sea scout book

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Sea Scout

Book


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Sea Scout

HandbookThanks to all contributors

The national sea Scout team

Tommy Myler

Brian Gaule

John McKevitt

Pauline Lucas

Tom McMullen

Special thanks to

Zef Klinkerberg

Gerry Hickey

Brian O'Daly

Eoghan Lavelle Jimmy Myler

Eugene Mc Hugh

Tommy Taylor

Editors/Proong

Niall McCooey

Cian O'Gradaigh

Mike McKillen

Layout/design Fiona Sullivan

Graphics

Marie Louise Fitzpatrick

Eoghan Lavelle

Cian O'Gradaigh

Gerry Hickey

Barry Semple

Technicla support Aaron Bohan

Stephen Taylor


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ContentsSea Scouting Ireland 5

Progressive Badge Scheme 7

Attainment badges 8

Scout Promise 9

History of Scouting 10

Scout Law 12Bullying 14

Spirituality in Scouting 14

Scout Motto 15

Structure of Troop 16

Sea Scout Uniform 18

Drill 19

Sign, Salute & handshake 20

Investiture 22

Nautical traditions 23

Flags 25

Ropework 28

Pioneering 32

Heaving a line 36

First aid 37

Articial respiration 46

Swimming 48

Lifejackets and Bouyancy Aids 50

Safety Aoat 52

Clothing for water activities 54

Types of rowing craft 55

Boat construction 56

Parts of a boat 57

Getting into a small boat 58

Rowing - dinghy 59

Rowing - Boat drill 60

Sailing 63

Capsize drill 70

Powerboating 72

Types of craft 79

Canoeing 80

Rafting 86

Boat maintenance 88

Anchoring 90

Tides and currents 92

Distress Signals 94

Buoyage 97

Rules of the road 100

Marine VHF 102

Weather forecasts 105

Maps 109

Compass 112

Walking a bearing 114

The sky at night 115

Identifying a feature 116

Cross bearings 117

Route planning 118

Navigation techniques 120Navigation using a map 121

Sending for help 122

Inland waterway navigation 124

Marine Compass 126

Costal Navigation 128

The environment 131

Day Hike gear 133

Kit List 135

Personal Clothing 136Layered approach 137

Backpacks 138

Equipment 139

Hiking Boots 140

Group equipment 141

Hike Tents 142

Lightweight stoves 143

Backpackers menu 144

Emergency rations 145

Personal gear 146Group equipment 147

Choose a campsite 148

Tents 149

Pitching your tent 150

Setting up camp 151

Altar res 152

Lighting a re 153

Fires 154

Axe and saw 155

Clasp knife 156

Cooking 157

Menus and camp costs 158

Backwoods cooking 159

Bivouacs 160

Eco camping 161

Striking Camp 162

Fitness 163

Your health 164

Your Body 165

Nautical sea terms 166

Progressive badge scheme 168


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Welcome Aboard:

Welcome abroad to the challenge

and adventure of Sea Scouting, a pro-gramme combining the tradition of thepast with the technology of the future.

Opportunity for Challenge &

Adventure

Sea scouting is involved in a wide range

of activities, some are water-based oth-er are shore-based and some are evena combination of shore and water. ASea Scout should be amphibious.When getting out on the water, SeaScouts can use a variety of craft:- fromrafts, powerboats, and canoes to largesailing yachts. But no matter how you

get aoat, youll discover a thrill that youjust cant get anywhere else.

The outdoors is no place for the unwaryand the Scout motto, Be Prepared, isseriously practiced here. The challengeis being able to take your vessel from

point A to point B, while being readyfor whatever you may encounter alongthe way. This is what makes Scoutinggreat.

Its not just about activities such ascamping, sailing, hiking and canoeing,its about developing in you the skills

such as teamwork, decision making,problem solving, leadership and selfreliance.

Sea Scouting Ireland

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Opportunity for Friendship:

Even if you know nothing about sur-

viving the Great Outdoors, dont worryyou will. Youll have a chance to grow andshare your experiences with others. Youcan meet other Scouts at local, regional,national or inter-national events.

Opportunity for Service:

Scouting has been of service to commu-nities across the world. Service can beexpressed in individual good turns or inorganised projects involving your Watchor the whole Troop. In rescues at sea orfacing emergencies on shore, Scoutshave saved lives and property.

Opportunity for Leadership:

Sea Scout programmes are plannedand run by the youth members, withthe support of adult Leaders. As beinga member of a boats crew teaches youteamwork, so does being a member of aWatch. As you gain experience you will

be given the opportunity to contribute tothe leadership of the Watch and Troop.The leadership skills you learn in Scout-ing will last your lifetime.


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Opportunity for Advancement:

In Scouting, you are acknowledged for

the things you learn and do. The SeaScout progressive training programmerewards the effort you put into it andnot necessarily whether you get it rightor wrong. Scouting believes in a Do-ing your best approach. Each level ofadvancement marks your growth as a

Scout and a potential leader. The pin-nacle of the progressive scheme isthe Mariner badge, the highest SeaScouting award.

Sea Scoutings Traditions:

Seafaring has traditions that go backhundreds of years. Sea Scouting hasadapted these traditions to its pro-grammes and in the process has cre-ated a tradition of its own. In this book,you will see names and phrases that arenot used in Lands-person language.These terms and practices continue toexist because they have a purpose.

As a Sea Scout, you become part ofthat tradition and you get to play yourpart in shaping that tradition for futureSea Scouts.

Your Duties as a Sea Scout:

When you become a member, take part

in the activities. Dedicate yourself to theideals of Scouting by trying to live up tothe Scout Promise and Law, theyll keepyou on the right course.

Participate wholeheartedly in themeetings and activities. Dont be afraid

to offer suggestions. The Troops pro-gramme is based on your needs anddesires as well as those of the othermembers. Voice your opinion on whoyour Watch Leader should be, but do itwith consideration. Then give the WatchLeader your full support.

Your Troop operates on a budget. Payyour dues and lend a hand when there isneed to earn funds. And dont hesi-tate to ask your Skipper for help whenyou need it. He or She is there to seethat you dont go too far off course.

How to Join:To join you must be 11 years of ageor in some Troops 12 years of age. Youcan stay in Sea Scouting until you are17 years of age or again some Troopsonly up until 16 years old when you canmove on to Ventures or become an in-structor. Sea Scouting is for everyone.

Tell your friends!

Sea Scouting Ireland

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Progressive Badge Scheme

The rst stage for the training schemein Sea Scouts is the MembershipBadge. This is followed by the SeaScout Badge which is aimed at 11-13 year olds. The Boatman Badge issuitable for 13-14 year olds and theCoxswain Badge for 14/16 year olds.

The Mariner Badge is aimed at WLsand Venture Scouts.

1. Membership Badge - Investiture2. Sea Scout Badge - Finding your

Way in Sea Scouting.3. Boatman Badge - Guided to Self

Reliance.

4. Coxswain Badge - Supportingthe Team.

5. Mariner Badge - Leading theTeam.

MEMBERSHIP BOATMAN

SEA SCOUT COXWAIN

MARINER

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Attainment Badges

As you make your way through Scouting,you have the opportunity to gain some fur-ther specialised badges called AttainmentBadges. The majority of the tasks forthese badges is contained in the trainingscheme and the additional tasks are eas-ily achievable with a bit more effort. We

have used the term Attainment Badgesbecause it means, to gain by effort. Thisis the type of Sea Scouting we are trying toencourage, Sea Scouts that Try to do theirBest and not always just get the right an-swer. Sometimes to get it wrong teachesus more than getting it right.

CAMP SKILLS

CYCLING

ROWING

HIKING

SAILING

SWIMMING

CAMPING

FIRST-AID

CANOEING

RAFTING

BACKWOODS

POWER BOATING

EXPEDITION

SURVIVAL

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Being a Scout brings with it responsi-

bilities. One of these is to live up to the

Scout Promise. The Promise and Law is

very important to Scouting as it sums up

what a Scout should be. The Promise

is a personal commitment by you to do

the best you can.

On my honour I Promisethat I will do my best,

To do my duty to God

and to my Country,

To help other people

and to keep the Scout Law.

Geallaim dar monr,

Mo dhcheall a dhanamh,

Mo dhualgas do mo Dhia

agus mo thr a chomhlon-

adh,

Cabhr le daoine eile

Agus dl na nGasga achoimead

On my honour I Promise that I will

do my best,

You are making a personal commitment

to the Best of your ability, not to an-

yone elses best. Every Scout is anindividual and your best is a personal

challenge.

Scout Promise

To do my duty to God and to my

Country, Observe your religious beliefs

and above all respect those of others.

Our Country provides us with clothing,food, employment, education, healthcare, housing, etc. For example we cando our duty by observing and obeyinglaws and those who enforce them, the

Gardai. What would the Country be likeif there were no laws, imagine if it wasoptional which side of the road you driveon, everybody trying to go in differentdirections at the same time?

Respect our Country pollution, litter,and the environment. Respect the Na-

tional ag, respect for other Countriesand their customs and cultures.

