Version control: Original 1986 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2015
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The teacher/instructor must have an Instructors Certificate (TL 7) of the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) or equivalent qualification and experience.
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and emergency care.
Supervision
A minimum of two adult supervisors, one of whom must be a teacher, with appropriate expertise and qualifications must be present at all times. All supervisors must have the expertise and competencies to implement safety procedures. The supervising teacher to student ratio must not exceed 1:20.
The number of boards in the water at any one time must not exceed ten (10). Principals and organising teachers should take into account such factors as age, experience and maturity of the students, environmental concerns and experience of the adult supervisors when arranging supervision.
Where an adult other than a teacher is engaged to provide instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Equipment
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) of Standards Australia specifications must be worn at all times.
Most boards have a rather abrasive surface and beginners spend considerable time dragging themselves onto the board. Brief swimming costumes and clothing which offers little or no protection to the abdominal area should be avoided. Elbows and knees are also affected in this regard and can be protected by long sleeved T-shirts or full wetsuits.
Wetsuits should be worn in cold weather.
Boards, rigs and sails must be of an approved design.
Whenever a sailing club or commercial sailing school is being used, supervising staff must check to ensure that a suitably equipped rescue boat (motorised) is available.
Sailboards may be owned by a local club or private person. They must all have marine liability insurance cover.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.
Venues
Any enclosed waters may be suitable including lakes, harbours, estuaries, rivers and dams. If the facilities of a sailing centre are not used, care should be exercised in selecting a venue and consideration given to the following:
- The teacher-in-charge or the instructor must have current knowledge of the area to be used and be certain of its suitability for the program and the group.
- The prevailing wind direction should generally be on-shore or cross-shore.
- On-shore amenities provide weather shelter, student changing and showering facilities, rigging area and emergency services.
- Tide and current.
- Safe emergency landing areas which have a sand bottom with no sudden drops, shallow areas, rocks or weeds and no wharves or jetties
water traffic, moored boats and shipping lanes.
The teacher-in-charge must check with the Waterways Authority as to whether there are any restrictions on the use of the location chosen.
Safety
Students must be briefed in regard to all relevant safety issues and emergency procedures.
If schools are conducting their own sailing program they should obtain a Waterways Authority Aquatic Licence. If using a sailing club or commercial sailing school they should sight this licence.
Care needs to be taken when organising sailing activities to avoid extreme weather conditions, including hot, cold and wet. It is incumbent on the teacher to check the weather forecast to determine that conditions are acceptable for the duration of the activity.
Students must have reached a level of swimming competency appropriate to the demands of the activity at the selected locations. Appointed qualified leaders/instructors will determine necessary competency prior to the activity.
Students should be encouraged to obtain the AYF Elementary Certificate in sailboarding during the time in which they participate in the sport.
A roll check is to be made every time students enter and leave the water.
Students must be instructed to stay with their board when in difficulty and signal or wait for assistance or help if necessary.
Sailboarding must not proceed in winds in excess of twenty (20) knots for experienced students and ten (10) knots for beginners.
All sailboards used must meet the safety requirements as specified by the AYF Safety Regulations: Off the Beach Yachts for dinghies, catamarans and sailboards.
Students must be instructed in the basic Rules of the Road as set out by the Waterways Authority before being allowed onto the water.
A suitably equipped rescue boat (motorised) with an experienced licensed operator (TL3 National Power Boat and Rescue Boat Certificate) must be available.