MRA Safety Procedures

Marblehead Racing Emergency

Response Manual

This manual is for Race Committee Race Officer (RO), racers, Harbor Masters, YC Waterfronts, USCG, Police, Ambulance and Fire. And will be posted on BYC, CYC, EYC, Mass Bay and MRA web sites.

EMERGENCY

Emergencies are extraordinary events occurring before, during, or after any on-water racing/sailing event being held in and around Marblehead Harbor, whether weather-related or not, which puts the safety of individuals at risk and require responses and assistance of a number of Race Committee, YC Waterfront and non-Race Committee first responders (Harbor Master, Police, Fire, ambulance and USCG).

The line/Command RO with assistance of the Host YC/Organizing Authority should always consider abandoning, cancelling or postponing when an emergency interferes with the ability to conduct the event and/or when continuing to conduct the event would interfere with proper attention to the emergency. The line RO with assistance of the Host YC/Organizing Authority should use their best judgment.

Emergency VHF: 16

Marblehead Emergency Dispatch: 781-631-1212 OR 911

1.0 Classification of Emergencies and Definitions

1.1 Boating Emergencies.

Boating Emergencies are emergencies that occur on, between, and/or among boat. They include man overboard, injury to crew, illness, fire, and collisions. These are emergencies that affect one racing line.

1.2 Non-boating Emergencies

Non-boating emergencies affect multiple lines, including weather emergencies such as severe storm and fog.

1.3 Abbreviations Used In This Document

  1. RO: Race Officer
  2. OA: Organizing Authority
  3. RC: Race Committee
  4. SI, RRS: Sailing Instructions, Racing Rules of Sailing
  5. MRA: Marblehead Racing Association
  6. YC: Yacht Club
  7. USCG: United States Coast Guard
  8. VHF, GPS: Very High Frequency (radio), Global Positioning System
  9. MOB: Man overboard
  10. L, Lo: Latitude, Longitude
  11. BYC, CYC, EYC: Boston, Corinthian, Eastern Yacht Club

2.0 COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS

2.1 In all Boating Emergencies, the Line RO of the line where the emergency occurred will be in command. In all Non-boating Emergencies, the South Line RO will be in command.

  1. Notify Harbor Master, via VHF #16 of emergency (MOB/disabled vessel/etc.)
  2. Ask other line(s) for assets as needed (extra patrol to assist in rescue)
  3. For regattas with Organizing Authority (OA), the OA will be in command
  4. Host YC will be support as able

2.2 All RC vessels must stay on VHF line channel and private radio.

  1. Patrol boats need to be able to respond to Signal Boat immediately
  2. Patrol boats re-assigned to a different line for the duration of the emergency are to tune their public and private channel radios to the channels used by that line and respond to the Signal boat of that line. Communication back to their original signal boat will occur between signal boats.
  3. Command and response transmissions should be minimal and related solely to the emergency condition(s)
  4. The RO may use cell phone as needed to increase communications/reception
  5. Line Signal Boat will communicate with emergency personnel and contact patrol boat with updates

2.3 Patrol Boat will communicate the following to the Signal Boat :

  1. Kind of assistance needed
  2. Number of people on board the distressed boat(s)
  3. Injuries
  4. Description of boat, type, hull color
  5. Location (identify location – i.e. near leeward mark, geographical reference, GPS coordinates if available)

Communicate to the RO and racer, transport sailor if needed, assist getting sailor out of the water if needed, continue to communicate to RO

3.0 SAFETY BASE (Major Regattas/Events Only)

3.1 The Organizing Authority/ Host Yacht Club is the safety base of operation and coordination, see SIs for further information

3.2 At the request of the Command RO, the Event Host YC/OA shall assume both coordination and command responsibility. Notification of this change will be communicated to all YC vessels in a timely manner.

4.0 HARBOR ASSETS

4.1 Coordination and dispatch of all harbor assets shall be the responsibility of the Harbor Master. For Major Regattas/Events, the Organizing Authority may assist

5.0 LANDING POINT FOR RESCUED AND INJURIED PARTIES

5.1 The person needing medical attention should be taken immediately to the Marblehead Town Landing dock on State Street for first responder support at the dock.

  1. GPS coordinates L 42° 30.223' N Lo 70° 50.792' W
  2. From the neighborhood of GC'1' you are steering roughly toward Abbot Hall
  3. Unless otherwise directed by the Marblehead Harbormaster
  4. The Signal Boat will be in communication with the Harbormaster. Bear in mind that it will be extremely difficult for the Rib to respond to radio inquiries while in transit.

