The club chooses to limit access to its two RIBs for reasons related to safety. To achieve this, it seeks to ensure that the skills and abilities of helms are kept up to date through regular use, ongoing training and oversight.

The primary users of the club’s RIBs are members of the RIB Squad for the purpose of carrying out on-water duties which is overseen by the RIB Squad lead (riblead@chipsteadsc.org.uk). Assessment for and membership of the RIB Squad is at the discretion of the lead. RIB helms are expected to have undertaken some kind of continuous professional development every four years. The RIBs are for safety cover and training. They are not ‘working’ boats so should not be used to carry out on-water maintenance.

Those authorised to helm RIBs are:

• Aged 18 years and over, and a member of the RIB Squad
• All internal RYA Powerboat Instructors
• Any candidate on an RYA Powerboat course who is under direct (in-boat) supervision (a candidate may be under 18)
• An RYA Trainer or other external instructor, by arrangement with the Training Principal or Chief Powerboat Instructor
• An authorised member of Wealden Sailability during Wealden activities

The club keeps a record of authorised helms for powerboats which is held by the Chief Powerboat Instructor (pbtraining@chipsteadsc.org.uk). As part of authorised use, it is expected that those members (or those under the supervision of those members) oversee the proper care and stowage of the equipment.