This is dangerous
DOWNLOADING the CaRT guidelines for the Severn I was intrigued by the following little snippet, write Mick Fitzgibbons:
'All canoeists and stand up paddlers must wear a personal floatation device. Stand up paddlers should kneel on their board in locks and secure themselves by holding the lock grab rails or another vessel. Follow the lock keepers instructions and keep body parts inside the profile of the board'.
Hold on to our boats
I take it that we are now expected to share locks and to expect paddle borders to hold on to our boats. While at the same time they keep their body parts inside the profile envelope of the board and also stay in a kneeling position.
As paddle boards are lightweight items would they not be better being carried around the lock. Now call me old and just a tad cynical, but I feel that there is a problem here. I am wary about sharing locks with GRP vessels because of their frailty when compared to a 16 tons steel craft. How am I expected to concentrate on keeping an eye for things going wrong. Knowing that there is someone kneeling down on a paddle board and possibly outside of my eye-line?
See:
Erratum:
The Canal & River Trust rules state there is no mixed powered/unpowered traffic allowed in any one lock movement...