Safety
Clothing should be suitable for weather conditions and water temperature.
Paddleboarders should be able to swim at least 50 metres.
Before going on the water all paddleboarders should check the latest harbour water quality information.
Instructors of organised group sessions must be appropriately qualified by an HSE approved organisation such as British Canoeing, Western Surfing Association, The British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) or Academy of Surfing Instructors
Clubs and organisations must have a suitable risk assessment for their activities.
Buoyancy aids and leashes
Anyone under 18 years paddleboarding should wear a suitable approved buoyancy aid.
All paddleboarders should be attached by a leash to the board or wear a buoyancy aid.
You should consider the water conditions that you'll encounter when you choose the type of leash (ankle, calf, waist).
Buoyancy aids should be correctly fitting and to ISO 12402 standard. British Canoeing recommends primary and secondary means of buoyancy when paddleboarding.
Licences and insurance
All paddleboarders must be licenced by the Harbour Master Office (HMO) before going out on the water.
All boards must be insured for third party risks to £3 million.
Before you get in the water
Youth paddleboarding in the harbour can only be carried out as part of an organised session run by a Harbour Master Office (HMO) approved organisation.
Group sessions must be agreed with the HMO in advance to avoid conflict with other water activities. All paddleboarders should check the Local Notice to Mariners prior to going on the water.
The launching and recovery of paddleboards must not obstruct landing stages
On the water
Paddleboarding is one of many activities on the harbour and participants should give consideration to other users.
Consider kneeling in the proximity of landings and quay walls.
No deliberate immersions are allowed.
At night
Individual paddleboarders should not use the harbour in dark hours, there must be a minimum of 2 people.
Paddleboarders must make sure they have one or more white lights in dark hours, for all round visibility.
Where you can paddleboard
Paddleboarders should:
- keep to the starboard side (right hand side) of the harbour
- not attempt to paddleboard in the vicinity of Junction Lock or Underfall Yard
- not paddleboard west of Brislington Bridge at Netham Weir
River Avon between Netham and Hanham can be hazardous during periods of high flow (spring tides or heavy rain). Give careful consideration to your abilities and anyone else's in the group before going afloat in this area.