Boat Emergencies

General Emergency Procedures

Stay calm and take time to assess the situation

Never leave the Boat even if you are close to shore and a strong swimmer. If you must, swim with the boat to the shore. A capsized or swamped boat will remain floating.

The command "Weigh enough! Hold water!" may be given by any person in the boat in an emergency. Don't ask questions. Immediately square blades and drag them against the water.

Get help. Do not assume that others on the water are aware of the emergency. Yell for help. Wave both hands up in the air up and down (like jumping jacks). Wave a shirt above your head. Wave an oar. Wave anything that will attract attention. Use a cell phone or a whistle.

Bad day for UW crew in the early 1900s. Photo from www.huskeycrew.com

Swamped Shell

A shell is considered swamped when the water inside is up to the gunwales. The boat should remain afloat but there is a potential for the shell to break apart if the rowers remain inside.

 If help is not immediate, take the following steps:

The cox or the stroke (on a cox-less boat) shall give the command "Weigh Enough" but remember anyone may give the command

The command "Untie" your shoes shall be given.

The crew of a swamped boat shall buddy up in pairs: bow pair, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, and the stern pair and cox. Keep an eye on your buddy!

 If help is not immediate, take the following steps:

The command for the center rowers to carefully get out one at a time, shall be given. They shall keep a hold on the boat for floatation and get out opposite of their oar on a sweep boat.  The center rowers need to be removed first because the midsection of the boat has the least floatation support and the weight of the rowers may cause the boat to break apart. See below for further information on Rescue.

If help is near by, signal the launch that help is needed. The launch operator will contact other launches in the area regarding the emergency. The coach will distribute lifejackets and unload the rowers by pairs starting with the center of the boat. The launch will shuttle rowers to the nearest shore. Do not overload the launch. Rowers shall keep an eye on their buddy until they are safely to shore.

The day got worse for the UW crew

Capsizing

Capsizing is common in small shells (singles, doubles and pairs) but rare in the larger shell. All rowers should know the procedures to to use the boat for floatation and how to right the boat.

Singles and doubles are designed to have sufficient floatation to be rowed after begin flipped.  Many are designed so that much of the water spills out when begin turned over. Large boats (fours and eights) should taken to shore (see the section on self rescue below). Once the rowers are in shallow water the procedures to right the boat may begin. Large boats need to be bailed out before rowing.

If you have capsized

STAY WITH THE BOAT!

A capsize boat is easier to see than a person in the water

The floatation in a capsized boat will provide you with a raft

You can pull your body out of the water, using a capsized boat, to help maintain body heat

You may be able to re-enter the boat

Staying with the boat keeps the crew together allowing the crew to help each other 

The crew of a capsize boat shall buddy up in pairs: bow pair, 3 & 4, 5 & 6, and the stern pair and cox unless it is a bow coxed boat then the cox should buddy up with the bow pair.

If you must swim ashore, take the boat with you. Do not leave your floatation.

Oars are not floatation!

Accidents occur on off the water too....damage from spring storm 2007

Rescue

If the wind, water temperature and other conditions allow and the boat is close to shore it is possible to self rescue by swimming the boat ashore. However do not do this in cold water. Swimming in cold water will allow hypothermia to rapidly set in. In cold water it is best to flip the boat and get most of your body out of the water as possible by lying across the boat. Body heat loss occurs 25 times faster in the water then in the air. One effect of cold water is on your muscles and your ability to swim; no matter how strong of swimmer you are "swim failure" can occur.

How to roll a boat and use it for floatation

First of all, make sure everyone is accounted for and keep an eye on your buddy. Remove the oars and place them parallel to the boat.  For example, in an eight,stoke,7,6 & 5 should move towards the stern of the boat while the rest of the rowers move to the bow.  The cox should remain at the end of the boat close to where they were sitting.  Everyone should get on the same side of the boat and away from the riggers then reach over an pull the boat towards them taking care not to get hit by the riggers.

To use a large boat for floatation flip it keel side up. This makes a stable "platform" as air will become trapped under the boat. Rowers can either lie onto of the boat or hold onto their buddies arms across the hull. If the water and air temperature are low the crew should move towards the center of the boat and huddle in pairs.  Every effort should be made to keep as much of the body out of the water as possible. Minimum movement will help retain body heat while in cold water. Do not roll a large shell if rescue is on the way.

How to roll a small shell

Arrange the oars parallel to the hull. Kick like mad and lift your body partly out of the water while reaching over the hull and grab the far side of the boat . Slip back into the water while hanging onto the far side. Your body weight will make the boat begin to flip. It may become necessary to put your weight on the submerged rigger to gain leverage and to grab the rigger in the air and pull it towards you. Be very careful to avoid colliding your body with the oars and the riggers as flips over. As the boat turns use your free hand to protect your head.

How  to swim with a boat

To swim with the boat to land. It is easier to swim with a boat when it is right side up. All rowers keep a hold of the boat and move towards one end.  Using a lifesaving kick, which is an upside down scissor kick,  to swim while holding onto the boat. The lifesaving kick will allow the rowers to keep their heads out of the water and also avoid banging the boat with their legs. The boat should be pointed in the general direction of the land but at a thirty degree angle to the prevailing wind or current. This will allow the current to push the boat and crew into the shore. Of course if the boat and crew are closest to the windward shore they should allow the wind to push them ashore.

A small shell may be paddled ashore while lying onto of the deck.  Climb onto the deck by using strong leg kicks and arms pulling up on the deck or the hull.  Hold onto a rigger and paddle with on hand and leg kicks using the shell as a paddleboard.

How to get back into a small shell in deep water

First grab onto your oar handles in one hand and make the blades parallel to the water. Keep your hand locking the oar handles together...do not let go!  Put your free hand on the deck in the cockpit.  Kick hard and lift up to get into the boat.  This motion is the similar to the motion you would use to lift yourself out of a swimming pool. Sit facing the stern with your feet still in the water and remember to lift your oar handles to keep the blades flat on the water.  Swing your feet in, take a breath, get organized and row to the shore.

Mike

Be Safe!