Venue: Hamble River from Botley Bridge to Hamble Ferry (sheltered tidal water)

Instructor Qualification:

Technical Advisor    
BCU Level 3 Coach (Canoe)

Instructor                   
BCU Level 2 Coach or,  

BCU UKCC Level 1 with site specific training and restricted operating area.

Ratio:

Rafted open canoes 

1 instructor to 12 participants. Maximum 8 people per raft. May be used by swimmers and non-swimmers.

Open Canoes paddled tandem 

1 Instructor to 8 participants (Maximum 3 people per boat)

Open canoes paddled solo        

1 Instructor to 6 participants.  Open canoes can be used by swimmers or those who are water confident in a capsize situation.

  • Maximum of 16 people on one session.  Other sessions may run concurrently.
  • Visiting staff to be included within numbers.
  • Apart from the instructor there must be at least one other responsible adult present aware of the abilities and disabilities of individuals within the group.

Equipment:

  • Canoes should be in good state of repair and meet with BCU standards.
  • Painters and buoyancy must be secured.
  • Raft fixings must be secure and well maintained.
  • Paddles should be in a good state of repair.
  • All participants must wear correctly fitting personal buoyancy (EN standards)
  • Participants should wear appropriate clothing and footwear.

Instructor Equipment:

  • Buoyancy Aid
  • Paddle (with spare paddle available)
  • First aid kit                 
  • Mobile phone      

Pre Session:

When planning a session consideration needs to be given to:

  • Weather: Air temperature, wind (speed and direction), water temperature, outlook, when appropriate windchill, burn time.
  • Tide: Time of high/low water, range.
  • Group Ability: Individual needs, medical issues.

Report/record details of direction/destination and estimated return time

Session:

  • Check equipment at start of session.
  • Fit and check personal buoyancy before going afloat.
  • Give safety talk/demonstration (as appropriate) at start of session.
  • Ensure that care is taken
  • While participants are on jetty or near water.
  • While any participant remains on the water.
  • Ensure that care is taken (including consideration of manual handling issues)
  • While moving canoes
  • While launching canoes
  • While helping participants to embark
  • While moving canoes
  • While launching canoes
  • While helping participants to embark

When Afloat:

  • There will always be a qualified instructor afloat before participants are afloat. 
  • When using rafted canoes the raft will be tethered until the instructor is afloat.
  • Obey general navigation rules    
  • Take care near moorings and marinas                                        
  • Avoid close quarters situations with other boats, moorings, etc
  • Keep clear of sites of environmental significance, mudflats, nests, etc
  • When using un-rafted canoes instructor must be able to carry out a deep water rescue from whichever craft he or she is using.

End of Session:

Ensure care is taken

  • When disembarking, and while on jetty
  • While putting boats away (during busy periods canoes should not be left unattended on jetty)
  • Faulty equipment should be labelled and/or removed from service.  The fault should be logged (staffroom whiteboard/check sheet) and made good as soon as possible.

THE INSTRUCTOR HAS FINAL SAY IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A SESSION TAKES PLACE AND IN WHAT MANNER IT IS CARRIED OUT