Tightened exercise privileges in Greater Sydney – effective 5pm, Friday, 9th July

Australian Seabird Rescue – southside paddler member helps resuce Pelican

News from Paddle NSW

Rod passed peacefully, 12 April, after a long battle with prostate cancer.

Rod was one of the founding members of Southside Paddlers in 2011. He was a life member. Rod was the happiest teaching the younger kids to paddle and was always behind the BBQ. Rod kept paddling as long as could,  although he suffered some aches and pains. He led an interesting life, starting work as a young teenager on the train lines.

Our sympathy goes to his family on his passing. RIP ROD.

PADDLE NSW has provided clubs with a safety plan. Link Below.

We are still closed as we have to clean the containers and equipment before we can return to paddling and other  things to bring us up to covid code.

Take care, remember hand hygiene and social distancing.

PaddleNSW Safety Plan

Key messages…. Social distancing off the water; thoroughly clean shared equipment after use; ARRIVE-PADDLE-DISPERSE (limit socialising); no BBQs; change rooms remain closed; people with cold or flu-like symptoms stay

Any event or activity with more than 20 participants must have a safety plan and it must be displayed at your venue.

covid-19-safety-plan-PN

Latest update from Paddle NSW in regard to impending easing of the covid19 restrictions from NSW Sport & Recreation, plus Paddle Australia,

• Currently up to 10 paddlers in a group setting. If your club activities involve more than 10 paddlers, please use separate waves to spread the field. For clarity, we are recreating not competing.
• Currently we shouldn’t be using showers and change rooms at the clubhouse.
• Currently K2s (or more) should only be used by people within the same household. My exemption request for easing of this Public Health Order is still being considered.
• However paddlers in canoes may be from different households.
• Currently carers may assist paddlers with a disability.
• Currently we may instruct rescue techniques (ie within 1.5m for coaching and education purposes).
• Currently we are not a food and beverage industry. We are a recreation provider. Don’t consider BBQs at the clubhouse and don’t even serve tea & coffee. Keep the socialising minimal until further easing occurs.

From 1st July…..

• Junior competition in all sports may reconvene. Contact sports may once again involve full contact.
• There will be no limit (currently 10) to the number of U18 paddlers in a race.
• From 1st July adult paddlers may COMPETE in races provided there are no more than 10 paddlers in each wave.
• Canoe polo may resume provided it is limited to 5 per side.
• Still no serving food and beverages. Please advise paddlers to BYO.

Stay safe on the water. As we are a small club, we are staying with the current decision to remain closed until further notice.

Due to covid-19, the club will be closed to all paddling activities. We will not be accepting any new members till the situation changes. Basically that means until a vaccine is developed and is available to the community.

We are following the advice provided by the peak paddling bodies, Paddle Australia and Paddle NSW.

We strongly advise  you follow government advice. The situation is constantly evolving and changing. Please refer to the Australian Government Health advice, NSW Government health advice and Paddle Australia and Paddle NSW.

Take care, Stay home, Practice good hygiene and spatial distancing and we can get through this together.

Southside Paddlers.

From July 1  2016, all kayakers need to be wearing a lifejacket at all times.

If you are paddling in the water you should  wear a life jacket. Just like you need to fasten your seatbelt in a car, or wear a helmet when you get on a bike.  Basically, the rules are there to keep you safe. It is your responsibility. Stay safe on the water.

Here are the new rules if you want to read them – These are the most up to date rules at time of writing and are the law, there is still some old information on the Maritime website that has not been updated referring to being more than 100m from shore, this distance has been removed from the new rules.  : http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2016-308.pdf.

Here’s a summary worth reading about the rules : http://www.paddlensw.org.au/blog/new-lifejacket-rules

What are the requirements for canoes and kayaks?

http://maritimemanagement.transport.nsw.gov.au/faqs/index.html#lifejacket-law

Children under 12 must wear a lifejacket at all times. If your child is over 12 years old, they must wear a lifejacket when they’re in a canoe or kayak on enclosed waters . If they’re in open waters, they must wear a lifejacket at all times.

Do I have to wear a lifejacket on a surf ski?

A ‘surf ski’ is considered to be a “spec” ski when used in Surf Life Saving NSW events, training and competition. All other “skis” such as ocean-racing skis, sit-on-tops, plastic skis and the like are regarded as kayaks (see separate category).

For this particular ski, SLS NSW has been granted a special exemption from having to wear a full lifejacket This applies to SLS NSW members when they’re training or competing within 500m of the shore on open waters.

Here’s a link to help you select the right life jacket for your needs : http://lifejacketselector.com.au/find-right-lifejacket/

Our club has purchased some life jackets, available to members who have forgotten to bring their own with them.

Thank you to Tradies for providing the funding so that we could keep our members safer.Thanks to Steve Dawson from the Shire for this sound interpretation of the new Rules. New Lifejacket Rules July 1

Lifejackets like the new Vaikobi are comfortable and unobtrusive.

From July 1, all kayakers need to be wearing a lifejacket at all times.

The following advice does not constitute legal advice. The legal references are included below. Read them and refer any questions to Roads and Maritime NSW.

Short version…

The 100 metre rule is gone.

Fines have increased to $250.

The only exception is if you are “accompanied”, which [according to the RMS officer I spoke to] means either…

1. …in a vessel which has more than one occupant over 12 (this is specified in the regulations)
2. …another paddler is close enough to render immediate assistance (this is not specified in the regulations)

My opinion is…

1. There is nothing in the regulations that stipulates “accompanied” can be in another boat nearby. I think you risk getting a ticket.
2. The explanation of “immediate assistance” that I was given indicated a distance of around 20-50 metres which is impractical to maintain at all times. I think you risk getting a ticket if you (or your companion) fall behind or stop for a drink.
3. The exception for a double kayak is nonsense. If you were in a double kayak without a life jacket and are now in the water you are not in a position to render assistance.

Summary…

It’s easier to put a lifejacket on and avoid the $250 fine.

The advisory note is here… http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/maritime/reg-change.pdf

The annual AGM, presentation and a reintroduced club forum were held yesterday at Lands End – a lodge on the hillside of Chowder Bay on Sydney Harbour. Surrounded by bush and water it was a delightful place for paddlers to meet. For those who wanted to paddle the waters of the harbour – paddle times were included into the schedule. The forum was quite successful raising lots of issues and possible solutions and making everyone aware of differing concerns for all the different paddling groups – from recreational to sport paddlers, marathon to wildwater to canoe polo, ocean ski slalom and sprint.A new board was elected, and 2 new patrons appointed, one being Helen Brownlee and the other the Holder of the position  of the NSW Minister for Sport. Lots of good things being done by PaddleNSW and lots more things to do.

Just a reminder – the sport of paddling needs more officials and coaches ( recreational, learn to paddle and sports programs) So if you see a call for volunteers at any of the events you are attending. Please try and help out as many hands make light work.

Thank you to Peter Tate, CEO, staff, Board and all the volunteers on committees who are trying to do their best for the Paddling in our state!

At PaddleNSW Awards presentation following the AGM, the 2014/2015 awards were announced.

Congratulations to all of this years NSW superstars!! ??