Licences and insurance
The person in charge of the sailing dinghy should be experienced to a level comparable to that of an RYA Level 2, unless under the supervision of a qualified sailing instructor (or taking part in an organised club event under the control of an officer of the day).
No person under the age of 16 must be in sole charge of a sailing dinghy unless under the supervision of a qualified sailing instructor (or taking part in an organised club event under the control of an officer of the day).
No person should provide sailing instruction for payment unless licensed to do so by the Bristol City Council.
All dinghies must be covered for third party liability insurances to the sum of £3,000,000.
Safety regulations
All dinghy sailors and people in charge of sailing groups should make themselves aware of:
- our water quality statement
- all relevant Watersport Safety Codes and Byelaws
- any local notice to mariners, in force
- times of tidal operations
- the sluicing operations and warnings at Underfall Yard and Junction Locks.
All accidents or dangerous occurrences must be reported to the Harbour Master as soon as possible.
Buyonancy aids
All sailing dinghies should be in a sound condition and have sealed integral buoyancy chambers or fixed inflated buoyancy bags.
All persons in sailing dinghies must wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket marked with the relevant CE mark.
Group sailing
Racing or course marks can only be laid with the prior knowledge and consent of the Harbour Master.
All organised group sailing must have adequate safety boat cover and the people operating safety boats must be competent to do so.
Before you sail
Dinghy launching trolleys should be removed from the slipway immediately after launching or recovery.
Sailing dinghies should be rigged as far as possible before being slipped to reduce time and congestion on the launching pontoon.
Dinghies should not be left moored on the landing pontoon if they're going to cause an obstruction to other vessels launching and recovering their vessels.
In the water
The harbour should be regarded as a narrow channel.
Sailing vessels should:
- keep a reasonable distance from anglers at recognised angling sites.
- not obstruct the passage of large motor vessels navigating within that channel
- keep close as practicable to the bank on their starboard side and navigate at a safe speed when approaching sailing dinghies
See the International regulations for the prevention of collision at sea for safety information about two or more sailing dinghies out on the water.
Vessels not taking part in an organised race should avoid impeding those that are.
Inexperienced dinghy sailors should only sail in the Baltic Wharf recreational area, unless they have adequate safety boat cover, or are under competent supervision.