To help other people and to keep the

Scout law.

As you go through your day to day life,try to help someone in whatever way

you can. Sometimes a small bit of helpcan be of great benet to the person inneed of help.

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In Mafeking he discovered that given

trust and some training boys, could not

only be very useful but also enjoyed

being useful.

In August 1907 he invited some boys to

camp on Brownsea Island, Poole har-

bour. Here the boys camped (unu-

sual in those days) and were introduced

to such things as signalling, tracking,

knotting and rst aid.

Following the success of the camp BP

published Scouting for Boys in 1908,

and to his surprise thousands of boysspontaneously formed themselves into

Scout Patrols, who then sought adult

leaders to help them. In this unique

way the Scout movement began. It is

important to note that it was the boys

themselves that made Scouting hap-pen; they were the organisers.

Scout Patrols and Troops sprang up

in Ireland almost as soon as they did

in England and in 1908 Scout Troops

were formed in Dublin, Dundalk andWicklow, some of these early Troops

are still in existence today.

History of Scouting

Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden-

Powell, known as BP, founded

Scouting in 1907. BP was born on

22ndFebruary 1857, he enjoyed playing

soccer, the piano, drawing and painting,

acting, sailing and generally loving anoutdoor life.

When BP left school he joined the

army and during the Boer War (1899

1901) he became a popular hero

when he defended the little town ofMafeking for 217 days against a much

larger Boer army.

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History of Scouting

From the earliest times

some Scout Groups in-cluded boating in their pro-

grammes, and B.P. realised

that this was a very use-

ful programme activity. In

Ireland the First Sea Scout

Troops were registered in

l912. In l914 the rst SeaScout Regatta was held,

consisting of rowing

and swimming races.

The oldest Sea Scout Trophy in Ireland

- The Wood-Latimer Cup was competed

for in that rst Regatta and remained thepremier trophy in the Sea Scout Annual

Rowing Regatta until it was replaced

in 2000.

The most prestigious trophy in Sea

Scouting is The Fry Cup - this was rst

presented in 1918 for a Seamanshipcompetition, which also has continued

to the present day.

Sea Scouts also participate in the

Smythe Cup, a camping skills compe-

tition started in 1916.

History of Scouting

International

Scouting is an international movementwith over 25 million members in over150 countries. It is the worlds largestyouth movement. Scouts gather every

four years at the World Jamboree, this iswhere Scouts from all over the world cometogether to camp and share experiences.Irish Scouts have been at every worldJamboree since the rst one in Olympiain 1920.

Important Dates in Scouting

1857 Birth of BP1907 Camp at Brownsea Island1908 First Scouts in Ireland1912 First Sea Scouts1916 First Cub Scouts1918 First Rover Scouts1929 Foundation of CBSI

1948 Boys Scouts of Ireland formed1976 First Girls join SAI2002 New Sea Scout programme

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1. A Scout is to be trusted. This isone of the most important facts about

a good Scout; you can be trusted tospeak the truth and to carry out any

job to the best of your ability.

2. A Scout is loyal. Loyalty is faith-fulness and a form of honour. You willnot let people down; they can rely onyou. When you become a member of

a Watch, your Watch will rely on youand you will rely on them.

3. A Scout is friendly and

Considerate. There is a lot to beinga true friend, it means giving and notonly taking, discussing and not argu-ing, caring for other people and for

all living creatures. Being consideratemeans thinking of others before your-self and offering help before beingasked.

Scout Law

4. A Scout is a brother/sister to

all Scouts. As you grow older you

will get more chances to meet other

Scouts. You should start by being

real friends with the Scouts in your

own Troop and other Scouts in your

District. This friendship should be

regardless of what Troop they belong

to, what church they attend, or it they

are rich or poor. Perhaps you will get

the opportunity to attend a Jamboree

and meet Scouts from other Countries

they will speak different languages,

some will be different colours from

you, but they are all Scouts and

therefore your friend. As a Scout you

have more the 25 million brother and

sisters in more than 150 Countries.

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Scout Law

5. A Scout has courage in all difcul-

ties. You have special responsibilityto be courageous because throughyour Scout training you will learn howto cope with different emergencies.There is also the mental and spiritualcourage, the courage to stand by andstand up for what you believe to beright. The courage needed to live by

the Scout Promise and Law.

6. A Scout makes good use of his/hertime and is careful of possessionsand property. Time wasted is timelost forever, but making use of yourtime means dividing your time so thatyou live life to the full. If you are one ofthose people who complain about be-ing bored, now is the time to change,stop and look around you, therealways are things to do you are incontrol of your life. Be careful not tobe selsh, make time for other people.

Being careful of possessions includesother peoples as well as your own.Never forget that every material thingaround you had to be paid for andmade by someone. Its important torealise now that anything destroyed ordamaged will effect someone. Thinkhow you would feel to nd some ofyour belongings damaged?

7. A Scout has respect for him/her self and for others.. Self respectfor a Scout means living up to the ide-als set in the rst six Scout Laws, butalso you must keep yourself clean,healthy and strong in body and mind.Respect for others springs from re-spect for yourself; you need to be ableto respect yourself before you can re-spect others. You must respect othersfor their beliefs, minds, and opinions,you dont have to agree but you mustaccept their right to those views.

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Sometimes Scouts do or say things toother Scouts that they think are fun but

it is very easy to go too far.

If the other Scout isnt having fun thenthis is bullying. Think for yourself howyou would feel if it was the other wayaround, so dont do anything to othersthat you would not like to have doneto yourself.

Some of the activities that are bullyingare:- Excessive slagging Name calling to give offence Exclusion or isolation Being over-physical Picking on someone Threatening behaviour

Initiation activities

Bullying

If you are being bullied, or you thinksomeone in your Troop or Patrol is be-

ing bullied you should try to stop it.Maybe they bullies dont know they arecausing hurt and they will be glad to beput right. If they dont listen to you thenyou should tell someone else and thebest person to tell is your Watch Leaderor your Skipper.

If anyone says or does anythingwhich makes you feel uncomfortable,you should tell your Scout Leader orsomeone you trust.

Remember the Scout Law, A Scout isfriendly and considerate and a Scouthas respect for self and others andbullying is denitely not respectful orconsiderate.

Scouting is open to anyone willing tomake the Promise, which includesa Duty to God, Scouts does not

identify itself with any one religion.Each member has to get to a stateof understanding their own religiousbeliefs and respecting the beliefs ofothers.

In Scouts, you will experienceSpirituality by being encouraged to: -

Develop an inner discipline (Selfdiscipline)

Be involved in group activities(Watches & Troop)

Help to foster a more tolerant andcaring society (Promise & Law)

Discover the need for Prayer /

Worship, both personal and shared

Spirituality is what is within us andrelates to our needs other than ourphysical/material needs. It growswithin us as we become aware of thewonders of nature and the need toprotect our environment.

It helps us come to a deeperknowledge and understanding of ourcommunity and self.

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Spiritual in Scouting


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Scout Motto

The Scout motto is Be PreparedorB Ullamh,if you go through Scout-ing and follow these two simple words

you will survive all that is thrown at

you.

For example:- If you go on a hikeand it starts raining but you have raingear then you are prepared and wontget wet!

If you are in a powerboat and yourpropeller fouls, but you have a set of

oars then you are prepared and you

can row home!

These examples all seem so easy andcommon-sense to overcome but if youhad not come prepared to overcomethem, then how difcult could each

situation have become: - hypothermia,collision or drowning?

Irish Marine Emergency Service

(IMES)

There are fifty Coast Guard Units

around the coast with about 600volunteers and 65 full time staff.

The men and women of the Coast

Guard are responsible for Marine

Emergency management including

Search and Rescue, Cliff Rescue,

Pollution Control, Salvage and Wreck,

Safety Awareness and the provision of

a Commercial Radio Communications

Service.

As well as Rescue vehicles and

support boats the Coast Guard

operates two Sikorsky S61N SAR

helicopters, one each from Shannon

and Dublin. It also co-ordinates the

activities of the RNLI, the CommunityInshore Rescue Services and the two

Air Corps SAR helicopters based in

Waterford and Finner in Donegal.

All of these activities are coordi-

nated form MRCC (Maritime Rescue

Co- ordination Centre) in Dublin.

If you see someone in difculty at sea

you should contact the Coast Guard by

dialing 999, or 112 from your mobile

phone.

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The Sea Scout Troop

The Sea Scout Troop caters for young

people whose ages range from 11 to17 years old and is led by an adult SeaScout Leader and Assistant(s). Troopshave regular weekly meetings, outdooractivities such as hiking and boating,and work sessions for boats and equip-ment maintenance.

