What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- A nautical title matching boat and use: PNB/PER for club support, or the professional endorsement the harbour master requires when the activity is commercial (verify the regime).
- Current aquatic lifesaving (Red Cross, federation or regional equivalent) with CPR/AED.
- Safety-boat driver training from the relevant sailing federation (federation schemes as reference — indicative).
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training (if vessel in commercial traffic or event >12 passengers)
Specific courses
- RIB rescue handling: leeward approach, man overboard and dinghy righting
- SRC/VHF and coordination with race committee or school
- Aquatic first aid: hypothermia, boom injuries and evacuation
- Light-craft towing and fast mark laying
Indicative experience
Indicative: a club season as helper before solo driving; at regattas, the fleet chief assigns boats by proven experience for the forecast wind.
Observations
Boat-to-student ratios and driver requirements are set by federation and harbour master per modality (dinghy, windsurf, kayak) — verify those of the specific activity. Progression: safety-boat driver → fleet/water chief → event safety coordinator.
What this role does
The afloat first response at sailing schools, regattas and nautical events: skippers the safety boat (RIB) close to the fleet, anticipates risk by reading wind and student level, recovers people from the water —capsized dinghies included— and applies first aid until handover ashore. This presence is the condition allowing the activity to exist.
Typical watches
- During nautical sporting events / Patrols in high activity areas
Key responsibilities
- Patrol the area of nautical activities or sporting events by RIB speed boat.
- Assist people who have fallen into the water or are in trouble.
- Re-fish paddle surf boards, windsurf boards or other drifting devices.
- Establish and maintain emergency communications via VHF radio.
- Act as first responder in accident cases before the arrival of rescue services.
Operational scope
- Nautical activities area or sporting event
- Operating radius according to area extension
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.