Duties

All sailing members are expected to help with sailing duties throughout the season and will be allocated to a duty team.  Duties will apply to all members holding a single, family or cadet (15+ years after 1st January) sailing membership.

Duties are necessary to enable racing and social sailing. The club could not function without them. The should not be seen as a chore – they can be great fun as well as help you interact with other members of the club.

• General Procedures
• Duty Teams
• Team Leader
• Race Management
• Safety Boats
• Beach Team
• Radio Etiquette

General Procedures

Code of Conduct

All members must treat others with respect, act in line with the club’s values, and behave appropriately at all times. “Abusive language, swearing, intimidation, aggressive behaviour, or disrespect for others or their property will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action.”

Safeguarding

• Follow the club’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures.
• Avoid situations that could be misinterpreted (e.g., do not be alone with children in changing rooms; adults and children must change separately; wear swimwear in showers).
• Report concerns or disclosures to the Safeguarding Lead via the provided link/QR code/email.

Accidents & Incidents

• Reassure and support the injured person.
• Seek a qualified First Aider (names posted by the canteen).
• Call 999 for anything beyond basic First Aid; call Coastguard for incidents at sea.
• For head injuries, consider calling 999 and inform a family member/friend.
• Inform parents directly if a cadet is involved.
• Ensure those living alone can get home safely.
• Record incidents in the Accident Book (First Aid cupboard by canteen).
• Report any equipment used to the Team Leader/Senior Instructor.

Key Club Documents & Equipment

Club Documentation

• RYA Operating Procedures
• Sailing Instructions/Racing Rules of Sailing
• Online Safety/Risk Assessment
• Health & Safety Policy (see club Policy Documents)
• Safeguarding Policy (see club Policy Documents)
• Anti Bullying Policy (see club Policy Documents)
• Zero Tolerance Policy (see club Policy Documents)

Club Equipment

• FSC Accident Book / Incident Log
• Defibrillators (by canteen and Tennis Courts)
• First Aid Kit (by canteen)

Duty Teams

All sailing members are expected to support club operations by completing duty roles during the season. Duties apply to all single, family, and cadet (15+) sailing memberships.

Duties are managed through: http://scm.felphamsailingclub.co.uk/duties

Duties ensure safe, effective racing and social sailing and help build the club community.

Team Structure

• Up to ten teams of around eight people.
• Each team completes up to four duties per year, including Sunday racing, Bank Holidays.
• Wednesday racing, Thursday Social Sail/Top Tips, Friday Youth Night, and Saturday Development sessions are supported by volunteers outside the Duty Team system.
• Each team has a Team Leader and Assistant, and other members with a range of experience

Members are informed of their team, dates, and Team Leader before the season. Members must accept duties in Dutyman or contact their Team Leader if there is an issue.

If you cannot attend a duty, request a swap on Dutyman and use social media groups to widen your search for a replacement with similar skills and experience

Attendance records are kept to support future planning.

Team Leaders

Team	Leader	Assistant
A	Chris Whitney	Brett Compton
B	Richard Bentley	Paula Bentley
C	Martin Gillam	Richard Littleproud
D	James Stanbridge	Andy Conway
E	Andrew Martin	Russell Penfold
F	Catherine Hemsley	Sian Bray
G	Mark Aldous	Roshan Verghese
H	Mark Phillips	Tobias Lloyd
I	Ross Fisher	Sean Hull
J	Tim Cutsforth	Richard Ganley

Team Leader

Role Purpose

Responsible for the safe, effective, and coordinated running of all sailing and racing activity for the session.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall command and assess weather, tides, visibility, and forecasts.
• Complete the online Safety/Risk Assessment.
• Confirm all duty roles are filled; deliver a pre‑sailing briefing.
• Decide whether safety boats can be safely launched and recovered and whether racing can go ahead, is modified, postponed or cancelled. 
• In windy and/or wavy conditions remind all competitors that whilst sailing is going ahead, it is the responsibility of each competitor to assess the conditions relative to their own level of experience.
• Ensure compliance with RYA and Club Safety Policies.
• Coordinate Race Officer, Race Office, Beach Team, and Safety Boats.
• Monitor conditions and adjust plans as needed.
• Lead incident and emergency decision‑making.
• Ensure incidents are managed and reported correctly.

