♦ PRACTICE PARENT GUIDE

PRACTICE PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Getting started, preparing coach’s launches and assist with boats:

1.      Arrive at the parking lot 15 minutes prior to rower’s arrival time (i.e. if the practice starts at 5:00 am practice parents need to arrive at 4:45 and head to the boathouse at 4:50 am).  Try to Carpool in one vehicle from the parking lot and bring a flashlight.

2.      Sign in with the Dock Master when entering Atlantic Yacht Basin (AYB).

3.      Open boathouse doors.

4.      Turn on lights (inside light switch, outside light switch, and dock/launch area circuit breaker)

5.      Parent #1

a.       Take shoe bins down to dock and move the goose fence to the left side of the dock.

b.      Go help parent #2 until rowers are about to launch.

c.       When rowers push off from the dock collect the shoe bins and move them off the dock on the ground past the head of the dock until the rowers return. 

6.      Parent #2

         –     Take the following gear to each of the coaches launches (2 life jacket bags, one emergency gear crate, one marine radio, one Ship to Shore radio, one float cushion)  Coach Barker and Coach Powers bring their own Ship to Shore radio.

a.       Grab one of the Ship to Shore radios for the practice parent.

b.      Assist coaches away from the dock.

7.      Launching the coach’s launches.

a.       Unlock the launches.

b.      PUT THE DRAIN PLUG INTO EACH LAUNCH BEFORE LOWERING IT INTO THE WATER!

c.       Put the launches into the water.   Keep the cables connected or hold on to the launch’s lines until you have the lines made fast to the cleats on the docks.

d.      Turn battery switch on and make sure navigation lights are working.

e.       Ensure the gas lines are connected and prime by squeezing the bulb on the gas line two or 3 times. Check for leaks.

            –    Lower the motors into the water, set the choke (no manual choke on Coach Barker’s launch), insert the emergency clip, set throttle to start position and start the motors. Leave the motors running until the coaches get to the boats.

During practice:

1.      Monitor the radios.

2.      Report any boat traffic to the coaches.

3.      Set out 2 slings and 2 towels per boat.

4.      Take hose reel out to dock and connect hose (do not disconnect hoses connected to yachts and be very quiet so we do not disturb people sleeping on the yachts)

5.      Pull hose off of reel and out to the slings.

6.      Relax in the Gazebo and drink your favorite morning beverage. 

Catching boats, coaches and closing up shop:

7.      Parent #1

f.       As boats call in announcing their return make sure shoe bins are back on the dock.

g.      Assist rowers to the dock by grabbing an oar shaft or blade and gently walking the boat to the side of the dock.  When the rowers are holding the dock move off the dock to give them room to work.

h.      When the rowers have left the dock collect the empty shoe bins and return them to the boathouse.

i.        Put the goose fence back up.

8.      Parent #2

j.        Assist the coaches in tying up the launches on the dock.

k.      Ensure tiller arms are in the up position prior to raising motors out of water.

l.        Raise motors out of water.

m.    Attach the winch cable to the launch before you untie the lines from the cleats.

n.      Place launches on their respective skids or on the dock.

o.      Remove the drain plugs except for Coach Barker’s launch.

p.      Lock launches together.

            –    Put all safety gear, life jackets and cushions away.

            –    Put all radios back into their chargers.

9.      Ensure hose reel, slings and towels are put away.

10.  Turn off all the lights.

11.  Shut and secure the doors to the boathouse.

12.  Sign out with Dock Master