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7 Canoeing covers a wide and canoes (see Appendix 9 for details diverse range of disciplines of course providers). including sea kayaking, white water kayaking, surf kayaking, polo, 7.2 Prior to entering the slalom, marathon, sprint, freestyle water and touring. ■ Ensure you are a competent swimmer and capable of A canoe is a lightweight narrow surviving in the water in the boat, typically pointed at both ends areas you operate in. and open on top, propelled by one ■ Undertake a First Aid course and or more seated or kneeling a life-saving course.
Canoeing/Kayaking paddlers facing the direction of ■ Never operate alone, always travel using a single-bladed paddle. canoe in company. ■ Do not operate a canoe if under A kayak is a small, narrow boat the influence of alcohol or drugs. which is propelled by means of a ■ Inspect your craft and equipment double-bladed paddle. thoroughly. Check it is fitted with adequate buoyancy material and In this Code of Practice, the term that such buoyancy is correctly canoe when used also refers to a distributed and secured within kayak. the hull. ■ Ensure that the bung is fitted There are a number of basic safety correctly. precautions that should be applied ■ Do not use the canoe unless you to any canoeing activity, regardless are certain it is watertight. Boats of its speciality. with temporary repairs should not be used. 7.1 Training ■ If carrying additional equipment, Undertake a recognised training ensure that the canoe is never course in the correct use of the overloaded. specific type of canoe you wish to ■ Use a spray deck, with quick use. Be completely familiar with release where relevant, and be relevant rescue/recovery drills, self- completely familiar with its use. righting techniques, e.g. Eskimo ■ When using a spray deck, roll, etc. Practice such drills with ensure that the grab loop is in fellow members of your group. good condition and is within Canoeing Ireland have a reach. comprehensive training and ■ Always ensure that your accreditation scheme, which covers name/contact address are river, sea kayaking and open permanently marked on the hull.
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The addition of strips of retro- ■ All kayaks should have suitable reflective tape to the hull is footrests. recommended. ■ Check the hull is fitted with grab 7.3 Personal Safety loops/towing lines. Kayaks over Equipment 270 cm in length should have ■ PFD/lifejacket (see Appendix 5). decklines fitted fore and aft. ■ The PFD should be fitted with a Kayaks less than 270 cm in whistle to attract attention, be in length should have cowtails a Hi-Visibility colour and fitted fitted. with retro-reflective strips. ■ Ensure that a responsible person ■ Ensure you are suitably attired is aware of your intended for the type of activity, area of departure, locations and return operation and time of the year. details. ■ Be aware of the dangers of ■ Ensure that you carry a mobile hypothermia when wet and phone or Marine VHF radio in a exposed to the elements. suitable watertight cover for use ■ If paddling where the risk of head to summon assistance in injury exists, a suitable helmet emergency situations. should always be worn. ■ Open canoes are not suitable for ■ When making descents on the sea. remote rivers of Grade 3 and 85 Recreational_partB_ch6_11_Layout 1 17/10/2017 17:02 Page 86
7 ■ Have a passage plan and alternative emergency plans, e.g. safe landing area down wind, etc. ■ Do not operate alone – kayak in company. ■ If capsized and floating outside your craft, remain with it. It offers a better target to rescuers and has a high buoyancy factor. Do higher, and while sea-kayaking, not attempt to swim for shore you should carry a registered unless adjacent to the shore. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Canoeing/Kayaking This will enable early alerting of The following additional equipment the rescue services in the event should be considered: of an emergency. ■ Flares ■ Towrope/throw bag 7.4 Sea Kayaking ■ Torch Sea kayakers should observe the ■ Suitable knife following additional precautions: ■ Portable waterproof VHF radio ■ Be aware of the weather forecast ■ Portable GPS unit and sea area forecast. Only ■ Personal EPIRB operate within your limits and ■ First Aid Kit ability. Canoeing in a windforce 4 ■ Spare food/drink or above should only be ■ Paddle float/leash considered for the very ■ Sun cream and sun hat. experienced. ■ Be aware of the tidal conditions Essential equipment should be for the areas that you are carried on the person or in an operating in. easily recoverable buoyant grab ■ Be aware of the effects of bag. interaction between wind and tide on sea states. 7.5 River ■ Carry a chart for the area of Kayaking/Canoeing operation. These can be River kayaking ranges from touring laminated and attached to the on slow moving Grade 1 water in kayak deck. either open canoes or recreational ■ Carry a hand held compass. kayaks, to the more extreme white ■ Ensure a nominated person water river running, which can ashore is aware of your itinerary, include whitewater rapids, departure and return times. waterfalls and features such as
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stoppers and undercuts. Freestyle ■ Contact numbers for medical kayaking is at the more extreme assistance/rescue end of the canoeing spectrum. authorities/lockkeepers should Trained and competent persons be available on site; only should attempt this activity. ■ Kayaks should have adequate buoyancy; In addition to the basic safety ■ Get First Aid training and carry a precautions mentioned First Aid Kit on river trips; previously, operators should ■ If carrying a throwbag, also carry observe the following additional a knife; checks and advice: ■ Depending on the difficulty of the river, consider carrying some of ■ Hulls are examined for damage the following: each time prior to entering the o Split paddles; water; o Webbing slings and ■ Potential courses should be carabiners; studied for hidden dangers, o Duct tape; snags, currents, etc., prior to o Dry clothes; putting boats in the water; o Group shelter; ■ Boats should never operate o Food and money; alone on a stretch of water; o Matches/lighter. ■ In extreme and difficult locations, ■ Be aware of the river’s grading shore based rescue/recovery and of the water level before personnel should be in committing. The different grades attendance, trained and are listed in the Table on the equipped in the rapid recovery of following page. persons in distress;
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7 Grade I: Water is stationary or extremely slow moving Flat Water and without any obstructions. The way down a river is clear but simple Grade II: obstructions do exist. Small stoppers and small Moderately Difficult drops can be present. There are places where the flow accelerates. There is a choice of routes. There is a route that is easily recognisable from Grade III: the water. Waves can be irregular. Boulders and Difficult obstructions can be numerous. Stoppers and small eddies exist. Inspection is advisable. The route is not always clear and inspection is Canoeing/Kayaking advisable. Rapids are continuous and breakouts Grade IV: are few and small. Stoppers are powerful. Very Difficult Continual manoeuvring with precise control and good decision making is required. Inspection is essential because serious dangers can exist. Large drops, narrow passages, very Grade V: complex boulder fields, ever changing water and Extremely Difficult difficult holes are characteristic of this grade. Difficulties are continuous.
The Canoeing Ireland website has registered Personal Locator more detail on the levels of river Beacons (PLBs). This will enable grading (http://canoe.ie/river- early alerting of the rescue grading-and-area-definitions). services in the event of an ■ Be particularly cautious during emergency. flood water conditions. ■ In rivers of a high flow rate, with ■ Inspect unknown drops before extended periods of rapids, it is running them; be aware that recommended that kayaking drops may change or that new groups should consider using hazards may have formed (e.g. waterproof radios to allow fallen trees, etc.). Set up bank communication between group based rescue, where members when line of sight is appropriate. not possible. ■ Consult Waterways Ireland Marine Notices and lockkeepers 7.6 National Association for local information. Canoeing Ireland is the national ■ Kayaking groups making association for canoe and kayak descents on remote rivers of based activities in Ireland (see Grade 3 and higher should carry Appendix 10 for contact details).
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