Authority

• Suspend or cancel sailing on safety grounds.
• Modify sailing plans or fleet groupings.
• Direct all duty personnel.

Competence

• Strong dinghy sailing knowledge and understanding of local conditions.
• Familiarity with RYA safety guidance and Racing Rules of Sailing.
• Calm, clear decision‑making under pressure.

Guidance for Team Leaders

• Seek advice or training from other Team Leaders when needed.
• Contact your team before duty day to confirm attendance and arrival times.
• Remind all members to bring wet gear regardless of their assigned role.
• Confirm each member’s skills and preferred roles.
• Access club keys (cupboard by canteen) and open required areas.
• Brief the team on weather, plan, and responsibilities.
• Ensure team members keep you informed via club radios.
• Approve or decline club boat hire based on helm experience and conditions.

Race Management

Race Officer — Role Purpose

Responsible for safe, fair, and efficient racing in accordance with the Racing Rules of Sailing and Club Sailing Instructions.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan race formats and courses suited to conditions and fleet ability.
• Coordinate with Safety Boats for accurate mark‑laying.
• Run starts using correct signals and timing.
• Monitor the fleet and communicate with Safety Boats.
• Consult the Team Leader on shortening, postponing, or abandoning races.
• Record finishing positions and times accurately and update Sailwave.
• Communicate clearly with competitors and the Duty Team.
• Support protest procedures.

Authority

• Control starts, race management, and abandonment (with Team Leader).
• Adjust courses to maintain fair racing.

Competence

• Knowledge of Racing Rules of Sailing.
• Race management experience.
• Ability to adapt to changing conditions

Assistant Race Officer — Role Purpose

Supports the Race Officer with race administration, communication, and results.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage signing‑on/off and register competitors.
• Display notices, Sailing Instructions, and course information.
• Record OCS, DNS, DNF, retirements, and finishing times.
• Process and publish results promptly.
• Direct competitor queries and protests.
• Maintain accurate records.

Competence

• Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• Basic racing knowledge.
• Clear communication.

Guidance for Race Officer Team

FSC policy is to run racing from a Committee Boat (RHIB or Orkney). If a RHIB is used, one team member must remain in the Race Office to relay signals and record finish data.

Transit starts from shore should only be used when safety cover is limited or conditions prevent launching a Committee Boat.

Committee Boat helms do not require PB2 but must have basic boat‑handling competence.

Operational Guidance

• Race Office key is in the cupboard next to the canteen.
• Collect radios: two per safety/committee boat, one for Beach Team.
• Conduct radio checks with whole Duty Team before launching support boats.
• Complete the Race Officer Log.
• Display course, tide, wind, and briefing time on the whiteboard.
• Set course lengths so slow boats complete two laps in c45 minutes
• Shorten course appropriately; slower boats may be finished individually.
• Provide sign‑on sheet (or sign‑on afloat when using Committee Boat).
• Hold a safety briefing if conditions require special instructions.
• Check Committee Boat equipment: flags, horn, waterproof sheets, pens, whiteboard, wind indicator, stopwatch.
• Test Race Office light signals, horn, and Base Marine radio if used. Refer to “Race Lights RRS Flags” (hard copy in Race Office)

Safety Boats & Beach Team

Safety Boats / RIBs

Mandatory Principles

• Correct kill‑cord use.
• Controlled, safe throttle and steering.

