AYC Safety Policy
"Safety is Everyone's
Responsibility"
Part
A -- On the Water Safety
1.
Race Committee
A
Principle Race Officer (PRO) will be designated by the Duty Fleet before each
race day and will be responsible for conducting races in a safe manner. The race committee shall consist of at least
four members who are knowledgeable in the rules of racing, water safety, and
operations of the race committee equipment and craft. These duties are outlined in the AYC Safety/Race Management
guidebook and include:
·
Designating qualified members of the Race Committee who will
man the Rescue Boat and Committee Boat.
Rescue Boat 2 Persons (Min & Max)
Committee Boat 2 to 5
Persons (3 minimum if
winds greater than 10 mph)
1 Race Captain
1 Flags & Shapes person
1 to 3 Recorders
(as needed)
(No person under 14 years of age on
committee boat and 16 years of age on the rescue boat. Must be at least 18 years of age to operate
the rescue boat)
Qualifications: tailored to job, event and weather. Must be able to swim, waterwise, mature and
know rules and operation of powerboats.
·
In addition to the items listed in the Rescue Boat Policy
and the AYC Safety/Race Management Guide Book, insure the Committee Boat and
Rescue Boat contain the following:
Life Jackets for each person
(individually provided)
One anemometer
One Boat Hook
·
The Committee Boat and/or Rescue Boat must NOT be operated
while intoxicated.
·
The Committee Boat and Rescue Boat must be operated in a
safe manner and used only for AYC sanctioned events
or for emergencies as required.
Consumption of intoxicating substance is prohibited on either the
Committee or Rescue Boat.
2.
Race
Management
·
The Life Jacket "Y" Flag, a red and yellow
diagonally striped flag 
will be
flown and ENFORCED (requiring all competitors to wear, properly secured, a U.S.
Coast Guard approved life jacket), at the discretion of the Race Committee
·
The Race Committee is responsible for Accounting
for all Starters after the Start of the race.
They should insure that all boats finish the race safely and if adverse
weather conditions exist, have returned to the AYC area.
Races
will be canceled whenever:
·
lightning is observed or present
·
or any time, at the discretion of the Race
Committee, especially when influenced by weather or other safety factors. The
Safety of our sailors and their equipment must be a guiding factor. Races may be canceled at any time if
sustained winds of 20 mph or gusts in excess of 23 mph exist. At no time will
races be presented with fewer than 4 persons on the race committee.
The PRO and Race Committee must be
aware and familiar with the wind and air/water temperature (Go No Go Chart
(Attachment (1)) and know how to apply the conditions therein.
The
AYC Race Captain may cancel a race at any time if the safety of competitors,
race committee, competitor yachts, or AYC race
equipment are in question.
In
accordance with US Sailing Rule 1.2 "Life-Saving Equipment and Personal
Buoyancy" A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons
on board, including one item ready for immediate use, unless her class rules
make some other provision. Each
competitor is individually responsible for wearing personal buoyancy adequate
for the conditions.
Part
B -- On the AYC Grounds
Life Jackets for children:
All children on the AYC grounds under the age of six (6) and/or
any minors who cannot swim are required to wear a life jacket when on the AYC
pier. Children are required to be under
the supervision of an adult when on the AYC pier or grounds.
Swimming/Running on Pier
Swimming in Lake Arlington is prohibited by Arlington City
Ordinance, therefore, there is no swimming allowed from, or around, the AYC
property.
No running allowed on the Pier.
Additionally, all members and guests are encouraged to wear adequate
footwear when on or around the AYC pier or grounds.
Part C -- Continuing Education and Safety Awareness Campaign
The
Safety Chairman will be responsible for the following:
Safety Awareness
Posters, pamphlets
and/or signs will be placed throughout the Clubhouse which inform members and
guests of some of the potential boating hazards, as well as how to prevent
them.
Signs will be placed on the AYC pier which remind parents to put
life jackets on their children, as well as remind the Club's members and guests
that there is no swimming or running allowed on the pier.
Continuing Education
At least two safety education classes will be offered annually at
the AYC. These classes may include:
·
Boater's safety classes
·
Capsize classes for each sanctioned racing class
·
Hypothermia education classes
·
CPR classes
·
Any other safety related topic
At least three articles focusing
on safety issues will be included annually in the AYC newsletter. These articles may include information on:
·
Federal and State boating regulations and
recommendations
·
Boating accident statistics and safety tips
·
Hypothermia
· Any other safety related topics