AS/ISAF Offshore Safety and Sea Survival
This two-day course meets the requirements of World Sailing (formerly ISAF), RYA and AS for crew planning to take part in offshore yacht races like the Sydney to Hobart race. The course is also highly recommended for anyone going to sea for any purpose.
Description
“From the evidence of the survivors of the yacht ‘WINSTON CHURCHILL’ and the tests conducted by the NSW Water Police, it is indisputable that trained crew have a greater likelihood of survival than untrained crew.”
(Coroner Abernathy-Inquest Into the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.)
This course focuses on the practical aspects of survival at sea should we ever be forced to abandon ship.
There is a practical session in a pool, where you learn how to launch a life raft and practice in-water survival techniques.
We also consider the obligations of yacht owners, operators, and masters to prevent a disaster situation from ever occurring by implementing an efficient safety management system built on a comprehensive risk assessment.
By the end of the course, you will have a good understanding of the legal responsibilities of the skipper and crew.
Course content
Day 1 - Flying Fish classroom
- Introduction, course aims, and objectives
- legal obligations, duty of care
- Personal safety equipment
- Distress/abandon ship/liferafts
- Heavy weather handling (storm sails, drogues, crew routines)
- Man overboard prevention and recovery
- Distress flares and EPIRB's
- Fire precautions and fire fighting
Day 2 - Flying Fish classroom/pool session
- Liferaft and lifejacket practical pool session
- SAR organisation and methods
- Communications equipment (VHF, GMDSS, SATCOM)
- Exams
Instructors and equipment
The course will be run by an experienced Australian Sailing /ISAF-accredited instructor.
We provide all the equipment you need for the course
Location
The course is based in our training room at Middle Harbour Yacht Club, which is set up for this purpose. The live flare drill is run on the marina.
The pool drill runs at the Wharinga Aquatic Centre in Frenchs Forest.
What's included
Equipment, publications and training.
Qualifications
- AS/ ISAF Offshore Safety and Survival certificate
Before you start
- The Sea Survival course is suitable for anyone who goes to sea for any reason, recreational or commercial, and who would like to practice essential emergency drills and procedures in case the unthinkable happens.
- No previous experience is needed to join this course.
- Warning - this course may one day save your life!
What next?
- You must re-validate this certificate every five years.
- Consider further safety training with Flying Fish Marine First Aid and Marine Radio Operator.