Medevac and Marina Emergency

Medevac (Medical Evacuation) and marina emergency management are the last line of safety in regatta sailing: when first aid on board or on the safety boat is not enough, the injury or medical emergency must be transferred quickly, in a coordinated manner and without radio chaos into professional care. This applies on the water just as much as in the regatta marina, at the pontoon, in the boatyard or during equipment inspection. Organisers, race committee, marina operators and team managers must know in advance which rescue routes exist, who makes decisions and how communication with emergency services, harbour master and hospitals is conducted.

What Medevac Means in a Regatta Context

Medevac refers to the targeted medical evacuation of a person from the scene – whether from the regatta area, a safety boat, the berthing area or the clubhouse – to a facility with an adequate level of care. In sailing, the spectrum ranges from rapid transfer by RIB to a nearby landing point to helicopter evacuation in cases of severe trauma or cardiovascular emergencies at sea.

A marina emergency covers all medical and safety-related incidents in the vicinity of regatta infrastructure: falls from the pontoon, crush injuries from crane or trailer, cuts during rigging work, allergic reactions in the regatta canteen or loss of consciousness due to heat and dehydration during equipment inspection. Both scenarios require the same structured procedure: recognise, stabilise, report, transport, document.

Difference: On-Water Medevac and Marina Emergency

The logistical challenges differ significantly. On the water, wind, sea state, visibility and distance to the landing point are limiting factors. In the marina, narrow pontoons, vehicle traffic, shore power connections and coordination with berth management dominate.

Medevac Procedure on the Water

A structured medevac procedure reduces response time and prevents parallel, contradictory measures. The following sequence is based on established SAR protocols and World Sailing recommendations for event safety.

Phase 1: Recognition and First Aid

1. Safety boat or nearby sailing boat reports incident to lead safety and PRO.
2. Nearest boat with medical qualification is assigned – not automatically the first one in sight.
3. First aiders stabilise: airway, bleeding, heat retention, immobilisation if spinal injury suspected.
4. No unnecessary movement of the injured person; in MOB situations, person on board first, then medevac decision.

Phase 2: Transport Decision

Lead safety or the PRO makes the transport decision in consultation with medical personnel. Criteria are severity, weather conditions, distance to landing point and availability of external SAR forces.

Phase 3: Handover and Documentation

At every medevac handover – whether to ambulance, SAR boat or hospital – the following must be passed on: name and age, known allergies, medication taken, circumstances of accident, measures carried out, time of incident. The PRO documents the incident for insurance and debriefing; in cases of serious injury, a written report to World Sailing and the national federation is required.

On-Water Medevac: Process Flow

Marina Emergency Plan for Regatta Marinas

Every regatta marina should have a written marina emergency plan before the event begins. It complements safety boat protocols and addresses onshore risks that do not exist on the water.

Mandatory Components of the Marina Emergency Plan

1. Emergency contacts: Emergency services, police, fire brigade, nearest hospital, harbour master, event safety manager, regatta doctor.
2. Medevac quay: Fixed quay or pontoon with sufficient depth, clear access for ambulances and rescue boats, marked on site plan.
3. Helicopter landing site: Coordinates, clearance by control centre, cordoning by volunteer team.
4. Medical station: Location, equipment, staffing times during regatta days.
5. Evacuation routes: Wheelchair- and stretcher-suitable paths from pontoon to road without bottlenecks.
6. Language and communication: At international events, English emergency announcements and multilingual signage at the medevac quay.

Typical Marina Emergency Scenarios

• Fall from pontoon: Common during night work on the boat or on wet ground after rain. Immediate immobilisation if neck pain; call ambulance, do not move person alone.
• Accident with crane or travel lift: Crush injuries and fractures; cordon off area, stop machine immediately, inform operations manager.
• Heat stroke during equipment inspection: Common at summer events; cool affected person, provide fluids, call ambulance if consciousness impaired.
• Cardiovascular emergency in clubhouse: Provide AED, initiate CPR, dial 112, keep medevac quay clear for ambulance.

