In the event of a wind or kite surfer in difficulty, approach the casualty and their equipment up wind. This way there is no risk of the equipment blowing into the IRB and potentially damaging it or harming the crew. Ensure the casualty is okay before attending to the equipment. Once the casualty is safe the decision to recover any equipment rests with the coxswain. If it is safe to do so, the equipment may be dismantled and placed in/on the IRB to be taken to shore. Always be aware of potential broken lines floating in the vicinity of a kite surfer rescue.
A mass rescue situation occurs when there may be a group of people that have been swept out by the same rip.
You should approach slowly and instruct the casualties to grasp the IRB sponson ropes. Then priority should be given to the most tired or most distressed casualties while assistance is on its way. It is recommended that the motor should be placed in neutral or switched off if safe to do so.
If the group is split up and other casualties are unable to swim to the IRB the rescue tube can be thrown to the other casualties to offer some buoyancy.
If no assistance is available, the coxswain should give priority to the casualties in the most difficulty/distress, whilst leaving others with a rescue tube to be picked up later. Reassurance should be given before leaving the casualties that the IRB will be straight back to pick them up. This will then be repeated until all casualties are ashore.
Alternatively (where conditions permit) the coxswain can slowly drive the IRB with casualties on board or holding onto the sponson ropes towards safer water, ensuring that all casualties are clear of risk and clear of being struck by the propeller.Where a number of people holding onto the side of an IRB prevent it from being safely manoeuvred in or out of the surf, it is best to switch off the motor and for the crewperson and coxswain to climb overboard and assist with the casualty care and to act as outriggers. This will help the IRB stay upright as waves pass over and push the IRB towards the shore until assistance has arrived.
The IRB is not designed to be a recovery craft for vessels. If there is another vessel in difficulty it is up to the IRB coxswain to assess if it is safe to attempt to recover the vessel, as towing another vessel significantly impedes the handling and capabilities of the IRB.
If the coxswain deems the situation to be safe and decides to go ahead with a tow, the first decision is whether to leave all of the casualties on the disabled boat or to transfer some to the IRB. Those left on the disabled vessel should all be wearing PFD’s and have some form of communication with the IRB, such as a VHF radio or agreed signals.
Before attempting a tow, there must be an agreement between the IRB coxswain and skipper of the other vessel that he/she will accept the tow under their own risk. An IRB should only tow a vessel of a similar size.
The tow rope should be placed on the port side transom eyelet and on the bow of the disabled vessel. The IRB should then slowly take up the slack of the tow rope, and begin to tow paying attention to the disabled vessel. The skipper of the disabled vessel should still steer with the motor (if possible).