Safety

Important:  

The Participants Guidelines have been revised and are now found on the link below. We suggest you follow these guidelines on all your trips.

Participant's Guidelines

If you are a new or less experienced paddler, be sure to choose the right trips for your safety and that of others.  If you are not sure about your skills, ask the contact person about the route.  Each of us is responsible for our own safety when paddling together.

The Coast Guard requires paddlers to carry safety equipment with them on every paddle.  You’ll need a spare paddle, 15 m. buoyant throw line, a whistle or horn, a bailer or pump, and your pfd or lifejacket. Please be sure to have these items plus a complete change of clothing in a dry bag when you come on club paddles.

A more skilled paddler can become a safer and more confident paddler. If you are interested in gaining more skills the attached document may help you find the training you need. Note that this is a living document, also note that the club does not endorse any of the listed organizations. It is the paddler's responcibility to assess the organization and their own personal goals.

Training Opportunities

Paddling safe requires that you are aware of hazards and weather conditions typical to the areas you paddle in. When you are paddling near home we take our knowledge of the area for granted. When we paddle in unfamiliar areas we are often paddling with higher risk. The following document Paddling to Unfamiliar Areas on the Open Coast gives some ideas on how to handle new paddling areas.

Paddling to unfamiliar areas on the open coast

Trip difficulty ratings:

Intro: Protected waters, short paddles with a couple of stops. Paddlers unsure of their abilities.
Easy: Protected waters, up to six miles one way. Beginner
Moderate: Up to two miles of open water and nine miles one way. Intermediate
Strenuous: Open crossing and/or portages. Over ten miles one way. Advanced
Marathon: Open crossing and/or portages. Over twenty miles overall. Advanced

Trips and Events

General Trip Information:

For weekend day trips please phone the contact 24 to 48 hr before the scheduled trip, to determine any changes, to the time and place of departure.

You must be a member to participate in overnight trips but prospective members are welcome to come along on a day trip or two before joining. You must file a signed a waiver with the Membership committee a week or more before paddling with us.

Wednesday Paddles:

You can check the marine forecast here for North of Nanaimo and here for South of Nanaimo before you leave.