Communication and Radio Protocols for Medevac

Medevac reports take priority over all other regatta radio traffic. They use the same channel as MOB reports – usually the safety channel defined in the sailing instructions.

Standard Medevac Report Format

1. Call sign of reporting boat three times.
2. Keyword "Medevac" – clear and internationally understood.
3. Position: GPS coordinates or leg of course plus distance to nearest mark.
4. Number of patients and severity (green/yellow/red or minor/moderate/severe).
5. Resource requested: Landing point, ambulance, helicopter, regatta doctor.
6. Repeat by lead safety for confirmation.

For marina emergencies in parallel: inform event safety centre by radio or phone so medevac quay can be cleared and ambulance guided in.

Roles and Responsibilities

Preparation Before the Regatta

Organisers should firmly establish medevac and marina emergency procedures at least four weeks before event start – not only on the first race day.

Organiser Checklist

• Medevac quay named in notice of race and sailing instructions
• Marina emergency plan in writing and distributed to volunteers
• Rescue routes physically walked (day and night lighting)
• At least one safety boat with medically qualified crew
• Regatta medical station equipped with AED, stretcher, first aid kit
• Emergency contacts posted on committee boat and at safety centre
• Drill: medevac report and quay clearance in safety briefing
• Hospitals and ambulance locations clarified in advance (distance, travel time)
• Insurance and reporting obligations for serious accidents clarified

Team and Skipper Checklist

• Regatta emergency contacts saved (PRO, lead safety, regatta doctor)
• Medication list and crew allergies documented
• First aid kit on board and in marina box checked
• Life jackets and MOB systems functional
• Knowledge: Where is the medevac quay?
• Captain or deputy designated for medevac decisions

Practical Examples from Regatta Operations

Olympic selection with foiling class: At a 49er regatta, a boat collides with the committee boat. A sailor suffers boom trauma. Lead safety assigns the medical reserve boat, PRO abandons the series. RIB goes directly to medevac quay; ambulance already waiting. Handover after eight minutes – documented for federation report.

Club regatta at inner-city marina: A junior falls from the pontoon while rigging. No spinal board available – marina emergency plan provides stretcher team of four volunteers. Regatta doctor immobilises, ambulance guided through narrow access. Event continues; affected class informed.

Offshore regatta with long coastline: Severe hypothermia after MOB. DSC distress call and SAR coordination parallel to RIB evacuation. Decision for helicopter after stabilisation on safety boat. Medevac quay serves only as fallback.

Medevac Milestones in the Event

Legal and Insurance Aspects

After serious accidents, reports to the organiser, sailing federation and possibly occupational accident insurance are required. Teams should complete accident reports without delay. Documentation of medevac measures provides protection in liability questions – but it does not replace legal advice.

Organisers are liable for adequate safety precautions; skippers are liable for safe conduct of their boats. Medevac by SAR often incurs costs that are borne differently depending on insurance and nationality of the person affected. The notice of race should state which emergency care the organiser provides and which costs participants bear themselves.

FAQ: Common Questions on Medevac and Marina Emergency

Who decides on helicopter medevac?

SAR control centre after medical assessment, not the PRO alone.

Must the race be abandoned for medevac?

Yes in serious cases; in minor cases often only the affected fleet.

What is the difference to MAYDAY?

MAYDAY = immediate danger to life at sea; medevac = medical evacuation, may be Pan-Pan or internal regatta alert.

Does every small club regatta need a helicopter plan?

No, but medevac quay and ambulance access are mandatory.

Who accompanies the injured person to hospital?

Preferably a team member or regatta doctor after agreement with ambulance crew.

Integration into Safety Boat and SAR Structures

Medevac only works when safety boat protocols, SAR chains and marina infrastructure work seamlessly together. Lead safety, medical reserve crew and a defined medevac quay are not optional extras at large events – they make sense at every regatta where foiling, strong wind, youth classes or high participant numbers increase risk.

Response Time Targets for Medevac Chains

Related Topics

• Safety Boat Protocols
• Rescue Services and SAR
• DSC Radio and Distress Call
• First Aid on the Water
• Marina and Logistics

Last updated: 4 July 2026