Inflatabe Rescue Boats

The Driver

The Driver is responsible for skippering the IRB from the start to finish of the race. The Driver’s job is to get the motor started and drive the IRB out approximately 120 meters out the back to the awaiting Patient, and return to shore with that Patient.

The Crew

The Crew is responsible for ensuring the IRB gets away cleanly from the shoreline and successfully navigates the surf to the awaiting patient. The Crew’s job is to ensure the IRB gets over or through any waves and then pick up the patient out the back.

The Patient

The Patient is the prize. The purpose of IRB racing is for an IRB to start on shore, get to the Patient as quickly as possible, then return to shore with that Patient. The Patient’s job is to work with the Crew to ensure they get into the IRB in one movement lasting no more than 1 second.

The Start

The Driver and Crew start on the starting line on the sand, their IRB being held in the water by two handlers. Once the starter’s gun sounds, their job is to run down to the IRB together and get it off the shoreline as quickly as possible.

The Finish

The Driver and Crew approach the shoreline at full speed having just returned from picking up the Patient. The Crew’s job is to ensure the Patient sitting behind them doesn’t become dislodged when the IRB hits the sand. The Driver’s job is to beach the IRB on the sand, exit the IRB and run up the sand across the start/finish line.

The Tube Race

The Driver and Crew launch the IRB from the beach, negotiate the wave zone on the race to the front turning buoy. The Crewperson dons a tube, dives from the IRB, swims 25 metres to the tube Patient buoy, hooks up the Patient and they both swim back to the waiting IRB. Once the Crew and Patient are back in the IRB, the IRB rounds the front buoy and then races back to the beach. Upon hitting the beach, the Driver exits the IRB and runs up and over the finish line.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team are regular State Champions and medallists in this event.

The Mass Rescue Race

The Driver and Crew launch the IRB from the beach, negotiate the wave zone on the race to the front turning buoy, where it performs a 360 degree turn around the buoy and proceeds to the middle Patient pick up buoy. Here the first Patient has their hands clasped together above their head. The Crewman leans out on the left side of the IRB placing their left arm through the Patient’s arms and pull them into the IRB while it is still very much on the move, and the IRB returns to shore.

Once back to shore, the first Patient alights with the Driver. The Driver sprints up the beach and runs around a marker while the Crew and first Patient are busy turning the IRB around to prepare for the second leg of the race. The Driver boards the IRB, re-starts the engine and the IRB again negotiates the wave zone on the race to the front turning buoy, rounds the buoy, and proceeds to pick up the second Patient and then IRB races back to the shore. Upon hitting the beach for a second time, the Driver exits the IRB and runs up and over the finish line.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team are regular State Champions and medallists in this event.

The Teams Race

This race is the same as the Mass Rescue Race but instead of the first Driver and first Crew going back out for the second leg of the race, after picking up the first Patient and returning to shore, the first Driver and first Crew hand the IRB over to a second Driver and second Crew who are waiting on the start/finish line. The second Driver and second Crew then perform the second Patient pick-up and finish the race.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team are regular State Champions and medallists in this event.

The Single Rescue

Often referred to as the ‘dash for cash’ or ‘blue ribbon’ event: this is the most prestigious race. The Driver and Crew race away from the beach, turn around the front buoy, proceed to the Patient pick up buoy to pick up the Patient, race back to the beach as fast as possible. Upon hitting the beach, the Driver exits the IRB and runs up and over the finish line. This event is typically over in about less than a minute from start to finish. When you consider that the buoys are normally at least 120 metres from the shore, you begin to understand how fast this race really is.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team are Australian medallists, and regular State Champions and medallists in this event.

The Team Relay Race

This is an all-in event, where the four events above are all combined into one event, with each leg being conducted by different Driver and Crew. It is a great fun way of finishing a day’s competition.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team is one of the most successful IRB racing teams in WA. The Racing Team are Australian medallists and have multiple State Champions amongst our ranks. The Racing Team regularly travels around Australia to attend National Championship events.

The Scarboro IRB Racing Team has the steadfast support of the Scarboro SLSC and we have an impressive line-up of new IRBs and motors which give us the best chances of success on a national level.