Participant Orientation

Inherent Risk 

• Sailing/Paddling Boarding is an inherently risky activity. Participants will be exposed to hazards which are both objective and subjective in nature. 

• Objective Hazards include sun, wind, cold temperatures, cold water, rapidly changing conditions

• Subjective Hazards include injury within the vessel, potential collision, vessel traffic, mainsail boom, rope burn, entanglement, loss of balance and falling off board

Coarse Boundary 

• Participant must remain within the course boundary (review map at kiosk)

• Other vessels may be operating or anchored within the coarse boundary. Participants must follows basic right of way rules to avoid collision.

VHF Radio Operation 

• VHF radios are to be kept attached to your person, not the boat. Radios must be left on and with channels locked at all times. 

• VHF radios are to be used for emergencies and requesting assistance only. Not for casual talking. 

• Program staff may call participants for return to dock or other. 

  • Examples of emergency would be injury or inability to recover from capsize. 

  • Example of assistance would be a rigging issue or assistance needed in docking. 

• Overview of how to make calls on VHF radio will be given at checkout.

Policies and Rules

1. You and everyone in your party must wear a PFD/life jacket at all times while on the dock, and on the water.

2. You must complete a Liability Waiver and read this Orientation sheet 

3. No landing anywhere else but the Seafarers Public Dock or the Seafarers  Beach (unless an emergency).

4. No Drugs, Marijuna or Alcohol

5. Return everything where it belongs

6. Check in & out with Kiosk Staff

7. Children under 14 must have a parent on site

8. Children under 10 must have a parent on a paddleboard/boat with them

9. You must stay within our boundaries

10. Take care of our equipment - You are responsible for any damage!

11. Break a rule, you get a strike - Three strikes you may not rent for the rest of the season

12. Late Policy: You must have your AWA equipment back to the Kiosk by closing. If 15 minutes late, you will be charged an additional hour (due to added staff compensation)

13. You must stay out of the Marine Channel. This is a federal waterway and a dangerous place for small boats/paddleboards.