A Troop is divided into a number ofWatches; otherwise it is too big to getthings done fairly. The Troop is a way tobring a number of Watches together sothat the Sea Scout Leader can sup-port and help as many Watches aspossible. One Watch will be On Dutyeach week being responsible for var-

ious routine duties of the Troop

The Sea Scout Watch

The Watch is what makes Scoutinghappen, it is made up of about 6 to8 Sea Scouts and is led by a WatchLeader (WL), with an Assistant WatchLeader (AWL). Each Watch has anautical name, such as Port Watch orStarboard Watch. You, your WL andthe other members of your Watch plantogether, learn together and worktogether to make things happen. Itseasier for you to be part of a Watchbecause it is a small unit and every

member will have something to do. Ifyoure going on a camp, d

Structure of Troop

the workload is divided fairly acrossthe Watch, for example: - buying food

and packing the camping equipment.While on camp the work is also fairlydivided, for example: - cooking, wash-ing up, chopping wood, getting water,etc. As you can see the Watch isthe ideal unit to get out there and dothings.

The Watch Leader

The Watch Leader (WL) is elected bythe Watch or appointed by the WatchLeader council (WLC). The WL isthe person who is going to help youthrough your time as a Sea Scout, ifyou have any questions or unsure of

anything this is the person to ask.The role of the WL is: - Plan and lead Watch meetings

and activities. Keep the Watch members in

formed. Assign tasks to Watch members in

a fair way. Represent the Watch at the WLC. Train the members of the Watch.

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The Sea Scout Leader

The Sea Scout leader is usually called

the skipper and the assistants mayhave other nautical names such asMate or Boatswain.

The Watch Leaders Council

The Watch Leaders of the Troop meettogether as the Watch Leaders Council

(WLC). If the Troop has only two orthree Watches, the Assistant WatchLeaders may also attend. The WLChas the responsibility of running theTroop; planning the programme andorganising the activities.

.

Structure of Troop

The role of the Sea Scout leader is toprovide help and advice.

At the WLC, your WL should representthe views of your Watch. If you wantsomething changed or want to dosomething new, you should discuss itin your Watch and your WL will bring itup at the WLC.

The Sea Scout Den

The place where the indoor meetingstake place is called The Den. The largemeeting area is called the Maindeck.

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Sea Scout Uniform

The Sea Scout uniform is a symbol of

the fraternity of Scouting and the Scout-

ing way of life. These are principles that

you can be proud of. Of course the mere

wearing of the uniform will not give you

these qualities, but the very fact that

you wear one should keep you aware

of what is expected.

It is a privilege to wear the Sea Scout

uniform, but it is also a responsibility.

Anything you do while wearing it reects

upon all the Sea Scouts. So it becomes

your responsibility to keep your uniform

correct, clean and cared for, with badg-

es correctly and rmly sewn on.

Sea Scouts wear a navy-blue jersey

with SEA SCOUTS or GASOGA

MARAembroidered across the chest.

Below the embroidered letters, the

Membership Badge is worn on the left

and the World Badge on the right. The

Ireland badge (optional) is worn above

the letters on the right, and the Charge

Certicate Badge(s), on the left.

The Scout belt is worn outside the

jersey, and carries a clasp knife on the

left and a whistle on the right . A white

lanyard is worn around the neck and is

attached to the knife at the belt. Trou-

sers are navy blue. Socks and shoes

are black.

The Sea Scout cap (Troop optional) has

a white top and no peak. A tally band

is worn around the brim lettered SEA

SCOUTS or GASOGA MARA. The

tally band is tied with a bow on the left

side, or sewn at the back and left as two

tails, depending on Troop custom.

Informal wear

When semi-formality is desirable but

full uniform may not be appropriate,

uniform T-shirts or Sweat shirts are

often used. Many Troops have their

own for wear at regattas, camps, and

other activities. These may be worn

with a neckerchief.

TIP

16

When outdoors on activities wear

your neckerchief. It will help to keepthe sun off your neck


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Sea Scout Uniform

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Membership badge

Progress badge

Special event badge

Group Name

County Badge

Attainment

badges

World Badge

Chief Scout Award

Leader stripes

Watch Colours

Sionnach Badge

Charge Certicate Badge


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The DrillAt Ease

Standing up straight, hands held behindyour lower back and feet slightly apart.

Alert

Standing up straight, hands down by yoursides, and feet together. You should befacing forward and quietly waiting for thenext instruction. To move from At Easeto Alert you move the left foot.

Right turn or Left turn

Standing at alert at the command turnsmoothly ninety degrees to the left orright and nish standing at Alert.

About Turn

Standing at alert at the command turn

smoothly one hundred and eighty de-grees to the right (to face the oppositedirection) and nish up at Alert.

Fall In

Gather together with your Watch inline, standing At Ease. Wait quietly forthe next instruction.

DismissUsually given at the end of a meetingor gathering. Standing at Alert atthe command, turn right, salute and

Drill

Scouting is an active outdoor movement but there are times when some formality andceremony is used. Ceremonies usually involve some simple drill, and the orders will

be given by the Skipper or another Leader. Most Sea Scout meetings and events(eg. Regattas, competitions, prize givings etc.) will start with Fall In and nish withDismiss. Not all ceremonies are the same in every Troop, and the traditions of yourTroop may be slightly different to the descriptions given below.

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Sign, Salute & Handshake

This African Chief held his spear inhis right hand and his shield in his left

hand, when he greeted someone, hewould put down his shield and shakehands with the left hand. This showedtrust.

So when Scouts shake hands withtheir left hand they also are trustingthat the other people are not going to

attack them. It is only through trust thatfriendships can grow.

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The Scout Sign and Salute

The Scout sign and salute is made

standing at attention and by using theright hand. The sign and salute are com-mon to Scouting movements all over theworld. The three ngers represent thethree parts of the Promise rememberwe promised to do our best to:1. Do our duty to God and our Coun-

try.2. To help other people3.To keep the Scout Law.

In the salute the tips of thethree ngers are broughtsmartly to the right temple(in front of the ear). When

making the sign the handis only brought up to aboutshoulder height. The signis always used duringinvestiture and at anyother time the Promiseis repeated.

The Scout Handshake

Scouts throughout the world shakehands with their left hand, this hand-shake is a sign of trust, introduced byour founder BP. The story is that anAfrican Chief once greeted BP by theuse of the left handshake: -


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Investiture

One of the most important ceremonies in Scouting is the Investiture Ceremony, wherenew Scouts rst make the Scout Promise. When you have completed the training for

the Membership Badge, arrangements will be made for your investiture. Each Troophas its own traditions for this ceremony, and may include all or most of the following.

The Troop Falls in, often in horse-shoe formation, with the WLs in front of theirWatches, and the Leaders at the open end of the horseshoe. The Skipper calls theTroop to Alert and a colour party (ag bearer and 2 escorts) march in with the Troopag.

Your WL will bring you, and other new Scouts in your Watch, forward to the Skipper,who will formally ask if you wish to become a Scout and if you are ready to make theScout Promise. When you answer yes, the ag will be lowered in front of you, onwhich you put your left hand and make the Scout Sign with the right hand. Repeatthe Scout Promise after the Skipper. If you have been in the Cub Scouts, you willalready have your Group scarf; if not it will be presented to you now, together withyour rst set of badges. The Skipper will shake hands with you and welcome you asa Sea Scout to the Worldwide Association of Scouting. You salute the Skipper, aboutturn and return to your Watch.

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Nautical Traditions

Boatswains Call

The Boatswains Call is a whistle used

for passing orders on ships. SomeTroops use it regularly to maintain mar-itime tradition. There are 2 notes - lowand high. The low note is the ordinarynote obtained by blowing the call withthe hand open and the high note isobtained by closing the ngers aroundthe buoy but not too tightly.

The call is the name of the instrumentand a pipe is the sound it makes. Thefollowing pipes are the main ones likely

to be used in Sea Scouting:-

Stand by- a warning, followed by averbal order - e.g. Troop, fall inThe Still- to obtain silence, to stopactivity temporarily or as the flag israised or lowered.Carry on - may follow the Still or

the Stand by, meaning resume normalactivity.The Side - formal salute, welcomingan important visitor on board.

Ships Time

The traditional method of indicating

time on a ship is by the sounding ofa bell. The day is divided into sevenwatches of four hours each, except thetwo dog watches which are two hourseach. This is to give an uneven numberof watches so that the crew is on at dif-ferent times each day.

Middle watch 0000 - 0400Morning watch 0400 - 0800Forenoon watch 0800 - 1200Afternoon watch 1200 - 1600First dog watch 1600 - 1800Second dog watch 1800 - 2000First watch 2000 - 2400

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Nautical Traditions

Lead Line

This is a long line with a lead weight on

the end, used for centuries to measurethe depth of water. The hand lead-linemeasured depths to 20 fathoms (1 Fath-om = 6 feet) and was marked at 2, 3, 5,7, 10, 13, 15, 17 and 20 fathoms.

Materials such as leather strips, piecesof white duck, red bunting, blue serge

etc. were used as marks, the differ-ent materials being easy to identify inthe dark by feel. The marked fathomswere called marks and the interveningfathoms deeps.

