Board rescue and tube rescue rules

The patient's signal

The patient swims to their allotted buoy, puts a forearm over it and raises the other arm straight up (§4.3.1, §4.6.2). Signalling at the wrong buoy disqualifies the team, unless the patient corrects it before signalling. A patient who reaches the buoy more than five minutes after the first patient, or takes over ten minutes, disqualifies the team (§4.2.11).

Board rescue

• Two per team: patient and board rescuer (§4.6.2).
• The rescuer may not start until the patient signals, then paddles around the buoy (clockwise unless told otherwise).
• The patient takes hold of the board on the sea side of the buoy and may help paddle back.
• The finish is judged on the first of the pair to cross the line, on their feet, with both in contact with the board.

Tube rescue

• Four per team: patient, tube swimmer and two rescuers (§4.3.1).
• The tube swimmer may hold fins and the tube but not wear fins before crossing the start line.
• The tube goes around the patient's body under both arms and is clipped behind the buoy line; the tow line must be fully extended outside the surf zone.
• The patient may kick and scull under water but may not swim with arms out of the water, and must not be towed on their stomach. Only the tube swimmer uses fins.
• The two rescuers drag or carry the patient to the finish, judged on the chest of the first rescuer crossing upright. The patient may lift their legs but not walk or kick.

Both rescue events are raced as combined-junior and senior team events at the SA championships (§11.4.1).