Esperance Volunteer Sea Search & Rescue Group

New Members Always Welcome

MEETINGS - First Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm at the Unit HQ.
The following information is reprinted from several different Sea Rescue / VMR / FESA publications and brochures available from your local sea rescue group. Remember: These are VOLUNTEERS who put their lives at risk to save yours!

Services

Providing local marine radio services. Coordinating and performing rescues. Assisting State Maritime Authorities in sea search and rescue activities through conducting many types of accredited training courses in marine safety. These courses are designed to improve boating safety operations and skills and are open to the general public as well as VSSR members.

Set Sail Safely – Safety at sea is essential

Before

• Don't over estimate your boat. Don't go offshore unless your boat has been designed to cope with open waters, don't overload it and don't presume your boat will never break down or never strike conditions which are too rough for it to handle.
• Don't overestimate your ability as a sailor. Before going offshore you should have completed a small boattraining course and, even after this, you should plan your trips to match your experience.
• Check the weather forecasts. If the weather and sea conditions are likely to be bad, is the trip worth the risk? Study a chart of the area. You should know where you plan to go and have a copy of the chart to take on board.
• Check all equipment including fuel, oil and battery levels. Will they last for the entire trip, particularly if you have any delays. Is everything securely stowed?
• Checklist of safety gear to be carried. Do you have at least all the necessities including enough life jackets for everyone on board? Do you have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)?
• Tell someone where you are going. Let a family member or the local volunteer search and rescue group know where you are going and how long you expect the trip to take.
• If you go offshore make sure that you have lodged a Sea Safety Report form with the Federal Sea Safety Centre in Canberra. This will mean that the Centre will have a record of your boat, the equipment you carry and, if you do get into trouble at sea, this information will help in a rescue operation. Sea Safety Report forms are available from marine outlets such as police stations, harbour authorities, marine rescue groups, yacht & boating clubs.

During

• Keep in radio contact with your local base station. If for any reason you have to divert from your original sail plan, let them know. Otherwise, if you get into trouble, rescuers may have difficulty finding you.
• Listen for official strong wind or gale warning from coastal radio stations and also weather reports that may be broadcast by other boats.
• Be prepared to turn back to shore if the weather turns bad or equipment gives you trouble.
• Don't go too far out or you may have trouble getting back.
• Make regular checks on your exact position and make a note of it in case you need it in an emergency.
• Travel at a speed to suit sea conditions.
• If sailing, adjust sail area to suit wind strength.
• Enjoy yourself, but never take unnecessary risks.

After

• Sign off on your radio.
• Make sure that all your sail plan contacts know that you have completed your trip.
• Stow all gear away carefully, replace any supplied, which were used and repair any equipment that failed to operate during your voyage. The safest way to set to sea is in a properly maintained boat.

Safety Gear Checklist

• This checklist contains items recommended to be carried by all small craft operating offshore. Some of these items are mandatory under State & Territory regulations, and it is important that you check with the authorities to make sure that your boat and equipment comply with the current laws.
• Two compasses, one fitted and one hand-held for taking bearing points ashore.
• Marine radio transceiver for communications, and transistor radio to receive weather reports.
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
• Inflatable lifecraft or tender
• Life jackets with whistle and salt water activated light.
• Orange V'sheet
• Flares and orange smoke markers
• Heliograhic distress signalling mirror
• Sea dye marker
• Lifebuoys, with flag marker buoy and strobe light or flashing buoy light attached.
• Mariner overboard buoyant recovery line and attached float
• Two strong baling buckets, with lanyard attached.
• Manually operated bilge pumps
• Softwood or rubber plugs, for blocking hull openings
• Two water-resistant, floating torches with spare bulbs and batteries, or one torch and one set of light sticks
• Two anchors with chain (or wire) and warp, one designed for heavy weather the other for fair weather
• Oars or paddles as appropriate
• Emergency steering arrangement, eg. Tiller
• Tool repair and spare gear kits for engine, rigging and sails
• Fire extinguishers
• Emergency grab bag, stowed adjacent to EPIRB, carrying basic safety equipment plus survival rations of water and high-energy foods.