A boats lead line usually measuredabout 3 fathoms and was marked in

feet and fathoms by knots. If you havea leadline in your troop it will probablybe about 5 to 6 meters long, markedwith knots. When using a lead line ina moving boat, remember to swing theline and throw it ahead of the boat sothat the weight is on the bottom whenthe line is vertical. You can easily tell

from the feel of the line when it is onthe bottom. Note the depth from themarks on the line. If the water is shallowenough, an easy way to nd the depthis to use an oar.

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We should be proud of our National Flagand treat it with respect as the symbolof our Country. We must also showthe same respect to the ags of otherCountries.

A National Flag at sea is called an En-sign. In some Countries the Ensign maybe different to the National Flag. TheEnsign of Ireland is the Tricolour, thesame as the National Flag on land. Aspecial Ensign may be own in place ofthe National Flag - both should not beown together in the same vessel. Youmay use the Scout special ensign on aag mast, but it should never be carriedin a parade.

Flags

Before raising or

lowering, check the ag

and the halyards.

TIP

IRISH FLAG

SPECIAL ENSIGN

MAST

YARDARM

GAFF

STARBOARDPORT

Care of a Flag

A ag should not be allowed to touchthe ground, trail in water or becomeentangled in trees or other obstacles.When not in use, the ag should befolded and put away. The usual methodis to fold it into a reasonable small rec-

tangle and then roll it up.Some Troops may fold the flag intoquarters and then fold it into a smalltriangle.

In a nautical ag mast with a gaff,the place of honour is the peak of thegaff and not the masthead. The En-sign is always own from the peak ofthe gaff. The Scout Pennant is ownfrom the masthead. Other ags, suchas the Sea Scout ag, a troop ag orhe pennant of the Duty Watch, may beown from the horizontal yardarm, the

starboard yardarm taking precend-ence over the port yardarm.

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Flags

1.

2.

3.

4.

Be own in the open only betweensunrise and sunset.Be hoisted free and never brokenfrom mast head.When hoisting it should be raisedquickly, but smoothly, to the mast-head (ordinary agpole) or the peakof the gaff (nautical ag mast), andthe top corner of the hoist shouldbe close up.It should be lowered slowly andsmoothly.

Half Mast

The ag is own at halfmast as a signof respect for the dead. It is rst hoistedclose-up an then lowered slowly to thehalf mast position. In the evening, theag should be hoisted close-up beforebeing lowered completely.

Hoisting the National Flag

When the ag is being raised or low-

ered, Scouts in uniform should come toalert and salute. If Scouts are presentand formally Fell In, they should bebrought to alert and only the Leadersshould salute.

The National Flag Ensign should:

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Flags

When aoat, the Ensign should be ownfrom the Ensign Staff astern, which is

the place of honour. Sometimes a largeEnsign is worn at the Ensign staff whenthe vessel is anchored or moored, andis replaced by a smaller Ensign at thepeak of the gaff when under way. Avessel under sail may wear the Ensignat the peak of the gaff (mizzen gaff ifmore than one mast). If the vessel is

Bermuda rigged, the Ensign may beown from a point two thirds way upthe leach of the sail, from the backstayor the Ensign staff.

Pennant

Boats in Scout use should y the ScoutPennant from the masthead. A Troop

or association ag may be own froma yard arm in a single masted vessel orfrom the mizzen masthead in a ketchor yawl.

Courtesy Flag

When visiting a foreign port a shipusually y the ag of the country being

visited at the foremasthead, or fromthe starboard yardarm. This is calleda courtesy ag.

House Flag

In merchant ships, the House Flag(Company ag) is usually own fromthe main masthead.

Naval Vessels

Naval vessesls in commission y a long,

narrow Commissioning Pennant fromthe masthead, and when at anchor ormoored, a Jack from the jackstaff inthe bow. The Irish Naval Jack is greenwith a gold harp.

Flag up and ag down

Meetings and events may start and nishwith a simple ag break ceremony. TheTroop is called to Alert by the Skipper,who then gives the order Colours. TheDuty WL steps forward and hoists theEnsign. The Leaders salute as the ag

is raised. The Duty WL secures the hal-yard, takes a step back, salutes the agand returns to position If other ags areused in addition to the Ensign (eg. Scoutpennant, Troop ag or Duty Watch pen-nant) they should be hoisted together byother members of the Duty Watch.

For ag down, the reverse of the abovehappens, except that the person loweringthe ag, after securing the halyard, returnsto position without saluting.

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There are thousands of individual knotsbut you only need to know a few.

All knotting may be summed up

under three headings:-

A Hitch- Hitches are knots that xa piece of rope onto somethingelse. A Bend- Bendsare knots that join

two pieces of rope together. A knot is anything other that a bendor hitch

Reef Knot

Uses:- The Reef Knot is a at knot. Donot use it for joining ropes together, asit is not always safe, particularly with

nylon, terylene or other man-maderopes. Tying the reef points of a sail, forrst aid and for tying string on parcels.

Sheet Bend

The sheet bend is normally used to jointwo ropes together.Uses:- for tying ags onto halyardswhere there are no clips in place.

Double Sheet Bend

The double sheet bend is more securethan the sheet bend, and is used wherethe ropes are slippery, of different mate-

rials, or of unequal thickness.Uses:- tying ags onto halyards.

Rope Work

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Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

This is a strong and secure knot. It isused to tie a rope to a post or ring.Uses:- Secure a boat or tow a ve-hicle.

Fishermans Bend

The shermans bend is similar to theround turn and two half hitches, butthe rst half hitch passes through theround turn. The knot is never pulledtight and can be untied easily.Uses:- to attach an anchor line to thering of the anchor.

Clove Hitch

The clove hitch is a simple knot for ty-ing a rope to a post, and may be usedin the middle of a line as well as at theend. A clove hitch remains secure ifit is kept under a steady strain, but ifthe strain is intermittent, it may come

loose, and untie.Uses:- secure a light boat to a bollardor suspend objects.

Rolling Hitch

A rolling hitch is used to tie a rope toa spar, when the pull is in the line of

the spar.

Rope Work

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Timber Hitch

The timber hitch is a simple way of

putting a constricting piece of ropeonto a spar or similarUses:- in the start of lashings.

BowlineThe bowline is used for making an eyeor loop in the end of a rope or morring a

bowline. It does not loosen or jam.Uses:-on a mooring line to slip over abollard, for attaching jib sheets to theclew of the jib, for rescue a when tiedaround the waist, etc.

Bowline on the Bight

The bowline on the bight puts two loopsin the end of a rope.Uses:- used like a chair to lower a cas-ualty with one loop under the arms andthe second loop under the knees.

Overhand knot

A simple overhand knot may sufce to

stop the end of a rope running througha block or cleat.

Figure of Eight

Is a knot on the end of a rope to stop itrunning through a fairlead or pulley andis more easily untied.

Uses:- Ends of jib leads and mainsheets.

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Whipping

This is used to protect and prevent rope

ends from unravelling.

Sail Makers WhippingThe sail makers whipping is one ofthe most reliable ways of whippingthe end of a three strand rope to stopit unravelling.

Common Whipping

A simpler type is the commonwhipping. There are a number ofversion and the one shown is probablythe commonest.

West Country Whipping

The West Country whipping is a seriesof overhand knots tied on the oppositesides to each other.

Eye Splice

When you want to x a piece of ropepermanently such as the bowline on a

boat it is best to splice it in place. Thebest splice for this is the three-strandedeye splice.

Back Splice

The most common splice that one seesis the back splice but it has limited use.As a back splice doubles the diameter

of the rope it can no longer be rovedthrough a block or pulley. A whipping isa better way to protect a rope end.

Rope Work

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Once youve mastered your basic ropework skills, you can move on to Pio-

neering. Pioneering uses ropes andspars to build tables, dressers, gate-ways, towers and many other things.Before you start you will need to learna few more knots called lashings. Onceyou learn these then your imaginationis your only limit.

Start with a clove hitch around one ofthe outside spars, and give six or eight

turns around the spars working under

and over alternately like a figure of

eight. Frap between each spar, and

nish with two half hitches. As the legs

of the Tripod are opened out, the lashing

automatically tightens so you have toleave a certain amount of slack in the

lashing from the beginning in order to

be able to open out the legs.

Pioneering

Figure of eight Lashing

Used to make a tripod, lay three spars

alongside each other, with the twooutside spars running one way and the

centre one the opposite direction.

The Square Lashing

This is used for securing one spar toanother, when they cross each other,at any angle. Start with a clove hitcharound the bottom or most secure spar.Do 3 or 4 complete turns under and

over each spar. Pull each turn as tightas possible.The lashing is passed around betweenspars frapping over the rst turns sev-eral times and pulled tightly to draw thewhole thing rmly together. Finish offwith two half hitches

To ensure stability of

any pioneering gadget,build triangles into the

design.

TIP

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Diagonal Lashing

Used to lash together two spars which

from their position tend to spring apart.

Begin with a timber hitch round both

spars, drawing them together, then take

three or four turns around each fork, fol-

low with three frapping turns between

the two spars and nish with a clove

hitch on one of the spars.

