Safety requirements

    • The written acknowledgement by his/her club safety officer that he/she is competent to paddle in open ocean races if and where required by the race committee
    • The wearing of a PFD (CSA approved). It must be bright in colour
    • A leash in sound working order, and must be attached to the body and to a safe point on the craft, preferably the foot strap.
    • The CSA number of the paddler of the craft to be affixed to the LEFT SIDE of the craft on the front deck.
    • The ankle strap with the timing chip must be attached to paddlers’ left ankles.
    • A cell phone with enough airtime, a fully charged battery, the race emergency number loaded, in a waterproof pouch, housed in a pocket of the PFD, per paddler.
    • NSRI SafeTRX loaded and activated on the cell phone (to see how to set up the app, watch this video). You can download and read more on the app as well as watch a video on the app: https://www.nsri.org.za/water-safety/safetrx/
    • A whistle. Of the variety that can operate while wet.
    • Brightly colored clothing, including a cap (if worn).
    • A minimum of 30% of the deck of the ski must be covered in a bright colored paint or a bright colored (preferably luminous) decal. Or, 1000mm of the nose and tail of the ski must be painted a bright colour).
    • A bright colored decal on the back of each blade of the paddle.

    THE RACE SAFETY COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO STOP A PADDLER FROM PADDLING THE RACE, SHOULD WE DEEM THIS PADDLER NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROFICIENT OR EXPERIENCED FOR THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS.