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Paddle safe
Paddling is for fitness, challenge, relaxation - or simply to get to beautiful places.
Paddling is great to help you get fit. Some like it as a challenge. Others simply like it to relax and get to beautiful places. Whatever you use it for, it’s good to know about paddle safety so things don't go wrong.
It was all about doing the right thing to be safe and responsible when you’re using paddle craft. Part of this included how to make sure you’re visible and also wearing a lifejacket.
Wear a lifejacket
One of your most important pieces of equipment is your life-jacket. It needs to be correctly fitted so it doesn’t float up over your head should you capsize. A correctly fitted lifejacket supports your body upright and allows you to recover or wait for rescue. Wear your lifejacket. Don’t leave it in the boat because accidents can and do happen. If you capsize, your lifejacket is no use to you if it is in the boat. Without a lifejacket you can waste a lot of energy to stay afloat, and this can quickly become life-threatening. Compare a paddler wearing a lifejacket in a similar situation. A lifejacket helps prevent you panicking so you can regain your composure and recover more easily.
Be safe be seen
Which are easier to see? The clothing and equipment you choose makes a big difference to how visible you are to others. Put yourself in the captains seat of a powerboat.
. And in glary conditions or when the sun is low on the water be aware how hard it is for a boat skipper to see you. At night or dusk, make sure you have lights. You must display a white light or light sufficiently to show others where you are and to avoid a collision. You want to be able to seen from every direction.
Know the rules
Paddlers have to share the waterways with much bigger and more powerful craft. Do you know how to navigate waterways safely? It’s up to everyone to be safe and avoid a collision. What side do you pass another boat on? On the water you should keep to the right of the waterway - starboard – wherever possible. Stick to the shorelines where you can to avoid other craft. What if you need to cross? Pick the narrowest point to cross, and choose a starting point where you can see clearly in both directions. As you cross, stick together as a group, and keep a lookout. Navigation markers are used to show craft where they can safely navigate harbors and protected waters. Channels are marked by green markers and red markers. Where possible try to paddle outside of these channels - to keep out of the way of other boats. If you have to paddle in the channel, stay to the right hand side and keep close to the edge. Always avoid the middle of the channel. At other times it might be safest to stay closer to the shore even if it means being on the left hand side of the channel. Do you know where the shipping lanes are? Have you any idea how fast large vessels can travel? You could never out-paddle a ship. So avoid commercial traffic, know where the shipping lanes are and paddle clear of them. If you need to cross a shipping lane, you can’t assume you will be seen. Wait till it is safe to cross and always cross well behind larger craft. Keep well clear of the boat-wash. Kayaks and canoes should give way to any craft under sail. Always aim to cross behind other craft.
The right equipment
When you choose your craft and equipment make sure it suits your abilities and experience. This will depend on your fitness, your level of skills, where you plan to go and who with. In addition to your lifejacket, take plenty of water and food, shoes and spare clothing to suit the conditions. Take a helmet if going into moving water such as surf or rapids. If going into open water, a paddle leash or leg leash can save you losing your paddle or kayak. Take a mobile phone with you in a waterproof case. A whistle to attract attention can also be handy. And don’t forget your sun-protection. Keep your equipment well maintained and check it is all in good working order before you go. If your kayak has an open cockpit do you have enough buoyancy? Test your craft in shallow waters to find out what happens when it’s full of water. Consider adding extra buoyancy and something to pump out with. If going offshore consider a waterproof, hand held VHF radio, for communications and weather updates. Offshore you might also carry an EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon which gives your exact location in case of an emergency rescue. Take care when lifting and carrying to avoid injury. When transporting kayaks on your car, make sure they are centered and securely strapped. Under most road rules if they over-hang by over a meter, you will need to tie a red flag or rag to the end. Being prepared and having the right equipment means you can enjoy your paddling with confidence
Plan your trip
