldpreferablynotrespondunlessthereisariskofseriousinjuryordeathandtherearenootherrespondersavailable.

• Coacheswithexperiencedrowerscanchoosetorespondaslongasitisobviousthattheirassistancewillmateriallyaffecttheoutcome.

• Iftheemergencyislikelytoattractanumberofrespondersorthecoachwillbeoccupiedforasignificanttime,thecoachshalldesignateanearbyshorelinelocationwheretherowerswillheadtoandwaitforthecoachtoarrive.

10http://www.edu4hazards.org/lightning_crouch.htmlhttp://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/hazardwarning.html

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• Iftheemergencyisnotlikelytoattractanumberofrespondersandcanbedealtwithreasonablyquickly(e.g.kayakcapsize),rowersshallwaitinagroupoutofthewaynearby.

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SafetyImprovementProcessThesafetyprogramwillbecontinuallyimprovedbyincorporatingfeedbackandincidentreports.

Suggestions&FeedbackAfeedbackboxisattachedtothewallintheboathouse.Ifyouhaveasafety-relatedconcern(oranyotherconcern),pleasefeelfreetodropanoteintheboxexplainingyourconcern.Itisnotrequiredthatyouidentifyyourselfalthoughitmaybehelpfulifwehavequestions.Allsubmissionswillbereviewedandchangesmadewhereappropriate.Alternatively,[email protected].

IncidentReporting&DocumentationAllincidentsthatinvolveanyofthefollowingfactorsshallbereportedanddocumented:

• Terminationofrowingsessionduetorapidlydegradingwaterconditionswhererowersareonthewater,whitecapsarepresentandtheriskofswampingishigh

• Swampingorcapsizeinwaterconditionswherewhitecapsarepresent• Multiplerowingshellsareswamped• Multiplerowingshellscapsize• Collisionornearcollision• Medicalproblemrequiringterminationofrowingsession• Hypothermia• Hyperthermia• Anyincidentwheresomeonewasinjured• Anyincidentrequiringinterventionbyemergencyresponders• Anyincidentrequiringinterventionbyotherboaters

AllincidentsshallpreferablybereportedusingtheDeepCoveRowingClubIncidentReportingForm.Tofostertimelyreporting:

• Anyotherformat(e.g.emailmessage)willbeacceptedthatprovidesthesameinformation.

• Incompletereportswillbeacceptedaslongascontactinformationforthereportingpartyandsomedescriptionoftheincidentisprovided.Thesafetycommitteewillfollowupwiththereportingpartytogettheremaininginformation.

Ifanincidentresultsinpersonalinjuryand/ordamagetothirdpartyproperty,itmustbereportedimmediatelyinwritingtoRCA(RowingCanada)pertherequirementsofourinsurancepolicy.TheincidentshallbereportedusingtheRCAIncidentReportForm.Pleasekeepinmindthattheintentofreportingincidentsisnottocensurethecoachorrowers.Theintentistoimprovesafetyprocedures.

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IncidentReview&AnalysisThesafetycommitteeshallreviewandevaluateallreceivedfeedbackandincidentreports.Thesafetycommitteemayaskforadditionalinformationfromsubmitterstoaidinthereviewandevaluation.Thesafetycommitteeshallwriteasummaryofitsreviewandevaluation.Thesummaryshallcontainoneormorerecommendationsforfurtheraction.Asinglerecommendationthatnofurtheractionisrequiredatthistimemaybeappropriateinsomesituations.Thesummaryshallbesubmittedtotheboardofdirectorsforreviewandactiononrecommendations.Thesafetycommitteeshallrespondtoallquestionsfromtheboardofdirectors,coachesandrowersaboutincidentsthatareunderreview.Thesafetycommitteeandboardofdirectorsshalltakeappropriatemeasurestoprotectprivacywhereappropriate.

