Firstly to my biggest bug bear, buoyancy aids / lifejackets worn in a completely ineffective way. If a lifejacket hinders your swimming, but also doesn’t float you, where does that leave you in an incident???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4v_D8jC4Uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfXMLG5pI4&t=10s

(only thing that would not apply from this video to any of our lifejackets is the spray hood to protect your face from waves)

So what’s the difference between a buoyancy aid, and a lifejacket anyway? Why choose one over the other? What are the advantages or disadvantages of either? Kayakers would not wear a lifejacket, people yacht sailing would not wear a buoyancy aid. But for currach rowing both are perfectly acceptable and it comes down to personal preference and area of operation. Neither is perfect!! Make sure you understand which compromise you're making. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU8CpBm3nno&t=120s

When choosing, think of

• Reliability… how many of us are doing these steps and servicing it professionally and regularly? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kEf5cOe5Zg

• Lifejackets tend not to be designed for the chaffing at the neck / shoulders for currach rowing, so be aware that they may not last as long as manufacturers guidelines.

• Do you want it to look after you if unconscious?

• Are you willing to put the effort into maintaining a gas filled lifejacket? 

• Are you mostly operating on the river, or do you intend rowing out to the fastnet?

• Buoyancy aids can get overly hot and sweaty in summer, but can offer some warmth in winter

So if I fall in the water why can I not just swim ashore?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RypLau65Wa0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi7jctM7aoU

Have you ever tried swimming fully dressed? Have you ever tried swimming with your lifejacket? 

So you’ve watched the training video on the website (About – Practical Guidance – Module 4 recovery of persons from the water techniques) and one day you need to put it into practice. You’ve successfully recovered the person from the water, but what next? Until professional help arrives on scene you’re the first aider. There’s some things we might do instinctively or intuitively that might do harm to a casualty and there’s plenty of other things that we might just not be aware of.

Here’s some links for hypothermia treatment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf85qfJUNfc

a good concise video, but only call 000 in an emergency on your Australian trips ! and when they say warm drinks, they absolutely do not mean hot drinks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjjSeiXwEbI

Again a good video, but only call 911 for emergencies on your Canadian trips, and again, NO HOT DRINKS, just warm ones

secondary drowning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMpH7MiFtTY

secondary drowning / dry drowning (this one is best watched on mute!!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0no0M_sgiQw

First aid ABC

Watch this and you’ll still be a long way from being a paramedic, but ABC, airway, breathing, circulation will go a long way to getting the very basics in an emergency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIfqjU1BC8

@colinodonnell Greetings MMR from Julia upstate Albany New York…. I hope all my friends in Cork are well.   This is a wonderful site.  Thank you for the terrific videos on the life safety and jackets. They are very helpful and extremely informative.  I hope this is the forum to ask if anyone might suggest a particular life-jacket that I could order online which has the features expressed in the videos for a person who rows a currach. I will be returning to Cork Aug. 1 for a much longer period of time than previous and would like to purchase one either on-line or  in a marine store in Cork to purchase when I arrive, provided there is good service to support a purchase. Two life jackets have been purchased in the past, both being insufficient for various reasons….one without the crotch strap and the other was too long, getting caught up in the oars. Grateful for suggestions.

 Go raibh maith agat.  Julia Richards

@juliagrace 

Hi Julia, 

Great to see members interacting with this thread and finding it useful. 

I would compare this to buying shoes online. The product may be fantastic, but if it's not a great comfy fit it's largely useless to you. 

My opinion is go into Union Chandlery and/or CH Marine, make sure to mention to them that it's for currach rowing (because they both often look after us) and mention that freedom of movement and avoiding oar handles getting tangled is important. Make sure to try it on for comfort 

Happy Shopping, 

Colin

Dia dhuit Colin. Thank you. Much appreciate your advice. This website is truly inspiring.

East wind at Shandon BC - Turning naomhogai

When there is a significant easterly wind coming alongside SBC pontoon upwind (of course!)  leaves the naomhog pointing the wrong direction for loading onto the trolley.  Turning the boat by holding the bow results in having to pull her alongside with the wind pushing the boat away - unsafe. 

By taking hold the stern the wind can be used to turn the boat - without ever having to pull against the wind on the boat. 

See https://photos.app.goo.gl/JnsagwBmwwiHGiFZA

Turning 3h racers is optional as they can be loaded onto the trolley with the stern "uphill"