A violent crab can lever a rower out of the boat. If this happens:
To you, swim down until the boat has passed with its fast moving oars and riggers.
If you see a rower ejected, yell, "Weigh 'nuff, hold water!"
Extend flotation to the rower--an oar, a shirt, an empty, sealed water bottle
Pull the rower to the boat.
It may be possible to set the boat so that the rower can hoist him/herself back in.
Immediately hail the coaching launch.
Collison or Running Aground
Remember that in the event of a collision with another boat or object, the safety of the crew is paramount over the condition of the boat. Immediately check with all crew members as to their physical conditions. Once that has been determined, evaluate the damage to the boat and determine if crew and boat can proceed safely.
If your boat runs aground on a sandbar, stop rowing immediately at your coxswain’s command.
The coxswain should try backing out if the boat is not too far up on a sandbar, but try not to scrape the bottom of the boat. If you have become too stuck on the sandbar to back off if it, rowers will have to get out one by one on the sandbar until the boat becomes light enough to lift and push off of the sandbar. Take great care that the bottom is firm enough. A muddy bottom can pull you down.
Rowers assisting from the water in pushing the boat off the sandbar should try to remain in shallow water, being careful of sudden drop-offs. The rowers should then carefully get back into the boat and return the boat to the boathouse.
Once back on land, check the hull of the boat for damage.
Sinking boat
If a boat swamps, rolls, or starts to sink:
Remove your feet from the shoes.
Get out if the boat is unstable or has rolled guts-side-down.
Stay with the boat.
Account for everybody.
Buddy up. The cox should buddy with the stern pair.
Check on each other constantly.
Hold each other's hands across the upturned hull.
Get back into a single or double, of possible.
If it's not possible to get back in, wave an arm, an oar, a shirt, or blow your whistle to signal trouble.
Sometimes it will be possible to move the boat to shallow water where you can stand up, shake the water out of the boat, and climb back in. Be careful of soft, muddy bottoms. They may be too thick to swim in and too thin to stand on. Do not let go of your boat without firm footing.
If the water is cold, get out of the water as soon as possible--back into the single or double, or up on the hull of an upturned boat. If that is not possible, huddle like spoons for warmth. Hold onto each other across the boat so no one slips under, even if they lose strength or consciousness.
If hoisting in is not possible and there is no available launch, the person could grab hold of the stern of another boat and then all should row back to the dock, pulling the capsized boat and rower.
Because a panicked person in the water can pull down a rescuer, thereby drowning both, it is NOT advisable for another person to leave the boat or launch and go into the water to attempt rescue. This type of rescue should only be considered under extreme circumstances by persons with advanced training.
When the situation is stabilized, continue to evaluate the appearance and orientation of the person in the water. Note that people becoming hypothermic often say they are all right when they are actually deteriorating.
Other Emergencies
In general, if someone becomes disoriented or lightheaded, get back to the boathouse or to shelter, get their temperature back to normal, and if appropriate, call 911.