6.0 BASIC REQUIREMENTS

6.1 All RC vessels must carry the following

  1. Cell phone/smart phone/etc., power turned on
  2. Cell phone contact list for BYC, CYC and EYC ROs

6.2 All Race Committee (RC) vessels must continuously monitor their Line VHF Channel from the time they leave their YC dock to the time the RC vessels return

  1. MRA channels are South Line/Heavy Weather Line VHF Channel 78A and North Line VHF Channel 71, South Channel VHF Channel 72
  2. For all other racing events, please refer to the Event Sailing Instructions (SI)
  3. RC vessels will discuss private radio channel at the pre-race meeting at YC dock

7. 0 LIST OF COMPETITORS

7.1 The Signal Boat must maintain a complete list of all boats and total number of people on board participating in the race

  1. Check in, as required by the Event Sailing Instructions
  2. The Host YC/Organizing Authority shall provide vessel registration material to include
    1. MRA - owner contact information, boat class, sail number and harbor location or mooring number or dry storage location
    2. For non-MRA events, the appropriate registration information will be provided by the Organizing Authority.

8.0 RC VESSEL SAFETY EQUIPMENT

8.1 Every RC vessel must have the following equipment on-board and in good working condition:

  1. One hard-wired GPS system
  2. Complete tool kit
  3. First Aid kit
  4. Hypothermia Kit
  5. Throw rings with heaving line
  6. Minimum of 2 life jackets
  7. Sound devices with spares
  8. 1 boat hook
  9. Boat ladder
  10. Tow line

8.2 BYC, CYC and EYC RCs have an AED on their signal boats. When an AED (defibrillator device) is carried aboard an RC signal boat, there should be personnel trained to use it. The waterfront staff at BYC, CYC and EYC are trained to use a defibrillator.

9.0 RC RESCUE RESPONSE:

9.1 Boating Emergencies

Communicate to the RO and racer, transport sailor if needed, assist getting sailor out of the water if needed, continue to communicate to RO

  1. The RC patrol closest to the scene of the event shall immediately inform the Line RO of the situation with the vessel
  2. In all Emergencies, the Line RO will be in command
  3. Notify Harbor Master, via VHF #16 of emergency (MOB/disabled vessel/etc)
  4. Ask other line for assets as needed (extra patrol to assist)
  5. For regattas with Organizing Authority (OA), the OA will be in command
  6. Host YC will be support as able
  7. All RC vessels must stay on VHF line channel and private radio
  8. Patrol boats need to be able to respond to Signal immediately
  9. Command and response transmissions should be minimal and related solely to the emergency condition(s)
  10. The RO may use cell phone as needed to increase communications/reception
  11. Line Signal Boat will communicate with emergency personnel and contact patrol boat with updates
  12. Patrol Boat will communicate the following to the Signal Boat:
    1. Nature of the call
    2. Number of people on board the distressed boat(s)
    3. Injuries Description of boat, type, hull color
    4. Location (identify location – i.e. near leeward mark, geographical reference, GPS coordinates if available)

MAN OVERBOARD (MOB)

  1. Man over board – assist getting person out of water as needed

Hypothermia is always a likely threat in Marblehead, regardless of season

  1. Check for obvious injuries, stabilize to the extent practical, and immediately call the RO with concise report of the condition of the person, your GPS location/description on race course and any request of appropriate assistance needed.

SEARCH AND RESCUE

When the Line RO becomes aware of a missing sailor, Rule 37 says that this is indicated to all sailors by making one sound signal and raising the Victor flag. The Line RO must establish communication with the Harbor Master and 'all boats and official and support vessels shall, if possible, monitor the race committee communication channel(s) for search and rescue instructions.' [RRS Rule 37]

Figure 1 - Monitor communication channel for safety

9.2 RC RESCUE RESPONSE: NON-BOATING EMERGENCIES

When severe weather has been forecasted, RC Signal Boat, the waterfront of the Event Host YC and supporting RC patrol boats shall monitor appropriate weather information sources to include but not be limited to, US Government and/or private weather broadcasts, and/or internet sites.

Whenever severe weather seems possible, weather radar should also be monitored aboard all Signal Boats – RO to assign a person on the signal boat

If a racing event is abandoned for severe weather, and declared by the RO using radio, sounds and signal flags, the RC patrol boats shall make every effort to notify the racers by displaying the appropriate signal flag and safely maneuvering near the racing fleet(s) and advising all racers to put on life jackets. Await further instructions from RO/Organizing Authority.