Sheer Leg Lashing

This lashing is used to lash two spars

which will open slightly to form sheer

legs. Start off with a clove hitch around

one of the spars. Make seven or eight

turns around both spars, then several

frapping turns between them and n-

ish off with two half hitches around one

of the spars. This lashing will tighten

further when the two spars are pulled

apart to form the sheer legs.

Pioneering

Sheer Lashing

If you want to add to the length of a spar

(to make a agpole), two sheer lashings

are used without frapping turns.

These lashings have to be very tight and

the initial clove hitch is put around both

spars, as is the two half hitches used to

nish off the lashing. The lashing can

be tightened further by driving wooden

wedges down between the two spars,

tent pegs are ideal for this.

Make sure all pi-oneering projects are

properly secured with

guy ropes when nec-

essary.

TIP

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Pioneering Projects

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Pioneering Projects

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Heaving a line is a method of throwing

a line from one location to another. Themost common use of a heaving line isat sea, to pull a cable to shore from aship. It may also be used to rescue aperson from the water.

You need to be able to heave a linea reasonable distance accurately, it is

also important to do this from a boat aswell as from land.

To make it easier to throw you mayneed to add / put a weight on the endof the line; this weight is usually aMonkeys Fist.

The line should be of such length andsize to reach your target but not be tooheavy to lift when fully coiled.

Heaving A Line

The main points to heaving a line

are:- Coil the line clockwise from the xed end When coiling avoid overlap Secure the xed end Split the coil into half Hold the coils as shown Point in the direction of throwing Throw the line underhand

Things not to do: -

Do not force the rope into a coil let it owwith the natural twist in the rope.

TIP Take time to coil the line properly

and always leave a line coiled

ready for use.

Securethe end

Holding the coils

Heaving the line

(graphic of

open hand to

release)

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First aid is the immediate treatmentgiven to a patient for any injury before

the arrival of an ambulance, doctor orother qualied medical person.

The aims of rst aid: -To preserve life.To prevent further injury (including toyourself).

To limit worsening of the condition.To promote recovery.The three P - PRESERVE, PREVENTAND PROMOTE

Responsibilities of the First Aider:

-

Assess the situation

Assess the patientMake a diagnosisProvide treatmentQuickly ensure medical help has beensummonedRemain with the patient and re-as-sure

First Aid

The Primary Survey

The purpose is to identify and treat all

life threatening injuries and/or con-ditions in order of priority.

This survey is known as the A,S, B,C

Airway - Open and clearSpine - Possibility of spinal injury?Breathing - Breathing present?Circulation - Pulse Present?

- Major Bleeding?

Examine any other serious injuries?Identification cards, medical alerts,etc?

The Secondary Survey

Systematic Head to Toe examinationof a patient: - Head, Neck, Shoulders,Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis/lower back,Lower limbs, Upper limbs

Monitor Vital Signs: -

Breathing - Rate, depth, qualityPulse - Rate, rhythm, strength

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Cuts and Scratches

When the skin is broken blood can

escape and infection can get in. Tryto keep the wound clean, wash withrunning water or use an antisepticwipe. When the wound is clean anddry cover with a sticky plaster to keepany infection out.

Nose BleedsYou need to protect the airway fromthe inhalation of blood and controlbleeding.Sit the casualty down with their headforward and get the casualty to pinchtheir nose just below the bridge and tobreath through their mouth.

Tell them not to speak, swallow, cough,spit or sniff, as they may disturb bloodclots.

After twelve minutes, ask the casualtyto release the pressure. If their nose is

still bleeding, reapply the pressure fora further twelve minutes.If the nose bleed continues after thistime send the casualty to hospital. Oncethe bleeding is stopped and with thecasualty leaning forward, gently cleanaround their nose and mouth with luke-warm water.Tell the casualty to rest quietly for a fewhours and to avoid exertion and not toblow their nose, as this will disturb anyblood clot.

Animal Bites

Bites from sharp, pointed teeth cause

deep puncture wounds, which can carry

infection.

For Serious bites: -

1. Control the bleeding by applyingdirect pressure and raising theinjured part.

2. Cover the wound with a sterile

dressing or clean pad bandaged inplace.3. Get the casualty to hospital.

For Supercial bites: -

1. Wash the wound thoroughly withsoap and warm water.

2. Pat the wound dry with clean gauze

swabs and cover with an adhesivedressing or a small sterile dress-ing.

3. Get the casualty to see a doctor in

First Aid

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Insect Stings

Bee or wasp stings can usually be

painful. There is usually an initial sharppain followed by mild swelling. Furtherproblems may occur when people areallergic to stings or if they get stung inthe mouth or throat, as swelling canoccur and obstruct the airway.

1. If the sting is still in the wound, takeit out using tweezers.2. Apply cold compress to relive pain

and reduce swelling.

Jelly Fish Stings

Jellysh can cause painful stings.

1. Reassure the casualty and sit

them down. Pour large amountsof vinegar or salt water over theinjury to incapacitate stinging cellsnot activated.

2. Dust a powder around the sting; tomake any remaining stinging cellsstick together.

3. Gently brush off the powder with aclean, non-uffy pad.

ghg

Shock

Shock is the failure of the circulation

system to adequately supply the cellsof the body with oxygen.

Causes of Shock

Blood lossHeart FailureAllergic reactionLoss of body uids burns, vomiting,diarrhoea

Signs and Symptoms of Shock

Rapid PulsePale SkinCold clammy skinAs shock progresses

Falling level of responseWeakness

Rapid/shallow breathingRestlessnessThirst

Treatment of shock

Ensure A,S, B, CTreat the cause - Raise lower limbs ifpossible- Monitor vital signs- Prevent chilling- Treat any other injuries- Calm and reassure- Loosen tight clothing

- Do not give anything to eat or drink- Do not leave the patient aloneUrgent removal to hospital if no clearrecovery

First Aid

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Recovery Position

Unconscious casualties who are breath-

ing on their own should be placed intothe Recovery Position. This is a naturalrest position for the body and preventsthe tongue falling back and blocking theairway, it also reduces the risk of thestomach contents being inhaled intothe lungs.

Remove anything that will get in the

way, e.g. glasses, bulky objects inpockets, false teeth etc.Loosen any tight clothing.Place the casualty on their back, withtheir arms down by their sides, legsstraight and together.Kneel beside the casualty; open theairway by tilting the head and lifting

the chin.Place the arm nearest to you at rightangles to the casualtys body, elbowbent with the hand, palm up.Bring their far arm across the chest andhold the back of the hand against thecasualtys nearest cheek.With your other hand grasp the far leg

just above the knee and pull it up, keep-ing the foot on the ground.Keep the casualtys hand pressedagainst their cheek, pull on the legto roll the casualty towards you ontotheir side.Adjust the upper leg so that both the hipand knee are bent at right angles.

Tilt the head back to make sure theairway remains open.Check the pulse and breathingregularly.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

First Aid

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Hypothermia

Our bodies try to keep a constant

temperature of 37 degrees C. If weget too hot the skin becomes ushedand we start to sweat, causing heatloss and cooling respectively. If weget too cold the body reduces circu-lation to the extremities such as thengers, arms, toes, feet and ears inan effort to ensure our vital organs are

kept at 37 degrees. If our core tem-perature drops much below this weare into hypothermia. Hypothermia(exposure) is caused by a combi-nation of exhaustion and severechilling of the body surface,resulting inthe lowering of the bodys core tem-perature.

Signs and Symptoms of hypothermia

There are many signs which mayindicate that one of your party is be-ginning to suffer from hypothermia: complaints of cold, tiredness, cramp

or unusual or erratic behaviour mental and physical drowsiness

slurring of the speech irrational or violent behaviour disinterested problems focusing, stumbling or un

coordinated movements collapse or coma; at this stage the

victim is in a very serious conditionTreatment

Treatment should aim to eliminate thecauses of and prevent further heatloss. Stop and shelter

Insulate the casualty with extra cloth-ing or sleeping bag, cover their head.

Give them a warm sweet drink, foodetc.

CAUSES

Wind chill - At any temperature thecooling effect of the wind on the bodyincreases with wind speed. It is there-fore likely to feel much colder in the

mountains on the sea or large lake.

Exhaustion - This is caused by at-tempting too much or by not eatingenough to replace used energy. Planyour activity to suit the abilities of thegroup. At sea, simple problems can arisedue to sea sickness.

ExposureWet cold- Wet clothing has greatly re-duced insulation properties in certainfabrics. Avoid getting wet by sensibleuse of your wet weather gear. Use thelayered system of clothing. Wear thecorrect water activity gear.

Injury or illness - Often hypothermiaresults when the group is unexpectedlydelayed. If an accident does occur makesure you keep warm, provide shelterusing your tent, group shelter or bivvybags and make a hot brew. If sailing,the sails can be used to make a shelteror just get down into the boat.

Activity Planning- Overestimating thetness of the group and underestimatingthe time are common mistakes made byactivity planners.

First Aid

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Minor Burns and Scalds Flood the injured part with cold

water for at least 10 minutes tostop the burning and relieve thepain. If water is unavailable useany harmless cool liquid, such asmilk or drinks will do.