Powerboat Use at FSC (See Support Boat Guidance)

• Selection of boats
• Safety cover for racing
• Committee Boat service
• Safety cover for social sailing
• Training activities
• Pre/post‑use checks
• Launch and recovery

Selection of Boats

FSC uses:

• Two 5m 40HP RIBs (Barracuda, Tyger)
• One 2.8m 10HP RIB (Quicksilver)
• One rigid‑hulled boat (Diamond)
• One Orkney Fastliner 20HP (Committee Boat)

Team Leader selects boats based on fleet size, conditions, and crew experience.

Safety Cover for Racing

• Minimum crew: two, capable of safe driving and recovering an adult from the water.
• At least one crew member should hold a Safety Boat or PB2 qualification or be competent through experience.
• Minors in safety boats require careful consideration; lone adult + minor is discouraged.
• Team Leader may reassign crews in challenging conditions.

Core Tasks

• Lay marks and monitor fleet.
• Confirm mark placement with Team Leader/Race Officer.
• Report hazards or weather changes.
• Respond immediately to capsizes if crew not seen; check for entrapment.
• Approach slowly, engage neutral/turn off, assist as needed.
• Help right the boat and stabilise it head‑to‑wind.
• Ensure sailors re‑enter safely.

Committee Boat Service

• Committee Boat does not normally act as a safety boat unless racing is abandoned.
• In the event that the start is from the Committee Boat, and the finish line is from the club, then it could be that the Committee Boat can be used a safety boat once the race has started.
• At least one crew member should hold PB2 or equivalent experience.
• Additional crew as required.

Social Sailing Safety Cover

Includes Development Saturdays, Thursday Social/Top Tips, and Friday Youth Night.

• Safety cover requirements match racing.
• A Dinghy Instructor may form part of the crew.
• Lone DI or experienced helm may be permitted depending on conditions and participant ability.

Training Activities

Follow RYA Operating Procedures.

Pre/Post‑Use Checks

Rigging cards in the garage detail:

• Hull/engine checks
• Fuel
• Safety kits/crash boxes
• Engine start and kill‑cord test

Report any issues or damage immediately.

Beach Team

Role Purpose

Responsible for safe, efficient launching and recovery of dinghies and managing shore‑side safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with launching and recovery.
• Manage slipway/beach to avoid congestion.
• Account for sailors going afloat and returning.
• Monitor conditions and report concerns.
• Support minor boat‑handling needs.

Competence

• Practical dinghy‑handling experience.
• Awareness of local hazards.
• Ability to work as part of a coordinated team.

Launching Dinghies

• Do not enter the water if conditions feel unsafe.
• Ask the helm before assisting; prioritise youth, smaller adults, and novices.
• Keep bow of boat head‑to‑wind with mainsheet loose, sails flapping.
• Move trolleys clear of the tide.
• If possible, avoid standing on beach side of the dinghy in surf (for launch and recover).

Recovering Dinghies

• Trolleys should be labelled with sail number and helm name.
• Move trolleys to water’s edge facing the wind.
• Recover one boat at a time in heavy surf.
• Take bow on seaward side; keep boat head‑to‑wind.
• Crew exits on seaward side only.
• If sail cannot be lowered, unclip from boom.
• Assist lifting onto trolley if asked.
• Avoid blocking promenade; watch for booms and flapping sails.

Launch & Recovery of Powered Craft

• All craft are launched and recovered by hand.
• Large RIBs and Committee Boat: launch backwards, recover forwards.
• Light RIBs: forward launch in swell to prevent swamping.
• Submerge trolley enough for RIB to float on; keep hands clear.
• Angle trolley to meet waves head‑on.
• Large RIBs/Committee Boat: 6 adults to launch, 8 to recover.
• Smaller craft: 3–4 adults.
• If unsure of your fitness, inform the Team Leader and take on lighter tasks

Radio Etiquette

Rinse radios with fresh water, dry, and place on charge after use.

• Radios are for essential race and safety communication only.
• Conduct a radio check before launching or starting your role.
• Wear radios on the shoulder.
• Speak normally; hold radio close and cup hand to reduce wind noise.
• Begin calls with craft/team name three times, then your call sign.
• End messages with “over”; end conversations with “out”.