Club Standard Operating Procedures
As a peer led paddling club all participants of club activities, whether on or off the water, are deemed to have shared responsibility for their own and each others safety. This will involve being familiar and applying the guidance below relating to “Risk Assessment” and “Recommended Safety Equipment”.
Risk shall be assessed before embarking on any paddling as well as on a ‘dynamic’ basis at all times whilst paddling. An essential part of this is communication with colleagues in terms any problems or anxieties the individual themselves may be experiencing and likewise being alert to any such problems by colleagues.
Any paddler under the age of 18 must be a member and accompanied by their parent or guardian who is also a member and who is a competent paddler in terms of skills, equipment and their ability to assess the prevailing conditions.
RISK ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDED/ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
As a peer led paddle club it is each members responsibility to ensure that they are familiar with the following for each paddle, and take responsibility for their own fitness to paddle in any given set of paddling circumstances. The safety equipment guidance must also be followed.
Paddlers have primary responsibility for their own safety.
The following is general guidance on good safety practice, and each situation will vary and may present other issues – ultimately using common sense and maintaining a close awareness of the unique characteristics of each situation is essential.
A copy of this is to be referred to by participants prior to each individual paddle outing.
1. RISK ASSESSMENT
Matters to be considered by each participant in discussion with paddling colleagues before and during each paddling outing
The individual shall ensure that they are clear what is being proposed in terms of the paddling outing
FORECASTS and TIDAL PREDICTIONS. Mobile phone apps such as ‘Windy’ provides forecasts of wind tidal flows and wave state. The hydrological Office gives tidal forecasts. The Met Office gives coastal weather forecasts and for selected sites around the UK, beach forecasts (inc. for instance Hopeman and Cullen) which give predictions for swell.
Tides – Spring/Neap, direction of flow, times of high/low water, effects on wind/waves/headlands/narrows/overfalls etc. Reflected waves from rocky shores, particularly when there is a swell (clapotis).
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Wind forecast - particularly with reference to the other factors (see above) and during exposed parts or the proposed paddle.
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Precipitation/mist - rain can significantly add to other adverse weather conditions. Mist, which can appear unpredictably, can severely hamper visibility placing a reliance on navigation aids (crucially the compass). Loss of visibility hampers not only direction finding but also other vessels awareness.
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Temperature - air and sea. Always dress for the likelty sea temperature in case of immersion. Water conducts heat 25 times faster than air and hypothermia can quickly kill. This means that even in summer a dry suit with under insulation is usually appropriate.
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Wave conditions - in relation to wind etc and particularly swell from distant weather systems.
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Daylight times - time of sunset.
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Night time paddles - special precautions such as the need for constant communication, lighting and collision hazzards from other vessels.
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Paddlers should consider their own skill, fitness level and any medical conditions and ensure that colleagues are made aware of any relevant issues that may potentiallyt affect safety in relation to what is being agreed for the days paddle. Self skill assessment should take into account such things as self rescue ability, ability to rescue others and stamina.
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Awareness of any non specific issues such as ferry routes.
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Contingency plans for shortening the paddle or coming ashore with the issues in relation to safe landings (problems of rocky/exposed shores).
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During the paddle all the above matters must be under consistent review by all paddlers with a readiness to change plans accordinglty. Paddlers should be watchful of their own safety and as much as reasonably possible paddlers should be watchful of each others safetty and needs.
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2. RECOMMENDED/ESSENTIAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
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All individuals shall ensure that all their paddling equipment is in a safe condition, that they have adequate clothing (inc. spares), an approved-design buoyancy aid and spare paddles accessible on deck.
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VHF with practice in use (recommended)
Basic First Aid Kit
Compass (essential)
Whistle (essential)
Mobile phone in waterproof case with location apps (such as What3Words, OS Locate) and ideally a navigation app (essential). Power bank for charging phone, with lead.
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Map in waterproof case.
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Accessible food and drink (essential)
Means of signalling (in addition to the essential whistle) - flares (electronic, pyrotechnic, waterproof torch (recommended).
Dry Suit with under insulated later, gloves, hat.
Helmet - when paddling among rocks or sea caves or surfing (essential, but it is for the individual to decide)
Identification and emergency contact details.
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