Page 38 - Osprey Binder

2.0 Introduction

The need for an effective and efficient powerboat racing rescue boat, that did not
compromise the physical safety of a crashed/injured pilot, was recognised by a
scuba diving team over 40 years ago. This rescue team evolved into what is now the
"Osprey Powerboat Rescue Team Ltd.". Over the years various methods were
employed to bring an injured pilot from the crash scene afloat to medical assistance
shore side. Most methods were rudimentary and involve lifting the unfortunate
person over the gunwales of a rescue craft. This method could exacerbate any
injuries already sustained. In order to minimise this problem an idea germinated in
the fertile minds of the Osprey Powerboat Rescue Team, who envisaged utilising the
idea of second world war landing craft. From this idea the "Osprey Drop Front Boat"
was designed and built. The present day boats are of the same principle and have
been improved upon over the years to provide a very effective rescue boat for the
sport of powerboat racing.

The Osprey team attend race meetings in the UK and around the world to provide an
assurance to the racing pilots that they will be removed from the water very swiftly,
the time being as short as 30 seconds in most cases. To assist the recovery the
helmsman of the rescue boat can lower the front of the Osprey Boat by a hydraulic
valve lever on the steering console, this allows the front men of the rescue boat to
approach much closer to a pilot in the water or an upturned boat. On occasions it will
be necessary for the front men to get in the water to effect the rescue and they may
have to dive underwater to release pilots from entrapment in their cockpits, through
various reasons such as unconsciousness or unable to complete their escape from
the cockpit. In addition to the drop front of the boat a double "A" Frame structure can
be used to elevate a cockpit clear of the water, in conjunction with 100kg buoyancy,
rapid inflation "lifting bags", this to ensure that any difficulty in releasing the pilot is
nullified by having him/her clear of the water and in a stable situation, thus he/she
can be "worked on" without the fear of drowning.

Without going into the technical description of the boats, the rescue and recovery
function follows a basic pattern of events:

During any race meeting either one or two Osprey Drop Front Boats are stationed on
the course but off the racing line, sometimes inside the course and other times
outside or even one inside and one outside the course.

There are 4 personnel on each boat:

 Helmsman
 Flag/Radio/First Aid person
 Front man/Diver X 2

The helmsman must be experienced for the standard of racing involved from Juniors
racing at about 45 mph to Formula 1 boats racing at over 125 mph.

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