Why Serious Racing Requires Safety Boats
The Aqua Adrenaline Series brings three different watercraft together to carry out a series of races.
Jet Bikes (not a rib), OCR boats (not a rib) and Pro Cats (almost but not quite a rib).
As with most powered sport they organise different events across the Country from May – October.
However, what holds the series together and allows them to operate safely? The Safety Fleet and yes, they are almost nearly all RIBs.
Primarily all boats are there to keep the course safe, to ensure other water users, that aren’t so observant, don’t stray into the danger area and to keep an eye out for water based mammals.
Red (stop) and yellow (warning) flags are carried and both start and finish are signed from one or other of the ribs.
That said each safety boat has its own characteristics and layouts, which suits them to different roles.
The Safety Fleet
The July event, held at Westbay in Dorset saw this RIB fleet:
| RIB | Length | Engine | Fuel capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highfield Patrol 600 | 6,00 m | Honda 135 hp | 140 l inboard |
| Highfield Patrol 700 | 7,00 m | Honda 200 hp | 285 l inboard |
| Avon Adventure | 6,20 m | Mercury Optimax 150 hp | 70 – 120 l inboard |
| Ribtec | 5,00 m | Yamaha 100 hp | 150 l inboard |
| Ribtec Camel | 6,55 m | Mercury 150 hp | 280 l, multiple inboard tanks |
| Humber | 5,00 m | Yamaha 90 hp | 35 l external |
With the 5.4 m Sea Rider, that’s often present, having a well deserved break.
The Highfield RIBs
The two Highfields seem to take it in turns to be the medical boat.
The Patrol 700 has the most space so is first choice, but with each race needing a medical team on the water, the smaller 600 is called upon when the 7 m isn’t playing.
Both Highfields have the benefit of large, single level back benches. Ideal for casualty placement, almost a bed size on the 7m!
With a massive locker underneath said bench there is plenty of room for crew and medical kit. This is something the other boats in the fleet don’t have.
When not involved with medical duties the Patrols are used as rescue craft, having multiple towing points on the rear frames make setting tows on the broken race craft a simple affair.
The only issue with this is it locks the craft into that tow, so it’s often a snatch and go, and hand over rather than tow all the way back.
The helms of these two craft are some of the most experienced in the fleet, and to have them locked down on long tows restricts being called to support or lead other activities.
The Patrol 700, coupled with the 200 hp Honda does have a great hole shot speed and is often the start boat for the OCR boats as the acceleration available means the rolling and planning starts can be carried out at the correct speed for the race boats.
If a rescue diver is needed, when canopy boats are racing rather then just open cockpits – the consol lockers are just perfect for rescue swimmer equipment. Small cylinders, weight belts, fins, masks are swallowed up with ease.
The Avon Adventurer
Next up is our Avon Adventurer, another larger craft with good storage space and a turn of speed – usefully when intercepting wayward craft and great for towing.
One big difference with the Avon is the available deck space. It seems less than the two Highfields; consol shape, jockey seat layout, bench design, all play a part in the useable deck space.
The Humber
The finish boat is often the 5 m Humber. Engine size, deck space, crew carried and storage space mean the Humber isn’t best suited to starting, media or medical duties.
The vessel is ideally suited to towing rescues are the race experienced crew just perfect for timing the correct flags for disqualification (black), last lap (green) the red and yellow and of course, the all important chequered.
The Ribtecs
The Ribtec 5 m is the Aqua Bike and Pro Cat start finish boat, again carrying a full suite of flags, and a safety / tow boat for the OCR racers. Usually carrying two people, it is again not ideal for media and medical but superb at intercepting.
Finally the Ribtec Camel is a superb intercept and tow craft.
The large locker front end gives a great kit store and the helm is well used to working ‘in close’ to other vessels. Having the extra jockey seating does mean the media team can be sat safely but does restrict the medical ability.
That said all boats can be used when needed in this role.
The Media Crew
The media team: Iceman Images/ Aaron Squirrell Photography / Snap Photography to name but three, try to get afloat at each race meet – their vessel of choice? The Highfields!
Wide stable platforms, plenty of room for kit storage, helms that have worked with each fussy photographer long enough to know where to put them, and of course, large comfy seats mean some great pictures for all to enjoy.
The boats are all paired with a great set of helms, many which have worked together across the years at not just power boat racing but the slower dingy racing, dive support, social cruises and in some cases holiday trips.
The Safety Jet Bike Team
Let’s just pass a mention to the safety jet bike team too.
Operating alongside the ribs, high speed, low draft and low waterline, coupled with rescue sleds – they are a great stepping stone from the water to the rescue rib and are often first on scene of an incident due to their speed.
This gives medical and rescue teams (including divers when needed) that all important early information.
Final Thoughts
Regular training, working together and team work are what keeps the racers safe – but it’s the ribs that allow the racing to take place in safety, and are perfectly designed for carrying some of the most experienced medical, safety, rescue and media teams in the Country.
Ranking by Carrying Capacity
- Highfield Patrol 700: 14 – 16 people
- Highfield Patrol 600: 14 – 15 people
- Avon Adventure 620: 12 people (brand was acquired by Zodiac)
- Humber 5 m: 7 – 8 people
- Ribtec 5 m: 6 – 8 people
- Ribtec Camel Trophy 6.55 m: 6 – 8 people
Ranking by Speed
- Highfield 700 / Ribtec Camel 6.55: ~40 – 45 knots
- Avon 6 m: ~40 knots
- Highfield 600: ~35 – 38 knots
- Ribtec 5 m: ~35 – 40 knots
- Humber 5 m: ~32 – 38 knots
I’ve written several more articles for RIBsONLY.com. You can find them here.
