Mass Rescue

In IRB racing, Mass Rescue is a competitive event that simulates a rescue in which more than one patient. is in trouble. Hence, it requires more than one trip back to the buoy to complete the rescue.

The Mass Rescue consists of two patient pickups and a changeover in between (2 patients as opposed to 1 patient in the basic rescue). The patients are both situated at the pickup buoys (one in front of the buoy and one behind) with one being picked up during each leg of the race. The IRB travels around the buoy in an anti-clockwise pattern. The start of the Mass Rescue is the same as that of the standard rescue race. After the first patient is picked up, the crew returns to shore where the driver gets out of the boat after cutting the motor and putting it into neutral, they then run up the beach around a turning post and head back to the boat for the second leg. During the driver's run leg, the crewperson has to turn the IRB around to face the surf once again. The first patient also gets out of the boat at this time. Upon entering the boat for the second leg, the driver has to restart the motor, upon which the crewperson will re-enter the boat and take up position on the bow. The second patient will have manoeuvred into position behind the pickup buoy after the first pickup and the second leg should progress in the same as the first. Upon returning to shore the driver has to cut the motor, place it into neutral and run over the finishing line.

The Mass Rescue is an excellent test of a crew's strength and endurance.