Water Safety Policy 2025

Aims

The aims of this policy are: -

1. To provide an environment for the members and guests to take part in on-the-water activities safely.
2. To inform the members and guests how CSC CIC will achieve this and record salient points.
3. To record the documents, procedures and forms that proscribe the requirements, processes and governance that are in place to meet the first aim above.
4. To record the document where the responsibilities of members and other individuals who carry out voluntary roles that have an impact on safety.

Summary

CSC CIC has a duty of care to provide a safe environment for its members and guests.

On-water activities carry inherent risks and particularly Sailing which is an action sport. Club Members who take part in Sailing must understand and accept this risk.

Club Members have a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to avoid injury to themselves, their crew, other Club Members and other water users and to prevent damage to their equipment, CSC owned equipment and that owned by other Third Parties.

CSC CIC strongly recommends that all persons taking part in any on-the-water activity should wear a personal flotation device and appropriate clothing for the weather conditions. Actual requirements for the wearing of flotation devices for organised events and voluntary duties are recorded in the GEN1 Requirement and Guidance on the Use of flotation devices.

Documentation

Guidance and requirements for members to manage the risks of On-the-water activities are contained in the following CSC CIC documents: -

A: All members

1. GEN1 Requirements and Guidance on the Use of floatation devices.
2. GEN2 On-Water Responsibilities
3. GEN3 Safe Navigation of the River
4. GEN4 First Aid
5. GEN5 Emergency Procedures
6. GEN6 Accident, Occurrence and Near-Miss Reporting

B: Dinghy Sailing

•  DS1 Dinghy Sailing Instructions (General)
• DS02 RS Quest Operating Instructions
• DS03 Scow Class Rules

C: Dinghy Race and Event Management

1. DR01 Notice of Race (Dinghies)
2. DR02 Dinghy Standard Sailing Instructions (Racing)
3. DR03 Safety in Dinghy Racing and Events
4. DR04 Dynamic Risk Assessment
5. DR05 Race Officer (Dinghy)Guidance and Instructions
6. DR06 Assistant Race Officer (Dinghy) Guidance and Instructions
7. DR07 Escort Skipper Guidance and Instructions
8. DR08 Assistant Escort Skipper Guidance and Instructions
9. DR09 Dinghy Entry Form (Annual)
10. DR10 Consent Form for Juniors (Annual

D: Cruiser Sailing

1. CS01 Cruiser Regulations and Guidance
2. CS02 Cruiser Craning in and out procedure.
3. CS03 Procedure for Cruiser Use of Mast Crane
4. CS04 Hawk Class Rules

E: Cruiser Racing

1. CR01 Notice of Race (Cruisers)
2. CR02 Cruiser Standard Sailing Instructions
3. CR03 Cruiser Race Officer Instructions
4. CR04 Cruiser Timekeeper Instructions

F: Junior Section (Planned Events)

1. JUN01 Management of Events
2. JUN02 Not used
3. JUN03 CSC Junior Squad Dinghy Check list
4. JUN04 CSC Junior Squad Optimist Dinghy Check List

G: Use of CSC vessels and other water related assets

1. PB1 Powerboat Use Procedure
2. PB2 OffSite Use of CSC Powerboats auhorisation form.
3. PB3 Security Patrol-Instructions & Guidance
4. PB04 Security Patrol -Information (Members Only)
5. PB05 Black Pig Mooring Maintenance Vessel Instructions

H: Training

Document in preparation

I: Duty of Care

Whilst not strictly related to Safety on the water the following documents are listed so that members can make themselves aware of how CSC discharges its Duty of Care to its members

1. DCare01 CSC Child Safeguarding Policy
2. DCare02 Lost Child
3. DCare03 Juniors in Adult Racing
4. DCare04 CSC Safeguarding Concern Form

Communication

A copy of this Policy shall be kept in the Club office, be made available in the Clubhouse, displayed in dinghy park and published on the Club website.

Members taking part in CSC CIC organised races and activities are required to complete the relevant annual Entry Forms for dinghies, cruisers and Junior consent. These forms record the requirement to comply with the Water Safety Policy and other relevant documents listed above; members will confirm by signature their understanding of the requirements and that they will comply with the relevant requirements.

Parents/guardians of children seeking to take part in organised CSC events including competing in CSC Programme of Races are required to complete an annual Parent Consent form for each child.

Member Observations and Concerns

Observations made by members (and visitors) on the planning and processes employed by CSC CIC in respect of water activities provide a valuable source to identify any necessary changes and adjustments.

Observations in respect of general safety should be emailed to the address below where its content will be considered by the CSC Safety Officer and the relevant CSC Board member.

safety@christchurchsailingclub.co.uk

Observations in respect of safeguarding should be emailed to the address below where its content will be considered by the CSC Safeguarding Coordinator and the relevant CSC Board member.

safeguarding@christchurchsailingclub.co.uk

Enforcement

The Rear Commodore Sailing and their Sailing Team shall monitor compliance of the requirements of this policy and referenced documents. 

The Rear-Commodore Sailing shall seek compliance from members

Review of Water Safety Policy and its listed documents and procedures

The Commodore shall ensure that this Water Safety Policy is reviewed annually.

The Rear-Commodore Sailing shall ensure that the documents listed above are reviewed annually unless specifically noted within a document.

Downloads

• Water Safety Policy C01 2025.pdf

Last updated 06:13 on 4 June 2025