WE ARE CURRENTLY STILL IN A NATIONAL LOCKDOWN
From 00:01 Thursday 5th November to 00:01 Wednesday 2nd December we will suspend all club paddles.
After this date we intend to resume with the guidance below.

During these difficult times we are not doing any general paddles where you can just turn up and paddle at the last minute. To control numbers, every paddler needs to be pre-booked with the coordinator or through our Bookwhen.com booking site. Paddles are notified through the club`s Google Group and also placed on the clubs calendar. All paddling takes place in separate, small groups of up to six paddlers. We follow all National and Local guidance and adhere to the British Canoeing guidelines for paddlesports. From December 2nd 2020 the region is now in Tier TWO (High Alert)

Latest Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-levels-what-you-need-to-know

• Please stay away if you have any symptoms or are self-isolating.
• Please use hand sanitiser immediately before and after paddling.
• Remain in your car until called forward to enter the compound and leave as soon as possible after you have finished.
• You are required to wear a face covering while moving around the compound area (from your car to the compound and only removing it when your are afloat).
• Do not chat or socialise with anyone else from another group while in or around the compound and maintain 2m distance at all times.
  

The club is now moving to Stage 4, where most paddles at the docks are using club equipment. You must bring your own hand sanitiser and spray and use it frequently and sanitise any loaned equipment (eg paddle shaft)

Stage 1 – Promotion of club led trips on easy water currently with up to 5 others.
Stage 2 – Club led trips allowed to launch from Coburg Dock (but paddlers must use their own equipment as the compound will not be opened).  Parking is available on the top car park if the barrier is not open (£1 per hour)!
Stage 3 – If the named leader of these Coburg Dock trips is also a key holder and is willing,  they can allow people in their group access to the compound to collect and sanitise a set of equipment. A full Covid-19 risk assessment will need to be consulted.
Stage 4 – A “Docks Paddle” will consist of a single group but a “Docks Session” may have several distinct and separate groups paddling at the same time. All paddlers will be pre-booked with a leader. A full Covid-19 risk assessment will need to be consulted. LCC Covid-19 Risk Assessment
Stage 5 – Allowing a return to general paddles of more than 6 at any one time but this will depend on Government advice for mass gatherings.

The club has agreed the following protocols:

• If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus, please stay at home and self-isolate.
• All paddling will be in pre-booked groups with a maximum number 6 paddlers with a named sheltered water leader (A group with more than six will be able to paddle together if made up of ONLY two households).  Canoe Polo sessions will run under British Canoeing guidance notes and risk assessments with full social distancing.
• All Club Paddles should be on the calendar and advertised to all in the club.  Please avoid forming clique groups during this time to ensure fair access for all.
• Each group of 6 will have a named sheltered water leader who will be responsible for organising the paddlers both on and off the water. Sheltered Water Leaders and coaches
• A Docks supervisor (key holder) can organise a Docks Session and ask for it to be put on the calendar. (email  )  This is where they will open the compound at the start and end of the session and allow sheltered water leaders and their pre-booked groups to access the boats one group at a time and get quickly on the water and paddle off.  The next group will then move from their cars to access the boats with only one group allowed in the compound at any one time.  Each group will operate strictly as a distinctly separate group and leave quickly after they have returned all loaned equipment.  Each leader is responsible for coordinating and supervising their group including asking if the docks supervisor has room for their paddle.  When advertising a paddle please give details of specific craft or purpose (eg Stand Up Paddle Board paddle for 6, Open Boats paddling or “General purpose easy paddle” etc)
• All paddlers should use their own hand sanitiser before, during and after each paddle and loaned equipment should be sanitised before its use by the user (paddles, buoyancy aid zips and boat handles etc.
• The changing sheds should not be used – They will remain locked.
• Members should be encouraged to select the correct equipment without trying multiple sets.
• The club will supply antibacterial spray for use on the padlocks etc but members borrowing paddles should clean loaned items themselves and remove all cleaning products and waste.
• We will continue the policy of NOT allowing members to hire club equipment for paddles away from the docks.  There simply is not the capacity to allow for this.   The exception would be for key holders who can use their own key to collect and return club equipment used solely for them or paddlers under their lead to participate in such club paddles.  If you need to borrow club equipment under this arrangement please contact  for the new link as the booking form has been removed from the website.
• If you are feeling unwell or are in one of the medium or high-risk groups you should continue to shield and stay away from club promoted paddles.
• Children under 16 will only be allowed on the water with a paddling adult from the household (eg a parent).
• There is absolutely no expectation that any members of the Stewardship group or keyholders group should run any sessions unless they expressly want to.  If you are still advised to shield, then please continue to do so.
• People can help carry longer kayaks and still main 2 metres, but they should be encouraged to always use the same pairs carrying the same ends when getting off the water.
• Paddlers should not pass anything to others eg a camera etc

