Crew Safety

Crew Safety:

We try to keep our canoe rigged as safe as possible, and carry appropriate safety gear. Our first goal is to keep our crew safe! However, unforeseen accidents can occur and we have to be ready. All crew should be proficient swimmers and be willing to accept the inherent risks of being on the ocean. Before going out, look over the wa’a. If something does not look right or if you have questions, ask.


Bring:

- your paddle

- your whistle and any other personal safety gear

- your camel-pack

- fluids, snacks, etc

Safety gear:

- Whistles: all crew should be carrying one

- Radio – in pouch at seat 5

- Cell Phone - in pouch at seat 5

- Personal locator beacon (PLB) – in small pouch at seat 5

- Knife - next to PLB

- Smoke flares – in green safety and spare parts bag on tramp

- tow line – in tramp pouch


Bailers:

- Self bailer at seat 4, watch feet if sitting there. Keep open if moving fast enough, closed if too slow or coming to shore. (put your finger through bottom to feel the ocean to make sure it is open)

- pump at seat 4

- 2 hand held pumps, and scoop on tramp


Life Preservers:

- 4 under seat 2, 2 on tramp

- Man overboard throw cushion on tramp


It is everyone’s responsibility to communicate about possible hazards if they notice them. It is your responsibility to drink as needed to stay hydrated and communicate if you are not doing well or need something.


Bring a hydration system that you can wear while paddling.

Moving on canoe: When moving around the canoe, be very careful. Watch other crew members when they are moving and give them assistance if needed. When exiting a seat, be sure to zip it up so we don’t swamp.


Hold on to your blade: It’s easy to get a paddle swept out of your hands in rough conditions. If not paddling, put it in the boat or on the tramp.


The main ama rises up out of the water while sailing, keep paddling.


Turning into the wind it is called “tacking or coming about”. Paddle hard and # 1 and 2 scratch toward direction of turn. When we turn downwind it is called" a jibe or jibing".


Man Overboard: Sheetsman, throw out a cushion and keep an eye on the man overboard. If the sheetsman is overboard then seat 4 does the sheetsman’s job. Seat 5 get on radio and call in “ Man Overboard”. Steersman turns into the wind. Throw out the secured tow line to help recover the man overboard.


Huli: make sure everyone is accounted for

- gather all blades and place inside canoe

- get fins off tramp and put on

- un-cleat sail

- put the main ama on the upwind side, parallel to the wind, it might take 3 people on each end of the canoe to do this

- tie tow rope around main ama at both iako connection points so the line is long enough to throw over canoe and reach the safety ama

- everybody get on safety ama putting body weight on tow line

- when the canoe rights, hold on to the canoe, and get in as quickly as possible, again make sure the sail is un-cleated.