Early AM training for Richards Bay:

Picture Mike Patterson. Picture Mike Patterson.On the weekend Richards Bay initiated two sets of training. On Sunday our crew met at the station at 04h30 in the morning so that our Coxswains could get some night hour training and the crew could do some coastal familiarization. At night that would mean being able to identify light-houses, getting used to relying on your GPS and information that the base would pass on to the boat.It also allows the crew to be out of their comfort zone in a controlled situation... and demonstrates to the new crew the importance of knowing your boat and where everything is stored. In the dark you have to know exactly where everything is for split second timing. Photo by Cornel du Toit.The second portion of our training was for the crew being exposed to our 4m rescue boat Rotary Ann. The crew were taken through basic safety and the roles of the Coxswain and crew on the boat. The training took place off Pelican Island opposite our station on the seaward side but within the confines of the harbour.This allowed the crew to become familiar with handling the tiller arm, basic surf launching, beaching and manoevring the boat in small surf. Once the crew had mastered this and know the capabilities of the boat and become more confident the training will move to more advanced surf off our main coastline. David briefing the crew - Ernst, Hillegard, Werner and Norman Ernst getting ready to launch with Norman and David as crew. Crew have to be able to get themselves back into the boat in case they fall out.