Hi Guys.. scroll down ~
 
*Water Activities*..

When you go to Rammey Island Boating Centre next, 
you'll know a bit about what they (you) do there.. 

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*Mermaid on the port quarter, Cap'n Sir!!*

Now read this..

WINDS ~ TIDES  ~  CURRENTS

WINDS -  Wind is the movement of air. It is never constant.
Around the coast, winds often blow onto the shore during the day [sea breezes] and offshore at night [land breezes]. This is the normal local pattern and it will not apply if stronger winds are affecting the area.

It is hard to pull or row against the wind. The wind can blow you off course, so head to windward ie the direction from which the wind is blowing.

Strong winds mean high waves. Keep your boat heading into strong winds and waves. They will tend to turn the boat broadside on, causing it to roll, and in rough weather waves will break over the side of the boat. You have to counteract this by heading into the wind.

TIDES  -  Tide is the movement of the water caused by the varying positions of the earth, moon and sun. When these are all in line, at full or new moon, spring tides occur. The tide comes in, or floods, and goes out, or ebbs, further at these times than during neap-tides, which occur when the moon is at right angles to the line of the earth and sun. The tide usually floods for about 6.25 hours and ebbs for about 6.25 hours.
Spring and neap-tides occur alternately for periods of 7 days [a quarter of a lunar month of 28 days]

When the wind is blowing against the tide [weather going tide] the water will be rough. When it blows in the same direction as the tide [lee going tide] conditions will be calmer.
Remember - Going against the tide may be difficult and it may be impossible. Plan to go with the tide at all times. If this is not practical, try to go out against the tide so that you can come back with it. You will be more tired at the end of your journey and you do not want to leave the worst part till last.
The rise and fall of the tide will affect anchorage. Leave enough slack in the anchor rope to allow for this.

CURRENTS  -  Current is the movement of water caused by wind and gravity.
Set off or come alongside heading into the current or upstream. Only then can you keep complete control of your boat. Even though you seem to be stationary, you will maintain steerage way, since you are really moving against the current.
Strong onshore winds may cause a great accumulation of water near the beach. This creates an undertow which can be very dangerous when swimming and when disembarking from boats.

Buoyancy Aids & Lifejackets

A buoyancy aid is intended to assist a competent, alert swimmer to stay afloat whilst taking part in active water sports. As such it allows the user the necessary freedom of movement.
A buoyancy aid also provides padding from impacts and insulation against the cold. For some sports these features may be almost as important as the buoyancy.

A lifejacket is intended to keep an unconscious person afloat and on their back in a survival situation at sea (note that contrary to popular belief a lifejacket is not guaranteed to turn an unconscious person on to their back, only to keep them there). Lifejackets may restrict freedom of movement, particularly in small boats and canoes.

Lifejackets can contain either foam or air buoyancy or a combination. For the majority of activities, ones containing at least some foam should be chosen (these work only as a buoyancy aid when not inflated; they should be inflated immediately in a survival situation). Some lifejackets automatically inflate when the wearer enters the water or pulls a tab, others need to be blown up by mouth.

Lifejackets with some (or all) air buoyancy can easily be damaged by sharp objects. As such they are not ideal for activities such as fishing
(the hooks can puncture the lifejacket).

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature has dropped so low that it cannot maintain reflexes such as shivering which return it to the normal temperature range. This is caused by exposure to the cold combined with inadequate or wet clothing, immersion in water or a lack of movement.

Do not assume that this condition is limited to expeditions up mountains. In certain conditions hypothermia may occur on a beach in August!

Symptoms of hypothermia ~ cold, pale, dry skin ~ the casualty becomes apathetic [couldn’t care less], irrational [doesn’t make sense], disoriented [not sure where he is] and lethargic [slow in movement] ~ the casualty’s level of consciousness may lower ~ the pulse and breathing become slow and weak ~ once the body temperature has dropped beyond a certain point, the reflexes stop making the temperature drop even further.

What to do ~ protect the casualty from the elements [weather] ~ if possible, replace wet clothing ~ place the casualty in warm clothing and a survival/sleeping bag. Keep their head covered ~ if the casualty is conscious and is able to tolerate them, give them warm drinks ~ share body heat and warm air [huddle together] ~ do not use a direct source of heat, eg a hot water bottle, to warm the casualty ~ if the casualty becomes unconscious put them in the recovery position ~ get urgent medical help ~ check other members of the group for the same condition and take preventative measures.

Blisters

Causes ~ Blisters are caused by rubbing of the skin eg on the feet from shoes or boots when walking and on the hands from paddles and oars when canoeing and rowing.  Also, blisters occur when the skin is burnt or scalded.
To protect the delicate tissue under the skin, a bubble of fluid ~ a blister ~ develops under the rubbed, burnt or scalded skin.
A blister should not be pierced or punctured as infection can enter the wound.
Blisters can be painful. The pain reminds you to avoid contact with the blister while it heals and to remove the cause of the blistering. This can be a problem as it means that you should stop doing the activity which is causing the blistering eg walking, boating etc.
Repeated rubbing of the skin can at first cause blisters but eventually hard skin ~ callouses ~ develop to protect the skin which is receiving the repeated friction.
Cold water applied to a blister can ease the pain but skin becomes soft when wet and the risk of blisters increases. So, to reduce the risk of blisters on the hands when boating, keep your hands dry.

Treatment ~
It is best to cover blisters and a new type of plaster based on “hydrocolloid” keeps the correct moisture level in the skin to improve healing and reduce pain.

Weil's Disease

Weil's disease is a RARE but serious illness which can cause death.  It is caused by bacteria carried in the urine of rats (and some other animals) which gets into the waterways and lakes.

Precautions ~
Whenever possible, wash or shower after boating.
Cover minor scratches on exposed parts of the body with water proof plaster.
Use footwear to avoid cutting feet.
The illness is very rare but can be contacted anywhere.

The descending scale of risk is :
Stagnant water
Canals and slow moving rivers (particularly after flash floods)
Swifter streams.

Should you become ill after boating (2-19 days) with a flu-like illness (temperature, aching limbs and joints)
call your doctor and say that you are a boat person and may have come into contact with the Leptospirosis bacteria (Weil’s Disease).

It is a rule at Rammey that after you have been in contact with the water or the boats, you wash your hands and face immediately.. particularly before meals.  This is good general advice as other diseases eg E-coli can exist in natural water.