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Emergency Response Plan

South of Perth Yacht Club's Emergency Response Plan (ERP) provides a a systematic approach to responding to an incident occurring during an event conducted by the Club.

Emergency Response
SoPYC is not equipped to provide extensive emergency response.

WA Water Police (or AusSAR depending on the incident location) will coordinate emergency response for boats requiring external medical assistance when there is grave or imminent danger to the safety of boat or crew.

Pre-Event Preparation by the Skipper and Crew
  • Ensure that all required safety equipment is on board and in good working condition.
  • Have sufficient crew, appropriately experienced, able to cope with the conditions likely to be experienced.
  • Brief the crew on emergency response in the case of an incident including locations of safety equipment, their emergency roles and procedures to be followed.
  • Ensure the crew is familiar with the boat’s Man Overboard (MOB) procedures. SoPYC recommends that the procedure is practiced before and during the sailing season.
  • Have crew on board with a Senior First Aid Certificate (recommended for all events).
  • Have crew on board with a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency.
  • Check event entry rules and be aware of any special safety requirements.

Notification of Incident
When a boat needs emergency assistance, it should use the standard marine emergency call
procedures 000 or 112 – including PAN PAN or MAY DAY when required.

Contact Club
Use when assistance is required but an emergency has not yet arisen.
Call the Emergency Response numbers.

Call “South of Perth Race Control”
VHF Ch. 69           Mobile 0412 704 945

Sailing Administrator: 0412 745 844
General Manager: 0422 418 143

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Skippers On-Water Emergency Response Checklist

  • Although SoPYC is not equipped to provide extensive emergency response, the South of Perth Yacht Club ERP provides a systematic approach to responding to an incident occurring during an event conducted by the Club.
  • Do you have the SoPYC On Water Emergency Phone Numbers displayed on board?

  • When a boat needs emergency assistance, it should use all available
  • means to attract attention.
  • Do you have flares, marine radio, mobile phone, or other communications on board?
  • In the event a vessel is seriously damaged rendering it unsafe or unseaworthy and/or a person is seriously injured, have you notified the Department of Transport as required.
  • Where a yacht requires emergency response, the yacht should use the standard marine emergency call procedures (MAY DAY or PAN PAN).
  • MAY DAY – only used if a vessel or person is in grave or imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
  • PAN PAN – used when a MAY DAY distress call is not fully justified – urgent message concerning the safety of the vessel or person.
  • If the incident does not warrant a MAY DAY or PAN PAN call, but assistance is required, contact SoPYC Race Control 0412 704 945 or on VHF 69.

  • The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.
  • Are you aware of the Australian Sailing Special Regulations 1.01 and 1.02.
  • Have you complied with the Racing Rules of Sailing 1.2 – one PFD available for immediate use?
  • Do you have the latest weather forecast and charts for the area?
  • Is the vessel well found and adequate for the conditions?
  • Are the crew appropriately experienced to cope with reasonably anticipated conditions?
  • Do the event entry rules specify safety requirements?
  • Is all safety equipment maintained, easily accessible at all times and conforms to appropriate Marine Standards?

  • Each competitor is individually responsible for wearing a personal floatation device adequate for the conditions.
  • Are the crew members briefed on their individual role on the boat?
  • Are the crew familiar with the vessels Person-Overboard procedures?
  • Is there at least one other crew member, in addition to the Skipper, capable of handling the vessel in all conditions?

  • A boat shall carry adequate life-saving equipment for all persons on board.
  • Has the Skipper provided a safety briefing; where it is stowed, how to use it and when to use it?
  • Does someone on board have a Senior First Aid Certificate?
  • Have the likely dangers of participating been discussed with the crew?
  • What equipment is available for use in the event of a collision between boats or a person-overboard?
  • Are all on board familiar with the use of flares, marine radio etc in the event the skipper or usual operator is incapable?

  • Skippers should ensure that the capabilities of all crew and passengers, as well as their own, are not adversely affected by the consumption of alcohol prior to or during any race or cruise. Aside from obvious dangers involved, the Water Police are paying increasing attention to the consumption of alcohol on private vessels and penalties can be severe.
  • Is there a policy on your vessel concerning if, when and how alcohol might be consumed?

  • For Hypothermia refer to the Advisory Appendix E of Australian Sailing Special Regulations Part 1.
  • If urgent outside assistance is required, a vessel should:
    - Transmit a PAN PAN on VHF Ch. 16 or call Triple Zero (000)
    - Contact SoPYC Race Control 0412 704 945 or VHF 69
    - What is the nature of the injury or complaint?
    - Is an ambulance required, if so, at what location?

  • Refer to the Advisory Appendix D of Australian Sailing Special Regulations Part 1.
  • Have the crew carried out a person overboard exercise under all conditions of sailing?
  • If the vessel becomes disabled, is unable to retrieve the person overboard and/or loses sight of the person overboard, she should immediately issue an urgency call and make contact with SoPYC

  • Refer to the Advisory Appendix F of Australian Sailing Special Regulations Part 1.
  • Be aware of the heavy load a sea places on deck fittings.
  • Have you considered “heaving-to” (jib aback, main sheeted in tight and rudder steering to windward)?

  • Loss of fluids induces dehydration, encourage water intake in sips.
  • Secure and position person in lowest motion part of the vessel (usually the stern), face in the wind, with sight of horizon.
  • Avoid alcohol and greasy foods before voyage, consider heaving-to in serious cases.

  • Is anyone injured?
  • Use all available means to notify SoPYC Race Control, another vessel or other responsible persons of the situation.
  • Stay with the vessel (unless it sinks out of sight).
  • Right the vessel if possible.
  • Do everything possible to conserve core body heat.

  • Assess damage and potential danger.
  • Unless taking on excessive water, make every effort to refloat the vessel before requesting outside assistance.
  • The decision to render assistance is at the discretion of those coming to your aid.

If the vessel is disabled she should immediately issue a PAN PAN call on VHF Ch. 16 or
phone SoPYC Race Control.

Contact the Department of Transport Oil Pollution Reporting section listed in the Emergency Contacts.

  • Most important consideration is human life, the boat is secondary.
  • Prevention is preferable to fire fighting.
  • Correct installation and good house-keeping, regular maintenance and fire prevention is necessary.
  • If possible, make a PAN PAN call.
  • Was the use and location of a fire blanket and/or extinguisher covered in the safety
  • equipment briefing?

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Quick Links

Click here for the Emergency Procedure Guide

Click here for the Protected Waters Emergency Response Guild 2024

Click here to see where the Emergency Equipment around SoPYC is


Click here for a full list of emergency contacts.
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