Winter Paddling  – Winter rules come into effect on October 15th

Winter rules are in effect from October 15th to April 15th.

  1. ALL PADDLERS MUST WEAR PFDs during both daylight and evening hours.
  2. Paddlers venturing West of the Burrard Street Bridge must stay within 50 m of shore at all times.
  3. There is no paddling when the temperature is 0’C and below (including wind-chill) or when there is ice on Alder Bay. Personal risks of slips and falls because of ice on ramps and docks, risks of damage to equipment due to ice sheets on roadways, walkways, and ramps, and equipment damage because of extended cold periods are considerably higher now than normal. Even when temperatures rise above zero degrees, there should be no paddling when there are ice sheets across which you need to transport boats: the risk of you slipping and falling and damaging yourself or club equipment is too high.
  4. Novice paddlers:
  5. i) Must paddle in pairs at all times

and

  1. ii) May not venture past the Burrard Street Bridge unless accompanied by a qualified FCRCC coach, either in a coach boat or paddling

Paddling in Dark Hours

https://fcrcc.com/paddling-at-night/

Paddling during dark hours – rules are in effect all year round.

The following is required when paddling during dark hours (Sunset to Sunrise):

  1. All paddlers:

Must wear, or mount on the boat, a non-flashing (“solid”) white light which is clearly visible all around the boat.

This is in accordance with Transport Canada’s requirements for Navigation Lights: for “Human-powered Pleasure Craft”, a solid white light, visible 360° around the boat (see also the complete Safe Boating Guide, pages 40-43).

  1. For Coach boats:

The bow (front) of the boat must have a solid red light on the Port (left) side, and a Starboard (right) solid green light; the stern (back) of the boat must have a solid white light.

This red/green/white directional lighting is in accordance with TC’s “Power Boats under 12m” category.

  1.   All paddlers require a partner when paddling in the dark – no solo paddling!
  2.   Do not paddle West of the Burrard Street Bridge