A morning of nautical circuits
Who needs circuit training when you have nautical circuits instead? It was a beautiful, sunny day to learn more about safety and boat related things. These sessions are run regularly helping rowing members to keep up to date with safety information ensuring them, their fellow crew members and the boat come home safe and sound every time we launch.
In the radio section everyone learnt about the use of radios including the channel we use for communication, the difference between using a radio and a mobile and the language used when making a call. It also covered where the radios are stored and how it can be checked if they are charging correctly along with mayday protocols.
We were then tied up in knots as we learnt about how to tie a figure of eight and a bowline. We also looked at the hitches of a clove hitch and a round turn and 2 half hitches. We also learnt their uses relative to skiff rowing.
There were 2 sections directly involved with the boat. The first was how to prepare the boat for rowing. This included where everything is stored in the boathouse and where it is therefore returned to. The other was getting the boat ready for towing. This covered attaching the ratchet strap securely and how to connect the boat to the tow bar safely.
The final section was looking at the contents of the black safety bag that accompanies us on every trip and contains items such as woolly hats and space blankets for warmth, aspirin and other medical items and more.
The session finished with a light hearted quiz, drinks and cakes. This included questions to test our new found knowledge but also fun questions such as Captain Pugwashes boat. Very few remembered it was the Black pig!! The prize of an easter egg went to the winner.