Buddy Boating Rules & Guidelines
The following forms Section 19 of the Club 'Policies and Procedures' document.
The phrase 'Buddy Boating' is used to encompass the use of all types of recreational watercraft on Grassholme Reservoir. It includes sailing dinghies, windsurfers, kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards.
Buddy Boating specifically excludes the safety boats and the tender used to access them.
Rules
- For Buddy Boating to take place there must be at least TWO similar craft on the water.
- Each (of two) craft must contain at least one competent adult who can assist the person/s in the other craft if they get into difficulties. Additional craft may not have an adult aboard; e.g. a single handed junior boat.
- Craft should stay within hailing distance of one another.
- All buddy boaters must wear buoyancy aids, carry a whistle to attract attention, and a knife. In April and May they should wear dry suits, or full wetsuits. Water temperatures are very low at the start of the season.
- Buddy boaters must sign up online, and/or give notification to a responsible adult ashore before going afloat.
- Buddy Boating is not allowed in strong winds. This relies on judgement and the interpretation of 'strong winds', but should generally be taken to mean winds of Force 4 (18 mph) and above. The limit for SUPs and sit on kayaks is F3 (12mph).
Guidelines
- Adult club members who are competent sailors may Buddy Boat at any time during the hours of daylight, between the start and end dates of the season as advertised on the club website. Buddy boating during the closed season is not allowed.
- Mast head floats are advised to be fitted to all dinghies.
- When an Officer of the Day is on duty, they may choose to fly a green and yellow pennant in place of the blue safety boat flag to indicate that the safety boat is not operating but that Buddy Boating can continue. For example this might be the case at lunch time.
- Preparing a safety boat and leaving it ashore 'ready to go' should be considered.
Last updated 14:29 on 19 April 2024
