Safety Boat Cox Duties and Instruction Videos
Why do we operate Safety Boats at Littleton?
Dinghy Sailing is not a regulated activity in the UK, and there remains no statutory requirement for 'safety boat cover' for this sport in the UK.
Capsize is a normal and expected part of our sport, and all sailors need to be capable of self-recovery.
As a club, we operate CLUB SAFETY BOAT cover on specific days for all members, to create a supportive environment in which members can
- learn and practice in stretching conditions,
- can be recovered from the water in the event of equipment breakage or exhaustion,
- can race or cruise, with an assurance that if there were a medical incident or accident, others could provide rapid intervention.
As a recognised RYA Training Centre, we operate power boat support for all RYA Dinghy Training and coaching to the highest standards and ratios set by the RYA.
Our Duty Safety Boats SB6 and SB8 (planning) are coxed by a qualified and approved individual, with RYA Power Boat Level 2, RYA Safety Boat and current First Aid qualifications.
DUTY SB COXES - your 2025 LSC Club SB Cox agreement
All SB Cox please read and acknowledge by email, the current SB Duty Cox Agreement, download here:
Duty SB Cox MUST use SB6 or SB8 plaining craft, with no more than Cox and a crew on board for ALL Duty Safety Cover. Only SB6 or SB8 are capable of recovering a seriously injured person from all parts of Littleton Lake in an acceptable time.
Our Diesels are Support Boats, and are not at all suitable or effective for Duty Safety Cover.
All SB Cox are on a rota of at least 3 days per year, but more frequent Power Boat handling experience is necessary to maintain your skills. (New SB Cox commit to at least 4 days)
Volunteering for additional days is via our duty calendar (marked as v), which does count as a Club Duty.
Each year we run an SB 'refresher day' for all duty cox to connect, practice and sharpen our skills and knowledge. Additionally please check the videos below!
All RYA Dinghy Instructors and most ODs are trained to PBL2 standard, and all Senior Instructors to RYA SB standard. Currently, RYA Dinghy or Power Boat Instructing time does not count as club duties.
VIDEOS
All SB Cox please make use of these excellent videos prior to your duty, brief your crew member, and do look to practice when safe to do so.
Preparing Safety boats (SB Cox)
Note, these videos are not necessarily comprehensive, with some steps intentionally missed
use VIMEO password 'littleton' where required
1. Start your duty - Radios and Engine shed equipment: with Mark Harris
2. SB6 - Prepare and recover: with Jon Kiely
Rescue
3. Approaches for safety recovery: Observation, plan, positioning, and escape, with John Ashton, PBI
https://vimeo.com/540896238
4. Common issues: Recovering dinghy with Mast in the mud by gently pulling the dagger board, With Nic Selves
https://vimeo.com/543362846/815164112d
5. Common issues: assisting a sailor by holding the mast tip and rotating to point into wind - with Luca Colombi
6. Common Issues: Towing multiple single handers with a single tow line, as a herringbone - With RYA Level 2 Adults - 2021
https://vimeo.com/673971424
7. Common Issues: towing a large dinghy alongside - with Mike Bean
https://vimeo.com/673975043
8. Common issues: assistance to, or recovery of Club Youth dinghies - Littleton Youth Power Point
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yFbzw0xXlBxXr2P_xjM9liDFBHpn8CtT/view?usp=sharing
9. Common issues: Power Boat control, manoeuvring by turning within own boat length, with Oliver Barwick
RYA PBL2 skill - turning in own length
Preparing support boats (For RYA Instructors)
10. RYA Safety Boat advice for Instructors and SB Cox to reduce risks of entrapment, and effecting recovery:
RYA - Reducing Entrapment and Entanglement (YouTube, 16 Minutes)
11. Diesel support boats SB 1 & SB 2- Preparing and Recover: With Mark Harris
https://vimeo.com/532912538
Last updated 17:35 on 20 April 2025