Advice please - seriously.

[Dave_Snelson]

I have just been asked by my yacht club to be the safety officer of the club. OK in principle, but what am I letting myself in for legally and financially. I have what I consider to be requisite qualifications for the post (PB 1&2, ICC, Safetyboat, VHF) but there are still a load of questions unanswered. For instance, whats my own personal liability here? What would I need from the club's insurers, and how (if) would they underwrite me? How do I deal with persons under 18 (minors) participating in club activities that include sailing, power, and longboat rowing? Where can I get a template of rules, e.g. RYA? Am I qualified enough? Anything else that you know that I don't??

Thanks in advance folks.

Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[hlb]

Dont think there are any rules. It's not about safety. It's about making sure it's not the clubs fault when some thing goes wrong. Or some one pretends it has. Now they've got round the first hurdle by appointing you. So you can either. Think of all the things that could possibly go wrong and put a sign up. warning people. Or resign. I think I'd resign emediatly.

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[Forbsie]

Dave,

The RYA have notes on this My Project

 

[BrendanS]

The trick with this sort of role, is to be aware of current regulations, but NOT to lay down lots of detailed club dictates on what should and shouldn't happen. Once you've dictated rules and behaviour, the club becomes responsible for ensuring they happen.
Far better to lay down general guidelines, based largely on common sense, laying the onus on boatowners/skippers

Even some of the more difficult sounding regulations, such as being asked or required by a harbour authority for instance, to perform a risk assesment before they will allow an event to take place, are actually quite short and simple forms

Make sure your club is RYA affiliated, their legal department are extremely helpful, and provide everyday practical advice, rather than wrapping things up in legalese.

Your club should already have third party insurance to cover the club and it's officials when they organise official club events. If not, again talk to the RYA, they have an approved insurance provider who they have checked covers clubs against all possible contingencies. As the RYA have approved it, if it should not cover certain unusual aspects, you will receive RYA legal advice (which you can always ask for in any case)

 

[halcyon]

Have a serious talk with the RYA, to-day safety and risk assesment and junior compeditors are a nightmere.
For Falmouth week safety takes 3/4 months planning.

But at the end of the day a most rewarding job.

Brian