How Close Is Too Close?
Providing Effective Safety Boat Cover on the River Thames
One of the great advantages of sailing on the River Thames is that help is never very far away.
Unlike large open waters where safety boats must shadow fleets continuously, river sailing offers a unique option: the safety boat can often be moored quietly on the bank, out of the way of racing and training, yet still seconds away from an incident.
But that raises an important question:
How close is close enough — and when does “being helpful” become “being a hazard”?
The Purpose of Safety Cover (and What It Isn’t)
A safety boat exists to:
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Respond quickly to incidents
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Recover sailors and boats safely
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Support training and racing without interfering
It is not there to:
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Sail the race from five metres away
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Hover permanently over inexperienced crews
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Add wash, noise, or distraction to already busy water
Good safety cover is often almost invisible — until it’s needed.
Why the River Changes Everything
On the Thames, we benefit from:
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Narrow water with clear sightlines
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Defined sailing areas
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Easy access to the bank
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Short transit times upstream or downstream
This means a safety boat can often be:
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Moored head-to-stream on the bank
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Engine off
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Crew watching the water, not the throttle
From that position, the boat is:
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Out of the racing line
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Not creating wash
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Not intimidating learners
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Still able to reach an incident in moments
That’s a huge advantage — when used correctly.
When “Too Close” Becomes a Problem
A safety boat that is too close can:
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Blank wind for dinghies
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Create wash at exactly the wrong moment
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Distract helms who are already overloaded
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Encourage over-reliance (“they’ll save me if it goes wrong”)
For learners especially, confidence grows when:
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They know help is available
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But are allowed to sail independently
Hovering just metres away removes that space to learn.
So Where Should the Safety Boat Be?
There’s no single distance, but good practice on the river usually means:
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Moored on the bank
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Clear view of the fleet
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Engine ready, crew alert
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Moving only when necessary
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Approaching incidents at controlled speed
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Staying well clear of boats that are coping perfectly well
The key idea is reaction time, not proximity.
If you can reach any point of the sailing area quickly, you don’t need to be sitting on top of it.
The Moment to Move In
A safety boat should close the gap decisively when:
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A boat is capsized and the crew are struggling
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A sailor is separated from their boat
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A mast or sail is fouled near hazards
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A boat is drifting into danger
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A clear signal for help has been given
When that moment comes, hesitation is worse than distance.
A Calm Presence Builds Confidence
From a sailor’s point of view — especially beginners — the best safety cover feels:
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Calm
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Unhurried
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Competent
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Watchful rather than intrusive
Knowing that the safety boat is there, not right there, encourages better decision-making and faster learning.
In Short: Close Enough, Not Closer
On the River Thames, the ideal safety boat position is often:
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On the bank
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Out of the way
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Engine ready
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Eyes on the water
Close enough to respond in seconds.
Far enough away to let sailing happen.
That balance is what turns safety cover from a nuisance into a quiet, reassuring presence — which is exactly what it should be.
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