Gently remove any jewellery,watches, belts or constricting cloth-ing from the injured area before itbegins to swell.

Cover the area with a steriledressing or any clean, non-uffymaterial and bandage loosely inplace. A plastic bag makes a goodtemporary covering.

Do Not break blisters or interfere withthe injured area.

Do Not apply adhesive dressing to theskin, the burn maybe more extensive.

Do Not apply lotions, ointments or fatsto the injury; they can further damagethe tissues and increase the risk ofinfection.

SunburnThis is caused by an over-exposureto the sun. Sunburn can even occuron an overcast summers day in highaltitudes from sky-shine or reectionfrom winter snow. It can also occur onopen water were the suns rays arereected back.

Get the casualty under cover, intoshade or cover in light clothing ortowel.Treat as for other burns and scalds.

FaintingThis is the temporary reduction of blood

ow to the brain.Causes or Recognition- Reaction to pain or fright- Brief loss of consciousness- Emotional upset- Sudden fall to the oor- Exhaustion- Slow pulse- Lack of food- Pallor- Long periods of standing

Ensure A,S, B, C Raise lower limbs, if seated place

head between knees (impendingfaint). Ensure plenty of fresh airand loosen tight clothing

Reassurance and treat any in-juries If unconsciousness persists call for

an ambulance

BlistersThin bubbles, known as blisters, formon skin that has been damaged by heator friction. During healing, new skin

forms at the base of the blister; and theother layer of dead skin will eventuallypeel off.

A blister usually needs no treatmentbut:- Never break a blister as you may

introduce infection. If it breaks or is likely to be dam-

aged, cover the injured area withdry, non-adhesive dressing thatextends well beyond the edges ofthe blister. Leave in place until the

First Aid

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Keep calm and reassure the casualty.

Let the patient take a Reliever Inhaler,

which usually works within a few min-

utes. Position the casualty upright,

leaning forward and get the casualty

to breathe slowly and deeply.

Ensure a good air supply

If the attack eases within 5 to 10 min-

utes, get the casualty to take another

does from the inhaler.

If the attack is getting severe and

The inhaler has had no effect after

5 to 10 minutes

The casualty is getting worse

Breathlessness is making talking

difcult

The casualty is getting exhausted.

Dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance. Help

the casualty to continue taking the in-

haler every 10 minutes until medical

help arrives.

Asthma

This is a distressing condition in which

the muscles of the air passages go into

spasm and the linings of the airways

swell. This results in the narrowing of the

airways making it difcult to breath.

An asthmatic attack may be caused by:

- an allergy, a cold, a particular drug

or cigarette smoke. At other times no

obvious trigger can be identied. Many

suffers are prone to attacks at night.

The drugs in inhalers open the air pas-

sages, easing breathing, there are two

main types of inhalers: -

Reliving Inhalers Blue caps used to

ease an asthmatic attack

Preventive Inhalers Brown or White

caps, used to prevent an attack.

Signs:

1. Difficulty with breathing, long

breathing out time.

2. Wheezing.

3. Distress and anxiety

4. Difculty in speaking

5. Gray blue skin

6. Dry, tickly cough

First Aid

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Choking

Choking is when something is stuck

at the back of the throat, which mayeither block the throat or induce mus-cular spasm. Choking requires quickaction from the rst Aider, be preparedto resuscitate if the casualty stopsbreathing. If the airway is only partialblocked and the casualty is still able to

speak or breathe, do not carry out anyrescue treatment, as it may worsenthe condition. But call for help and en-courage the casualty to cough up theblockage.

Signs of choking:

Initially congested face.

Later grey-blue skin colour.Distressed signs from the casualty,who may point to the throat or graspthe neck.

Treatment:Ask the casualty to cough. If they can-

not cough up the object perform ab-dominal thrusts.

Abdominal Thrusts:

Put your arms around their trunk frombehind. Make a fist with one handbelow the ribcage, thumb side againstabdomen, and then grasp the st with

the other hand.

Pull sharply upwards and inwards. Theforce against the casualtys diaphragm

should help to expel the obstruction.Watch to see if it falls out of theirmouth.Be persistent, continue abdominalthrusts until the obstruction is removedor medical help is available.

SprainsA sprain occurs at a joint, when the liga-ments and tissues around that particular

joint are suddenly torn or wrenched.A Strain occurs when a muscle or groupof muscles is over stretched and pos-sibly torn.

1. Rest the injured part2. Apple ice or a cold compress3. Compress the injury4. Elevate the injured part

First Aid

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Artical Respiration

One of the most important skills you can

learn is Articial Respiration (AR) and Car-

dio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

It is the most important of skills because it

gives you the ability to save a life.

Only by practice and training will you

master the skill and have the condence

to implement it should you come across a

situation that requires it.

The most common reason people stop

breathing is due to suffocation in water,

after an electric shock or after a Road Traf-

c Accident.

Should you come across a casualty whom

you suspect is not breathing you must:-

Send for help immediately and

Start AR as soon as possible

Articial Respiration

Lie the casualty on their backCheck to see if the casualty is breathing

(check if chest is rising or see if you canfee air coming out of their mouth)

Open the air wayCheck there are no blockages in themouth (chewing gum, seaweed, den-tures etc).

Rest one hand on the forehead andpinch the nose between your fore ngerand thumb.

With the other hand cupped around the

chin open the patients mouth

TIP

Foggy says: -

Stay Calm

Send for help

Assess the

situation

Act

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Articial Respiration

With you mouth make a seal around

the casualtys mouth and blow a full

breath.

Turn you head to the side to check if

the chest rises and falls. If it doesnt the

airway is still blocked.

Continue with breaths at the rate of

one every 5 seconds until the casualty

breaths by themselves or you are relived

by medical personnel.

Place the casualty in the recovery

position.

You should endeavour

to complete the Royal

Life Saving Societys

or the National

Safety Associations

CPR courses or a rst

aid course by one of the

rst Aid Organisations

TIP

Every year in March the National First

Aid and National Articial Respiration

competitions take place. They give you

a chance to see how well you know

your stuff in a simulated emergency.Ask your Skipper for details.

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It is very important if you are going to beinvolved in water activities to be con-dent in the water. If you cannot swim, itis never too late to learn, get someoneto teach you.

You should practice swimming innormal boating gear, which includeswearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.You may be surprised at how difcult

it is to swim with one on.In Sea Scouting swimming is includedas a basic safety factor, not just as a funactivity. You should be able to swim inthe waters where your Troop normallydoes its activities. It does not matterwhich swimming stroke you use, solong as you can manage it sufciently.Also, practice survival skills such asoating or treading water.

Do notswim for at least an hour aftera mealDo not dive into unknown watersDo notswim in dangerous areasDo notswim where there are strong

currents or tidesDo notmess about in the waterDo notswim out, always swim alongthe shoreDo notuse air beds or similar on theopen sea

Swimming

TIPBeing able to swim is fun but always

try to improve your swimming ability

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Buddy System

This is a method of ensuring no one

goes missing while swimming in a group.

Each person swimming has a partner

and each looks out for the other.

At regular intervals the swimming

Leader will give a signal to which, each

pair will form up and raise their hands,

to be counted.

Rescue

If someone is in trouble, try to reach out

with whatever is handy; use something

to increase your reach (branch, shing

rod or oar), or throw something that will

oat (heaving line, throw bag, life buoy

or lifejacket)

Do: -

Learn to Swim

Use the Buddy System, never

swim alone Swim well within your capabilities

Obey any warning notices or

danger ags

If the waters are unknown to you,

ask someone who knows

Red & Yellow ag: - Lifeguard is onduty

Swimming

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Lifejackets / Buoyancy Aids

You should use a Buoyancy aid or Lifejacketat all times aoat. They should have the CE

mark of approval. These are classifed bylevel of buoyancy, measured in units calledNewtons.

1. Buoyancy aids (50 or 100 Newton) -sheltered to inshore waters only.

2. Lifejackets (150 or 275 Newton) -Up to offshore waters.

It is important to learn which one is to be wornfor each type of activity but your WL or SSLwill explain this to you.

Buoyancy aid for General Inshore and

Inland waters - 100 Newton

Suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers

Will provide good insulation

If unconscious, you may be left facedown in the water

Retro-reect strips

Lifejackets for Coastal waters - 150

Newton

Suitable for swimmers andnon-swimmers

Permanent buoyancy and can beinated but then difcult to move around

Will keep you face up in the water

Whistle

Retro-reect strips

RETRO-REFLECTIVESTRIPES

INFLATIONVALVE

PERMANENTBUOYANCY

STRAP

DISTRESSWHISTLE

LIFEJACKET

48

Putting on a Lifejacket / Buoyancy

aid:-

Follow the instructions of the

manufacturer.

Ensure that you have the right type

and size for the activity.

Pull the straps tight to a snug and

secure t.