Sheltered Water Leaders and coaches

Guidelines for club Paddles and Trips

Template for google group email advertising a club trip……

If you have an idea for a paddle, would like help or advice to organise it, please email

We now allow more than one group on a session at one time. How will it work in practice:
A key holder Ruth has asked for an open boat paddle to be added to the calendar and is organising her group of up to 6 paddlers (via googlegroup).  A non-keyholder but qualified paddler Janet emails Ruth to ask if she minds her running a second group for a general docks paddle in kayaks.  Ruth replies no problem and Janet organises her group for up to 6 paddlers.   Both groups arrive at 10am.  Ruth opens up the compound and her group get on the water while Janet’s group remain by the cars.  Individual paddlers sanitise any loaned equipment – especially their hands and paddle shafts.  The padlocks are left “on the hook” but Ruth waits near the compound to see that Janet gets her group on the water and locks the compound.   Both groups remain separate and discrete using which ever area of the docks they want but all paddlers remain social distanced at all times (eg 2m apart).   Janet’s group return before the allotted return time of 12:30 and remain on the water.  When Ruth returns, she opens up the compound and her group quickly put the equipment away.  They then move to their cars and leave.   Janet’s group exit the water and return their equipment.  Janet, overseen by Ruth locks the compound and all remaining paddlers leave the site.   Each group had a leader but Ruth had overall responsibility for the security of the compound.   Ruth found it so easy to do she asked for the paddle to be named a “Docks session” next week so that other non-keyholder sheltered water leaders could email her to ask to bring their own group to the session. 
All paddlers MUST be pre-booked with a leader and these details kept for a minimum of 21 days to aid track and trace.

FAQ – Club promoted trips.

What are the current guidelines:  Social distancing must take place at all times along with frequent hand washing or hand sanitising.  Currently no more than 6 people may meet for exercise at an outdoor venue.

How do I organise a club paddle:  Contact  to add the trip to the calendar.   Brief details are then sent around by google group email – Members are then free to reply confirming they would like to take part and give brief details of experience etc if not known to organiser. Coordinator then confirms place (or not) on the trip and time / meeting place etc

What if someone brings a friend without confirming with the organiser meaning the group is now larger than 6 – both will be asked to go home and not paddle with the rest of the group. (absolute maximum of 6 people – including children). Only people booked on should attend and only people from the same household in the same car or boat.

What if another group is accessing the compound The second group must wait on the water or in their cars until the first is finished. We want to minimise the time spent in and around the compound to absolute minimum.

What if I do not have my own equipment – Most dock paddles are advertised as allowing members to borrow club equipment but you CANNOT hire club equipment for trips away from the docks unless the trip leader has indicated that he or she will be present to open the compound for you to collect and return the equipment.  The only exception is a key holder who pre-books a kayak for themselves or trip members for a club trip and can return it the same day with their key!

Can the trip be A to B with a car shuttle – Social distancing guidelines say no car sharing for members outside a household, so these kinds of trips are unfortunately not advised at the moment. However the government has issued advice if you need to car share……

What if a paddler drops out – this may result in others being turned away and should not happen – only reply to an email about a trip if you are 100% certain you can make the paddle