The portages are all easy, as the surfaces are nice and smooth. However, you migh want to consider launching at the top of Neptune's Staircase. That's a long portage for not much paddling. +1 for cafe at "Well of seven heads."

Duct tape solves many problems. Denso tape wouldn't be suitable for mending clothes, a tent, or as a bandage cover. It's often possible to dry the surface if necessary. Notice that if the compass is in a map case you may need to but a wet hand into the case to set the compass. Mine's just lark's-foo...

Not because I was there, but because I was negligent.

I think nearly all of this anguish comes down to the ridged formal leader and followers approach pushed as the only way to proceed by the BCU. You don't get groups of walkers, cyclists or climbers getting their knickers is a twist about liability yet their doing activities with a similar or even gr...

I've had a worry for some time that the FAQ quoted above and the insurance schedule document are in conflict. I tried to bottom this out by contacting both the broker and the BCU. The broker said (orally, so I can't substantiate it) that for club members, experience and qualifications were irrelevan...

And incidentally, I don't think it matters whether reasonable precautions have been taken. Not taking them would be negligence, but it's negligence insurance.

...., the club committee reckons that as long as I submit my paddle plan to them and they approve it, I can take the group and be covered by the club insurance. .... [/quote] I believe that statement to be true. You are a club member, and it's a club trip ('cos the committee approved it). So you (an...

A I see it, if it's a formal club trip, the club committee are taking responsibility that the trip will be "sufficiently" safe. So those taking part don't have to do their own assessment of the leader. This is very valuable to members, who may not have the ability to do this assessment. To my mind, ...

Signing a disclaimer doesn't do much. It's only an indication that you gave consent to participation - but it doesn't prove the consent was informed consent.

I think negligence can still happen even with consent.

But I don't really know - I'm not a lawyer.

"Paddle to the Arctic", by Don Starkell covers kayak. His previous (but not as gripping) "Paddle to the Amazon" is about canoeing.

A thrawn b*gger, as we say up here.

[/quote]
.... (other than BCU membership which doesn't cover me if i act as a leader - as i understand it). .....
[/quote]

That's the crux of the discussion here. I think that the BCU insurance covers all club members on club activities regardless of qualifications.

If the club member is deployed to lead a session by the club, the club would be responsible and would be asked should it come to court etc why they had deployed that person and why they deemed them fit to do so! Hence clubs needing insurance - it should be noted that the BC Club insurance also cove...

Thanks, failed to find that. It does seem to support the theme that you are covered either: as a coach (but needing a coaching qualification); or as a club member (not needing a coaching qualification). Pushing the boat out further, it seems to me that an incompetent club member who coaches is still...

Thinking further, I think that the policy does cover unqualified coaches provided they are club members taking part in a club activity. Can't check, now that the FAQs are gone.

It would be good to have clarification of this - any BCU folk listening?

Ah, that's a change to the schedule, hadn't seen that. Doesn't say that the qualification has to be relevant to the activity ...

Doesn't seem to require anything similar for trip leaders, as far as I can see.

I see the insurance FAQ's have disappeared from the BCU website.

... Am I right in understanding the policy is all about being sued for negligence ? ... Yes,I believe so. But it would pay up only if damages were awarded. To my mind the difference between a formally led trip and a peer trip is that in the first instance someone other than the participants (so may...

sean107 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:42 am

Robert Craig wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:16 am

1) Does anyone get sued

That, I think, is the biggest part of the question

It's not only "does anyone get sued", but "does anyone spend the rest of their lives thinking (or being thought by others) that they were responsible for an injury or death?

... So what do you have to do, in a club context, to keep the insurance valid? You need to show you have adequate competence and experience, and in an affiliated club, having the relevant BC qualification is one way to that. ... My understanding is that the BCU insurance is in place whether or not ...

The "Harry Potter" car park is down beside the river, on the North side of the road. You can launch straight into the river.

Station car park would be a long carry, and a bit anti-social, I agree.

Out of season, I've left my car overnight in the "Harry Potter" car park (slept there once) several times, with no issues. As to informing police or coastguard, I've never considered doing that. Means I can change my plans without consulting anyone except those with me. In season, the hotel car park...

My wife is 53 kg and loves my Vela.

This doesn't answer the question you ask. But I find photochromic lenses magic!

Can't mix polarised and photochromic, though.

Never tried polarised

Palm PEYTO buoyancy aid (aka pfd), red, size M/L for sale.

New and unworn, still go the dangle tags on.

£60

Glasgow area, near Pinkston Watersports or could post at cost.

Might be a lump of epoxy squeezed out when the blade was attached?

Most immediate action would be a complaint to the local Council access officer. Facilitating access and enforcing the removal of obstructions is a Council task.

Always carry, never used.

Leads to the question: "have you ever needed your FA kit (needed in the sense of life or limb saving), and what in it was useful?"

Thanks - I'll have a poke about

A friend is trying to acquire a new gooseneck (or gooseneck + boom) fro a Flat Earth sail. The gooseneck, which is a plastic moulding, looks as though it might be a re-used standard moulding for some other purpose, but (as I don't know its name) I can't use the might of Google to find it. Anyone got...

Spey too, though admittedly neither in England or Wales - otherwise fits your requirements.

My own keel strip has been bashed on rock, dropped, and suffered all sorts of abuse. It's worn through, and chipped. But the gelcoat hasn't flaked of as shown in the pictures posted. Doesn't look right to me. I support the idea of trying to pick off some more gelcoat with a fingernail or a blunt scr...