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AppendixA–WaterTemperaturesThefollowingtableshowstheaveragemonthlyseawatersurfacetemperatureattheDepartmentofFisheriesandOceansresearchestablishmentinWestVancouver11.Becauseoftidalaction,averagewatertemperaturesinIndianArmwillbeverysimilar.

Month Temperature(°C) Temperature(°F)January 6.0–7.8 43.5–45.3February 5.9–7.7 43.3–45.1March 6.0–8.2 43.7–45.9April 6.2–8.0 43.9–45.7May 6.4–9.2 44.6–47.4June 6.7–10.0 45.3–48.6July 8.7–11.2 48.6–51.1

August 10.0–12.4 51.0–53.4September 10.4–12.1 51.4–53.1October 8.8–11.4 48.9–51.5November 7.7–9.8 46.7–48.8December 6.8–8.4 44.9–46.5

11Adaptedfromhttps://www.seatemperature.org/north-america/canada/vancouver.htm

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AppendixB–DaylightHoursThefollowingtable12showstheapproximatelocaltime(i.e.PSTandPDT)ofthestartofmorningciviltwilight,sunrise,sunsetandendofciviltwilightinVancouverfordifferentdatesduringtheyear.Civiltwilightoccursbeforesunriseandaftersunset.Itisdefinedtobethatperiodoftimewhenthereisenoughlightinclearskyconditionsforoutdooractivitiestotakeplacewithoutadditionallighting.

DateCivil

TwilightStarts

Sunrise SunsetCivil

TwilightEnds

January1 7:30AM 8:08AM 4:25PM 5:02PM9 7:29AM 8:06AM 4:34PM 5:11PM17 7:24AM 8:00AM 4:46PM 5:22PM25 7:17AM 7:52AM 4:58PM 5:33PM

February1 7:09AM 7:43AM 5:10PM 5:44PM8 6:59AM 7:33AM 5:21PM 5:55PM15 6:48AM 7:21AM 5:33PM 6:06PM22 6:36AM 7:08AM 5:45PM 6:17PM

March1 6:22AM 6:54AM 5:56PM 6:28PM9 6:06AM 6:38AM 6:09PM 6:41PM17 6:49AM 7:21AM 7:21PM 7:53PM25 6:32AM 7:04AM 7:34PM 8:06PM

April1 6:17AM 6:49AM 7:44PM 8:17PM9 5:59AM 6:32AM 7:57PM 8:30PM17 5:42AM 6:16AM 8:09PM 8:43PM24 5:28AM 6:03AM 8:19PM 8:54PM

May1 5:14AM 5:50AM 8:30PM 9:06PM9 5:00AM 5:37AM 8:41PM 9:19PM17 4:47AM 5:26AM 8:52PM 9:32PM25 4:37AM 5:17AM 9:02PM 9:43PM

June1 4:30AM 5:11AM 9:10PM 9:52PM9 4:25AM 5:07AM 9:17PM 9:59PM17 4:23AM 5:06AM 9:21PM 10:04PM24 4:24AM 5:08AM 9:22PM 10:05PM

July1 4:28AM 5:11AM 9:21PM 10:04PM9 4:36AM 5:18AM 9:17PM 9:59PM17 4:45AM 5:26AM 9:11PM 9:51PM25 4:56AM 5:36AM 9:02PM 9:41PM

August1 5:07AM 5:45AM 8:52PM 9:29PM9 5:20AM 5:56AM 8:39PM 9:15PM17 5:32AM 6:07AM 8:24PM 8:59PM

12https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/canada/vancouver

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DateCivil

TwilightStarts

Sunrise SunsetCivil

TwilightEnds

25 5:45AM 6:19AM 8:09PM 8:43PMSeptember1 5:56AM 6:29AM 7:54PM 8:27PM

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Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety Handbook For Rowers · 2019. 4. 11. · Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety...

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Transcript of Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety Handbook For Rowers · 2019. 4. 11. · Deep Cove Rowing Club Safety...