Venue: Hamble River from Botley Bridge to Hamble Ferry (sheltered tidal water)
Instructor Qualification:
Technical Advisor
British Canoeing Level 3 Coach (Canoe)
Instructor
British Canoeing UKCC Level 1 Paddlesport Instructor 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