Sailing
RAFSA Executive Committee
Sqn Ldr Brian Sadler FBIPP RAF
Rear Commodore (Safety)
RAF Marham
Kings Lynn
Norfolk
PE33 9NP
GTN: 95951 6608
BT: 01760 337261 Ext 6608
Date: 3 Dec 07
ANNUAL REPORT – SAFETY DIVISION (SD)
1.
The SD has met all of its standing objectives. With 12 service events undertaken of the
original 17 planned, the SD had a busy sailing season this year. Of the remaining 5 events, 4 did
not require safety cover and 1 was cancelled. In addition to the formal RAFSA events, the
division once again provided personnel and safety cover for the ATC at their annual camp held
at Browndown on the Solent during the school summer holiday period. This was another
particularly successful event where 8 RAFSA SD members provided a range of sailing
opportunities and safety cover. The division also supported for a number of national events that
provided excellent training opportunities for our crews to gain valuable experience and provided
the opportunity for RAFSA to ‘fly the flag’ for the RAF. An extract of the events undertaken
from the RFSA website can be seen at Annex A. Whilst cover was provided for all of the events
requested, and all of the required training was provided for the SD Crews, training for the wider
RAF again suffered as a direct result of OOA deployments and a general lack of available safety
boat crews to run the courses. The division did mount 2 training courses for its own crews and a
valuable advanced night exercise out of the River Deben in late November. Further training for
new crewmembers for the 2008 season is planned for March 2008.
TRAINING
3.
With a new SNCO (Sgt Neil Cottis) recruited to the team to act as the training
coordinator it is hoped to that the division will be able to run a variety of Level 2, intermediate
and advanced courses over the 2008 season. This will however, be subject to sufficient crews
being released form their primary task after planned safety cover has been accounted for. The
outline planned training programme during the coming season as detailed below:
Level 2
March (RAFSA Crews only)
April
June
Aug
Safety Boat
March (RAFSA Crews only)
Intermediate
September and October
Advanced
October and November
MAINTENACE
1
4.
Despite a busy primary task WO Mason has continued to provide support to the RAFSA
Safety fleet. WO Mason has once again provided outstanding engineering support to all 3
RAFSA RIBs with the majority the work being undertaken in his own time, this included a
rewire of the No 1 RHIB and extensive work on the fuel systems of all 3 RHIBs following a
major fuel contamination issue at Rutland water. This work has probably saved RAFSA a
significant sum of money.
SUMMARY
12.
During the 2008 season the RAFSA safety division has continued to provide high
quality, well trained safety support to the dinghy and windsurfing divisions. In addition, the
division has raised the profile of the RAF and RAFSA particularly among the young with its
involvement with the ATC and the NSSA National championships. I am confident that with
judicious planning between the relevant RC’s, to avoid conflicting events, and the use of the new
RAFSA Web site, that we will be able to provide the appropriate level of safety support and
powerboat training for the forthcoming sailing season.
Original Signed
B SADLER
Sqn Ldr
RC (S)
95951 Ext 6608
Annex:
A.
Extract from the RAFSA Web Site - Safety Events
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