It is great to see many people still braving the weather and training over the Winter but with fewer people around at the club I just want to take the opportunity to remind everyone of a few basic safety and important practices to remember.
1. Please complete and update the sign out book AND new safety board everytime you take a boat from the shed. Also check the sign out book to see everyone has returned before you bring the scull rack in and lock up the boat bays. Unfortunately a member was left locked outside with a single last week which we do not want to happen again.
2. With fewer daylight hours, everyone must give their upmost attention to safety and lights on boats. RV has informed us that a patrol was recently conducted on the Yarra River by Maritime Safety Victoria (a branch of Transport Safety) and there were some clubs that did not comply to:
TWO 180° lights = white FLASHING stern light and white CONSTANT bow light on each boat.
Lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and in times of restricted visibility during daylight hours. It is more difficult to judge speeds and distances at night or in restricted visibility. Understanding lighting configurations will enable you to take corrective action to avoid a collision. A vessel’s lights should indicate the direction that the vessel is travelling.
By law, navigation lights and their installation on rowing boats are required to comply with the above simple positioning and technical requirements.
Safety is paramount and fines will ensue if proper care and concern is not being demonstrated by ALL clubs AND each of their crews.
Let’s all work together to negate this threat to the personal safety of all water users.
Important all year round but this is a timely reminder.
Any questions do not hesitate to contact myself or other members of the committee.