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Lifejackets / Buoyancy Aids

Regular checking of a Lifejacket or

Buoyancy aid

Check buckles, zips and straps forwear or damage

Check distress whistle and inationvalve (do they work - test)

Check that they are clean

Any defective jacket should be

destroyed

2. After use: -

Rinse in fresh water

Hang up to dry. Damp jackets lying

will develop mildew

Dont use them as a changing mat orsit on them

Make sure they are fully deated

Check that nothing is missing ordamaged

Care for them and they will care for you. Always wear

a lifejacket or buoyancy aid when aoat.

TIP

RETRO-REFLECTIVESTRIPES

PERMANENTBUOYANCY

STRAPS

BUOYANCY AID

Care of a Lifejacket / Buoyancy aid:

-

1. While in Use: - Check it before using

Wear it

Dont use the whistle unless indistress

Dont inate until you are in thewater

The Best way to carry one is towear it properly

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Be able to swim.

You should be able to swim in your nor-mal Water activity gear, in the watersnormally used by your Troop. Dem-onstrating swimming ability in heatedindoor pool is not sufcient.

Wear the correct clothing.

Dangerous or heavy clothing should

not be worn e.g. waders, heavyboots, etc. See the section on Cloth-ing to wear for Water Activities.

Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.Should be worn at all times in rafts,open boats or canoes. See the sectionon Buoyancy Aids & Lifejackets.

Get the weather forecast.

Never go aoat unless you have theup-to-date forecast. Sea Scouts shouldnormally not go aoat if the winds areabove a force 4.

Observe good conduct.

Do not fool about in a craft and al-ways follow the instructions of theperson in charge.

Safety Aoat

Getting Aoat, whether it be rafting, rowing, sailing, power boating or canoeing is thereal fun and adventure part of Sea Scouting. However, it can only remain an enjoyable

activity if it is conducted safely. Always follow quickly the instructions of the person incharge of the craft. Your Leader will have a copy of the detailed rules and guidelinesfor Water Safety in general, and for the different Water Activities. You are not expectedto know them all but you must appreciate the importance of the main points.

Avoid over loading a craft.

Always make sure a boat is trimmedcorrectly;

The craft must be seaworthy.

It must be seaworthy, in good conditionand have a valid Boat Certicate.

Take the correct equipment.

You should know the correct equipmentthat is required for the craft you are us-ing and also the spares needed. Thiswill depend on the type of craft and theactivity. Always Be Prepared!

Know the local tides and currents.

Always check the times of low and

high tides. Avoid areas where the tidalstreams are strong. Remember thatconditions can change when the tide

Safety Guidelines for Water Activities

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Safety Aoat

Know the local dangers and haz-

ards.Find out about the dangers like:- rocks, sandbanks, wrecks, shallows,weirs, locks, etc. Certain conditions ofwind and tide particularly in shallowwater can cause waves to break dan-gerously for a small boat and should beavoided.Remain alert at all times.On a wateractivity, always be aware of what is goingon around you.

HAVE FUN BUT STAY SAFEA very useful check list to remember in relation to

water safety is:-

W A T C H I T

W - Weather - get the latest weather forecast

A - Area - plan the route and local knowledge

T - Tides - look them up and note them

C - Clothing - adequate, warm and waterproof

H - Hazards - Places and situations to avoid and beware of

I - Inventory - check list of gear and spares

T - Tell someone - route, times etc.

In a sailing boat watch out for the boom

swinging across the boat when tackingor gybing. Look out for the wake of apower boat.Charge certicates. Any person incharge of a boat must hold a chargecert. for the type of boat and the areaof water in question.

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Safety equipment to wear

Buoyancy aid or lifejacket

Canoeing:- Helmet & spray-deck

Optional personal clothing to wear

Wet suit - when you get wet, a thinlayer of water is trapped between thesynthetic Neoprene material and yourskin. This water then heats up with yourbody, giving you a layer of insulation that

keeps you warm. A wetsuit must t tightto be effective.

Dry suit - this is made from waterproofmaterial, which has seals at the neckand wrists so that no water can get in.

Boots - you can get special neoprenebootees, which will keep your feet warm

and also give you extra grip. Cagoule - Cags, reduce heat loss dueto wind, especially when the canoeistis wet.

Clothing for Water Activities

Even during the warmest day in thesummer, it will be colder when out on

the sea, so be prepared. When goingon water activities wear layers so if yound yourself too warm, you can take offa layer. Whatever you wear, expect itto get wet, if it doesnt then thats a bo-nus. Always have a complete changeof clothing for when you return. Re-

member the wind chill factor . . . whenyou are exposed to the wind you mayfeel colder than if you were sheltered,this factor is increased if you are wet.Being ill prepared can lead to you notenjoying your water activities or evenworse to hypothermia.(See Section on hypothermia-page

40)

Basic personal clothing to wear

Swimming costume or togs T-Shirt Shorts Runners (good grip) Sweatshirt or Jumper Socks Gloves Tracksuit bottoms Waterproof coat & trousers Hat

Personal equipment to bring

Complete change of clothes

Towel Coat Warm drink

Expect the worst and

come prepared.Wear the correct clothing

and you will enjoy your

activities more

TIP

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You will see many different types ofboats in use in Sea Scouting and

around the country. Some names usedmay descibe a different type or size ofboat, which may have a different mean-ing in Britain or elsewhere.

DinghyThis usually means a small, light sail-ing boat, with a centre board. Howeverthe name dinghy may also be used

for any small rowing boat or small in-atable boat.

PuntThis name may also be used for a smallrowing boat, and often the words puntand dinghy may be used for the samecraft.

CotThe word cot is commonly used in

the South-east, particularly on the riv-ers Slaney, Barrow, Nore and Suir. Thename comes from an Irish word coitemeaning a small boat. Cots are found invarious sizes, but usually they are at-bottomed, double-ended, and are usuallyused for shing. On the river Barrow thecots are quite small and are propelledby one or two men facing forward using

paddles like a canoe.

Currach or NaomhgThese are the traditional tarred canvascovered boats found on the West coast.Three distinct types of boat are found inDonegal, Conemara and Kerry. Naom-hg is the name given to them in Kerry.They are usually propelled by three pairs

of oars, which are mounted on singlethole pins and have narrow blades.

Sea Scout Standard boatThis is the B.P. 18 which was designedspecially for Sea Scouts in Ireland. It ismade of breglass and is 18 feet long.It may be rowed with 2, 4 or 6 oars andmay be rigged for sailing. Many Sea

Scout Troops have one of these boatsand they are widely used for generalSea Scout training and for regattas andNational Competitions.

Types of Rowing Craft

Skiff

This name is used around thecoasts of Ireland for open searowing boats, usually clinker-built and pulling 4 oars. Theyhave developed from old pilot orshing boats and are now usedfor sea racing. The East CoastSkiff, found between Skerries andWicklow, is a 24 foot long, double-ended, open sea boat. The nameskiff is used for different sizes ofrowing boats in West Cork and inDonegal.

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Boat Construction

Boats may be built from many different materials wood planking, marine plywood,breglass, canvas on timber frame, metals such as steel or aluminium, or even

concrete.

In boats made of wooden planking (strakes), the main types are Clinker, Carvel andDiagonal. Boats constructed in any of these ways have a hull which is of a roundbottom type.

CLINKER

CARVEL

DIAGONAL

CHINE

CLINKER- the strakes run frombow to stern, overlapping at theedges.

CARVEL - the strakes run from bow tostern but are tted together edge -to -edge making a smooth surface.

DIAGONAL- the strakes do not run frombow to stern, but diagonally in two layers,the inner layer at right angles to the outerlayer.

CHINE- Other types of hull may be atbottom or hard chine. The hard chinehull has a narrow V shape forward, be-

coming gradually atter aft. This is a com-mon shape in small sailing boats and isvery suitable for construction from sheetsof marine plywood.

Strakes

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Parts of a Boat

Most of the names for various parts of boats come from the traditional wooden boats,but some of these names may not apply to boats made of metal or breglass.

Crutch / Spur

Pintle

Gudgeon

Gunwale

Sheer Strake

Garboard Strake

Ribs

Breasthook

Transom

Stem head

Thwart rising

Thwart

Knee

Grip

Oar

ButtonLeather Neck Blade

Heel

Keel

Thole pins

Pintle

Gudgeon

Rudder

Yoke Yoke lines

Tiller

Loom

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Getting Into A Small Boat

Small boats or dinghies can be easily

turned over if they are not kept well

balanced.

Getting in from a jetty

Get in carefully, stepping from the

jetty or steps, hold the gunwale of theboat to keep it steady and step intothe centre of the boat - never stand

on the gunwale or on the thwarts of asmall boat.

In the boat

Sit down on the rowing thwart facing

the stern. When moving around in a

boat, keep your weight low and in the

centre.

Getting in from the water

Approach from the stern of the boat and

then climb in over the transom, as this

will keep the boat steady.

Rescue from the water

A person who has been in the water for

a while and is cold, may nd it difcult

to get into a boat and may require as-

sistance. It is often better to tumble

them in, head over heels.

If you cant get them into the boat, let

them hold on to the transom and row

them to safety.