Figure 2 All races abandoned— No more racing today

Figure 3 Monitor communication channel for safety

Personal safety is paramount. Attention shall be directed toward rescue and recovery of racers (primary duty) and other individuals and NOT be directed toward preventing property or vessel loss. It shall be the duty of the boat owner to attempt vessel recovery at a time he/she deems appropriate.

The below procedures shall be followed:

  1. Patrol boat (s) to a rescue scene shall notify RO of emergency – line, fleet, boat (sail Number), injury, location (latitude/longitude or description on course).
  2. All Patrol Boat (s) and Signal Boat shall monitor Line VHF transmission, including vessel type and sail number, vessel location (GPS if possible) and other details and to record every vessel sighted and maintain that visual sighting until told by RO that it is no longer necessary or threat is over.
  3. If missing individuals and/or boats, RO to call Harbor Master/USCG for immediately assistance. Rule 37 comes into effect. See SEARCH AND RESCUE in section above.
  4. All RC boats shall scan the area for capsized and/or vessels in distress and shall notify RO of location of abandoned vessel(s).
  5. The RO shall assign a patrol/signal vessel, if available, to station itself at the mouth of Marblehead Harbor to record the sail number(s) of all sailing vessel(s) entering the harbor.
  6. As soon as possible, every RC line needs to confirm the status of every vessel on its starting area scratch sheets. Notify all RC boats and Host YC waterfront of any unaccounted-for vessels, including the best possible description. If there is no immediate location confirmation, the RO should ask YC dock staff coordinator to check the vessel's mooring or dry storage location provided by the Organizing Authority. A mooring check by the appropriate Harbor or Yacht Club personnel is usually the most efficient manner to conduct such a check.
  7. The RO shall designate a RC member to keep careful records of all information concerning each individual boat and crew, so that all RC personnel and the Host YC dock staff coordinator are completely confident that all boats are safely in the harbor before declaring the emergency ended.

10.0 RC VESSEL PREPARATION DURING SEVERE WEATHER

The following procedures shall be followed:

  1. Line RO is in command
    1. Notify Harbor Master, via VHF #16 of emergency (MOB/disabled vessel/etc.)
  2. Notify all RC/racers
    1. Put on life preservers (everyone aboard) – fly appropriate flag

  1. Turn VHF to the Line channel AND private radio – turn volume up
    1. RO to assign a person to man the radio until relieved by RO
  2. Turn on all navigation lights
  3. If abandoned race - haul anchor and be prepared to be underway as soon as possible.
    1. It is understood that in times of severe weather conditions, patrol vessels may be temporarily unable to do more than hold position and protect their own personnel.
    2. However, the RC Signal Boats should not be anchored unless the RO feels conditions warrant otherwise.

RC RESCUE RESPONSE: DENSE FOG

Fog is a serious threat. Dense and dangerous fog requires special rules after an Emergency Condition declaration.

The below procedures shall be followed:

  1. RC Signal Boats must stay anchored on station where competitors last started.
  2. Usage of all sounds and navigation lights including radar if available is mandatory. The on-station bell must be sounded.
    1. A long sound lasts 4-6 seconds, a short sound lasts about a second.
    2. Time between signals is, at most, two minutes.
    3. Sounds under sail: One long sound followed by two short sounds.
    4. Sounds under power
      1. Making way: One long sound.
      2. Stopped: Two long sounds in succession (2 seconds between sounds)
    5. At anchor
      1. Ring bell 5 seconds every minute
      2. Optional: Three sounds in succession: short-long-short. Do if radar or sounds indicate collision is a reasonable possibility; e.g. you hear an approaching diesel engine.
    6. Being towed: Last vessel in line of tows if manned makes four sounds in succession: long-short-short-short. Towing boat is presumably under power and making sounds indicating such (one long).
  3. A careful checklist of sail numbers is vital. Racers should be instructed to stay within hailing distance the RC Signal Boat and await further instructions.
    1. Refrain from giving a compass course to the harbor unless you are in vicinity of boat requesting — preferably not over the radio.
    2. Patrol Boat to escort fleet into the harbor when conditions warrant.

EYES ARE ALWAYS ON THE BOATS AND PEOPLE UNTIL DESIGNATED RO RELIEVES YOU

DATED: May 11,2023
© 2024 Marblehead Racing Association