Safety is paramount at RYC. Our coaching staff are all certified in First Aid/CPR, Pleasure Craft Operators Certified, Coach Boat Safety and Radio Operators Certified. All coaches are insured through Sail Canada. On the water, coaches carry the Participant Information Form and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) at all times. Each coach boat is equipped with all Transport Canada required safety equipment and an updated first aid kit and a VHF radio. All instructors are required to adhere to all Sail Canada and Club safety requirements and EAP procedures. Depending upon the severity of the accident or incident, the Club’s Emergency Action/Response Plan may be activated.
If an injury is serious, emergency responders may be contacted, a parent or guardian will be notified immediately and the individual may be brought to the local emergency department. An instructor will accompany the sailor to the emergency department and bring the student’s Medical Form. Emergency numbers are posted next to all phones. Sailor Medical Forms are on file in the Sailing Office.
Any injury to a sailor or instructor will be reported in writing on the appropriate Accident/Incident Form. The form will be completed by the instructor involved in the incident, in consultation with the Head Instructor. The Learn to Sail Director will be notified of the incident. Copies will be filed in the Sailing Office on the day of the occurrence and a copy of the report will be retained by the instructor involved. The Accident/Incident Report will establish the facts as they occurred and the actions taken by the staff while dealing with the accident. Procedures for report any accident, minor or major, are strictly enforced.
Swimming
RYC is very lucky to be located on the beautiful Kennebecasis River. Our sailors will, inevitably, hop in “the drink” while sailing, however In order to keep everyone safe, we ask that all sailors abide by the following rules for swimming:
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Sailors must be careful to look for any boats or tenders that might be coming or going from the harbour. All jumping must be feet first and there will be no throwing or pushing friends in the water!
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Sailors in Wet Feet and CANSail 1 must wear life jackets/PFD’s when swimming and jumping in the water
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Sailors in CANSail 2 and up will have their swimming ability assessed by the Head Instructor/Instructor
All students, regardless of age or number of years in a program, are required to take a swim check on the first day of the session. The purpose of the swim check is for students to become accustomed to being in the water with their life jackets on and for instructors to get an idea of the sailor’s swimming ability. All RYC coach boards are equipped with “prop guards” to add an important margin of safety for our sailors.
Weather
Weather
Sailing is a complex sport to master and it’s important that students feel comfortable with their skills in the boat. It is also important that sailors learn to respect and appreciate the power of the environment in which they sail. Wind, waves and currents are some of the aspects that make sailing so exhilarating, but they can be factors that can make sailing quite frightening for the inexperienced sailor.
Maintaining a fun and safe learning environment is our main priority, and as such, when wind speeds exceed 15 knots (approx. 28 klm/hour), it is at the discretion of the instructor to decide whether the Wet Feet and CANSail 1 program will go out on the water. If there is excessive rain, we will also not be going out on the water. On these days, we will play sailing related games as well as provide sailing land lessons, such as what to wear when sailing, tying knots and reading the wind.
What practices and protocols are in place at the Rothesay Yacht Club Learn to Sail Program to ensure sailor’s personal safety onshore?
In order to ensure the safety of its junior sailors, the RYC Learn to Sail program follows the recommendations contained within the Sail Canada Safe Sport Guidelines. These include the Responsible Coaching Movement, which is a call to action for sport organizations to protect the health and safety of athletes, both on and off the water. The Rothesay Yacht Club and Sail Canada is committed to providing the following training for certified coaches
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What practices and protocols are in place at the Rothesay Yacht Club Learn to Sail Program to ensure sailor’s personal safety onshore?
In order to ensure the safety of its junior sailors, the RYC Learn to Sail program follows the recommendations contained within the Sail Canada Safe Sports Guidelines. These include the Responsible Coaching Movement, which is a call to action for sports organizations to protect the health and safety of athletes, both on and off the water. The Rothesay Yacht Club and Sail Canada are committed to providing the following training for certified coaches:
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Background Screening
Vulnerable Sector Screening is required for all employees working for the Learn to Sail program, as well as all “regular” parent volunteers who assist on the premises or travelling with RYC Junior Sailors to regattas. The application process for a Criminal Record Check with the Kennebecasis Regional Police Force is as follows:
visit www.kennebecasisregionalpolice.com
Click on the Services Tab and go to the Criminal Record Check page.
You will be redirected to Forrest Green Police Solutions for the submission of your application and payment.
There is a $35 Fee for non-volunteer applications and a $15 fee for volunteer applications.
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Open and Observable Coaching Environment
Also is known as the Rule of Two – which stipulates that a coach or instructor cannot be alone with a youth sailor, and must have another responsible person within eyesight at all times.
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Travelling Team Policy
This establishes standards of behaviour and manages expectations of the team and instructors, thereby providing a sense of structure and familiarity while in an otherwise less familiar setting. Team Travel is defined as overnight travel to or at an event or regatta that is planned and supervised by the instructors.
Parental Consent Form for Travel
This form gives parental permission for a child is to travel with the Instructor to an event/regatta and acknowledges that the Instructor is acting as a chaperone for their child for the duration of the event or regatta
RYC Media Policy and Parental Media Release Form
The Learn to Sail program follows the RYC Social Media Policy. We request parents sign an Image Consent Form to either grant or not grant, us permission for their child’s image to be used to promote the RYC Learn to Sail program and the sport of sailing. Privacy is of utmost importance, thus names are never used when images are posted.
Codes of Conduct and Safety Rules
The Learn to Sail program sailors, instructors, parents and director follow the Codes of Conduct relating to the program, the RYC and Sail Canada and the Learn to Sail Safety Rules, which ensure all sailors, instructors and members of the RYC sailing community can enjoy sailing in a safe and fun environment.
RYC Harassment Policy
The Learn to Sail program follows the RYC Harassment Policy, which ensures all sailors, instructors and members of the RYC sailing community can enjoy sailing in a safe and fun environment.