Never take a person in

over the gunwale as asmall boat is easy to

capsize.

TIP

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Rowing in a small boat is the rst prac-tical seamanship skill to learn. Small

boats are not as stable as big boatsand you must learn how to get in andout of a boat properly.

Place the spurs, sometimes calledcrutches in their sockets and thenplace the oar looms in the spurs.There is usually a piece of leather orsome plastic to protect the oar fromwear in the spur.

Hold the oars by the grip, keeping themlevel above the surface of the water.

Catch

Then lean your body forward andstretch your arms in front of you andcatch the water with the blades of bothoars.

Pull

Lean back and at the same time pullthe oar looms towards you - this will pull

the oar blades through the water andthe boat will move forward.

Rowing - Dinghy

Pulling on one oar only will turn the boatto the opposite side. Keeping one blade

in the water while moving will turn theboat to the same side.

To slow down and stop put bothbladesin the water and keep them there - thisis called holding water.

To make the boat go backwards youmust row backward - when you putthe blades in the water, push the oarlooms away from you instead of pullingthem towards you. This is called back-watering.

Once you have learned to propel and to

control the boat you will soon get usedto manoeuvring to come alongside, orto pick up a mooring buoy or set ananchor. You should be able to row thedinghy around a course and be able torescue a man overboard before you aredeemed procient.

When you have reached this degree ofprociency you will be trusted to retrievethe larger boats from their moorings andto act in support of other activities.

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Your Troop may also have a bigger boatthat can be rowed by a crew. This may

be a BP 18, a skiff or some other class.These boats will often have 4 oars andeach oarsman pulls one oar. Thereare different ways of arranging oars inmulti-oared boats.

An effective pulling boat crew mustbe able to row satisfactorily in timetogether, must behave correctly in theboat and follow the directions of thecoxswain.

Conduct in a boat is very important.Remember there is only one person incharge and the crew must obey orders

immediately. An ill-disciplined, carelesscrew can be a danger to themselvesand to others. A Sea Scout crew shouldalways be well-behaved and a credit totheir own Troop.

When rowing, keep your back straightand use the force of your trunk swing-

ing backwards for the main part of thestroke, only bending your elbows whenyou have leant back as far as you can.Use your arm and shoulder muscles forthe last pull on the oar to help you swingforward again.

Do not wave the oar blade too high

in the air as you swing forward (sky-scraping) and do not bury the blade toodeeply starting the next stroke.

Rowing - Boat Drill

To direct a rowing crew, a system ofrowing orders is needed. There are

some different systems in use and itdoes not matter much which your Troopuses provided you all understand thesame system.

The drill given here is the one whichhas developed over the years as thetraditional Sea Scout system.

Crew assembles on jetty or steps.The oars, spurs and rudder have al-ready been placed on board. The oarsare laid on the thwarts on the correctsides, blades forward, bow oars inboardof the stroke oars. The rudder is inboard,

just abaft the coxswains thwart.

Coxswain embarks rst, goes to thestern and ships the rudder.

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In stroke, In 2nd stroke, In 2nd bow,

In bow appropriate crew embark .

Stand-by bowman bow-

man unhitches the bow-line, but keeps

hold of it and does not yet embark.

If the boat has a boat hook, bowman

may embark and use the boat hook to

hold the boat alongside.

Ship spurs

oarsmen put spurs in sockets.

Sight oars

oarsmen locate and grip their oars.

Toss oars

oarsmen lift their oars up vertically,

feathered fore-and-aft, in line with

each other.

In bowman, bear off bowman em-

barks and pushes off from the jetty or

wall.

.

Rowing - Boat Drill

Down oars

oars lowered on the appropriate sides,

the blades touching the water before

the shaft touches the gunwale. Oars

shipped into the spurs and held hori-

zontally, blades feathered.

If oars are not tossed, the Coxain will

use the order Ship Oars as the boat is

pushed off from the jetty. The oars are

lifted out over the gunwale.

Fenders in.

Stand by

oars unfettered and oarsmen lean

forward.

Give way together

all start rowing, taking their time from

stroke oar

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Rowing - Boat Drill

Other orders, depending on the situ-ation might be

Give way starboard, hold water

portto turn to portBackwater together to go asternWay enough - Stop rowing - whenthat stroke is completedHold water - all oar blades into hewater together and hold steady

Trail oars - swing the oar looms for-ward so that the blades come into theside of the port - used when com-ing alongside if you dont want to tossoars onto boat oars or in order to cleanan obstacleEasy all / port / starboard Easeup

These orders can be combined to steerthe boat, e.g.. hold water port, give waystarboard would cause the boat to turnto port as in the diagram.

When coming alongside, the Coxswain

will order Way enough at a reasonabledistance from the jetty, taking wind andcurrent into consideration.

Fenders out - fenders put out ap-propriate side. If going too slowly theCoxswain may order another strokeor two, but if going too fast may order

hold water.

The boat willturn this way

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Types of Sailing Craft

SloopA Sloop is a single masted vessel, fore and aft

rigged with one headsail.

CutterCutter is a single masted vessel with two

headsails

KetchA ketch is a two masted vessel fore and aft

rigged on both masts and the mizzen mast is

tepped forward of the rudder head.

YawlA yawl is a two masted vessel fore and aft

rigged on both masts and mizzen mast isstepped aft of the rudder head

BrigantineA brigantine is a two masted vessel, square

rigged on the fore mast and fore and aft

rigged on the after mast.

Asgardireland has a Sail training Vessel 'Asgard II'

she is a brigantine. You do not have to know

about square rigging, but it would be interest-

ing for you to be able to recognise 'Asgard II'

SchoonerA two or more masted vessel fore and aft

rigged on all masts. In a two masted schooner

the after mast is the main mast.


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Rigging a Sailing Boat

You should learn how to rig a sailing

boat of a type which is used by yourtroop. It is hoped that most sea Scouttroops will eventually get one of the SeaScout standard boats (BP 18), and thatall Sea Scouts will learn how to rig andsail this craft.

The lower end of the mast (heel) ts into

a socket called the mast step or largertting called atabernacle. Sometimesthe mast may pass through a hole in athwart which is then known as a sail-ing thwart.

Support is given to the mast by thestanding rigging which includes all

the ropes and wires which are ttedpermanently to the mast and whichdo not normally move. The standingrigging usually consists of a forestayand shrouds. At the lower end is a bot-tlescrew or lanyard to adjust the ten-sion. On taller masts, the shrouds maybe spread outwards on crosstrees or

spreaders to give better sideways sup-port to the mast.

The shrouds are also brought slightly aftto brace the mast, and in some largersailing vessels a backstay leads frommast to the stern.

The function of a mast is to supportsails. Sails take their names from theirposition on a craft. In sailing ships offormer days, the sails were rectangularand were mounted on yards, which ranacross the ship. These vessels were saidto be square rigged.

Most sailing vessels nowadays are foreand aft rigged, sails being hoisted ina line before and abaft the mast. Thisarrangement is more efcient for workingto windward.

Sailing

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The luff of the main sail may be at-tached to the mast by means of lac-ing or metal slides running in a track onthe mast, or a luff rope running up ina groove in the mast.

Cringlesare larger metal rings or eyesxed into the material at the corners ofthe sail or at both ends of a line of thereeng points.

The clips used to attach theluff of the jibto the forestay are called hanks.

Sailing

62

A headsail is any sail set before the foremast. Headsails are always triangular in

shape. In small boats the head sail is usu-ally called the jib. Where there are twoheadsails, the inner one is usually calledthe staysail.

A very large jib which reaches abaft themast, overlapping the mainsail is knownas a Genoa jib.

Another sail which can be set before themast when there is a following wind isa large and balloon like sail, known as aspinnaker.

The main sail may be either triangular(Bermudan rig) or four sided (gaff rig).Each edge and corner of the sail has itsown name.The main names are given in the dia-grams.Sometimes sails have two or three rowsof short lengths of line xed through thesail. These are called reef points and areused for reducing the area of sail in strongwind (reeng). Lacing eyelets are smallmetal eyeletsalong the edge of a sail totake the lacing or attachment to the mastand spars.


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Sailing

Running riggingincludes all ropes that

move. A halyard is a rope which raisesa sail.Ropes which control the movementsof sails are known as sheets. They arenamed after the sails they control. In alarger sailing craft there may be a roperunning through a sheeve (pulley wheel)at the masthead and down to the aft end

of the boom, known as the topping lift.The boom is a spar to which the foot ofthe sail is attached.

If the vessel is Bermuda rigged the mainsail will be triangular and therefore therewill be only one halyard attached to its

head. However, if the vessel has a gaffthen the mainsail will be four sided, andthe upper edge of the sail will be securedto a wooden spar, the gaff. In this case itwill have two halyards, one to hoist thethroat of the gaff and the other to hoistthe peak - these are known as the throatand peak halyards.

A Mirror dinghy has a gaff

A sprit sail is a four sided sail supportedby a spar that runs diagonally across thesail to the peak. This rig is used in theoptimist d

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