Before you set out, check the weather, especially the wind direction, tides, swell, any flood warnings and plan your trip around the conditions. Always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Know what wind strength you can handle depending on where you plan to go. And remember that conditions can change rapidly. Even flat water can quickly become wind-affected, especially large open bodies of water. At sea, swell can add to the wind waves. Take tide and current into account when planning a trip. Tides change around every 6 hours or so. Changes in tides affect sea and river conditions. Low tides can expose hidden hazards such as rocks and oysters. Take particular care with bars. It’s always safest to cross a bar at slack tide – which occurs at the turn of the tide. An outgoing tide can be extremely difficult to paddle against, and you could get caught out unable to get back. The waves at a bar at low tide get steeper and more challenging. If you are paddling on a fresh-water river, check the current rain forecasts and river conditions. Moving waters in rivers are dangerous at any time, as they wash down debris, and disguise hazards such as fences or submerged objects. Trees, logs and bridges can be very hazardous, especially in high water. Don’t paddle or try to wade through flood waters – people have drowned this way
Know your limits
It’s all about paddling within your limits – and that includes your craft, your experience, the conditions on the day and your level of skills. Taking lessons improves your skills and confidence. Be realistic about your fitness and capabilities. Know your own strengths and weaknesses – and those of the others in the group. Don’t travel too far and save strength for the return journey – conditions might be harder on the way home. Learn about what you can do to get yourself out of trouble if you capsize. There are many ways you can rescue yourself, and practice makes perfect! Take some lessons in how to rescue others. It is safer to paddle in a group, and so long as you stay close by you can assist each other. If you stick within your own limits, you will enjoy your paddling more. Here’s some of the key points for safe and enjoyable paddling: wear a lifejacket; Be seen, be safe; Know the boating rules; Pass to the right; Stick to the shore lines; Keep a lookout and cross safely; Keep your equipment maintained; Plan your trip around the conditions of the day; Learn skills to make yourself safe. Keep safe – and have fun paddling
Row safe
Rowing plays a part in the sporting culture of our nation.
Beyond its rich history, it’s a sport that undoubtedly demands a high level of fitness and coordination. But just like all other vessels on the waterways, if you’re part of the crew on a rowing vessel, you must obey some fundamental rules for safe navigation.
When you’re rowing, the essential rules are to be seen, keep a proper lookout and always keep to the right.
You can easily avoid most of the usual rowing issues that happen on the water by simply following some basic courtesy and having an understanding of the rules.
- rowing safety
- rules of the waterways
- waterway courtesy
- keeping to the right
- what to do when a ferry is approaching or departing a wharf
- appropriate lighting and visibility of rowing vessels
Like all other vessels on the water, the crew of a rowing craft must observe some fundamental rules for safe navigation. Anyone involved in rowing must observe them. Every vessel must have a proper look-out. Using sight and sound each person on a boat needs to be fully aware of their boating environment and any risk of collision. The most important points are: - Keep to the right, Stay right over. And keep a good look-out.
While it’s up to everyone to know what’s going on, the cox and the rowing coach need to be particularly alert. This means taking the time to check out not only the course but also the surrounding waterway. Onboard, the most important role of the cox is to ensure the safety of the crew at all times. Whether the boat is bow or stern-coxed, the cox must maintain a proper look out. And it’s the cox's job to ensure that the crew is on the right side of the river at all times and not to cut the corners. The coach is also responsible for crew safety and is the additional eyes and ears for both coxed and coxless crews. Like the cox, a coach needs to keep their crews on the right part of the river. They also need to ensure crews are not rowing side by side right across the river
Take time to know the local waterway. Study a boating map and talk to people on the waterfront. And familiarize yourself with any pinch points in your local area. With any wharf that has regular ferry traffic, always keep well clear and take extra care near any commercial wharves where larger vessels such as ferries or charter boats may operate. And do not cross in front of vessel pulling off or coming along side wharves. Above all, do not attempt to cross in front of a moving ferry. Keep well clear of ferries. The wash from these craft has the potential to capsize and or swamp rowing craft.
Finally, ensure your boat carries at least one white light visible from any direction. Or two separate lights: one on the bow and one on the stern. The newer LED lights have incredible visibility and stand out far more than traditional lights
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