Please note all sailing is an ‘assumed-risk’ activity. You are responsible for your own actions, the following guidance has been provided to give you the most enjoyable and safe experience possible.
Sailing – Top Tips!
Before you go:-
- Listen to our staff, ask questions if there is anything you are unsure of. If it’s your first time out, or you have special needs or concerns – let us know, we can usually spend a bit longer with you and give you more pointers.
- Bring footwear – old trainers that you can get wet, or wet shoes / boots. There is always the risk of standing on broken glass in the lake. You may get wet feet in a rowing boat if you plan to land on an island.
- Be aware that modern electronic devices do not mix well with water. A phone is a useful safety tool, but it is also vulnerable to water damage. Please take steps to ensure your devices are safe.
- Put our number on speed dial (017687 73082) IF you choose to take a phone on the water. In certain weather conditions our dynamic risk assessment may require you to take a charged phone if you wish to avoid cancellation of the session (in winter or moderately bad weather conditions)
- If any of the participants are under 16, they must be accompanied by an adult over 18. (in the same group not necessarily in the same boat)
Getting Started:-
- Keep your buoyancy aid or life jacket on and fully fastened. If you take them off on an island, it Is critical they are put back on and fastened properly before setting off again.
- Sailing boats are only hired to people with who have enough previous experience and or qualifications to handle them. Please be honest about your experience. Whether or not you will be allowed to hire will depend on the conditions at the time and forecast conditions.
- Please listen carefully and ask questions during your briefing about the shallow bits.
- If you are not sure, do ask your hirer for a recap.
- If we have any doubts of your abilities when you are getting out of the bay and heading out of sight then we will come and retrieve you back to bases.
- The skipper is responsible for his crew.
Once your on the water and feeling a bit more confident:-
- Stay on the lake – do not go up or down any rivers. We are not licensed for boats to be removed from Derwentwater and it’s hard to rescue you from the river.
- In the event of a capsize stay with the boat if you are unable to right it.
- Let us know if you are going to be late out or back.
- If hiring as part of a group, stay with that group.
- Stay out of the way of the Keswick Launch ferries. (they have a timetable to stick to, are big and need to stick to deeper water and channels and can make a big wash which may be difficult to manage as a fledgling paddler). They are easy to spot and are usually predictable.
- Stay clear of wildlife on the lake especially young or nesting birds.
- Alcohol does not mix with sailing. Do not drink and sail or drink and swim.
- Never allow hands or feet to come between the boat and solid objects such as jetties.
After your session:-
- return your boat / boats to the part of the beach you collected them from.
- Take your rubbish home or put it in one of our bins.
- Let us know your back at the hire desk and hang your wetsuits and buoyancy aids up on the used kit rail.
- Let us know about any problems.
- Send us your photos on Facebook / Instagram / by email and we will add them to the 2021 gallery.
Remember all boat hire is subject to our hire agreement. You will be asked to agree to this during the booking process.
Nichol End Marine. Portinscale, Keswick, Cumbria. CA12 5TY.
Tel. 017687 73082. Info@nicholend.co.uk.
Registered address: Nichol End Marine Limited, 2nd Floor, 121 Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. LA14 1AX
Registered in England & Wales. Company no:8395361. VAT registration: 157 5268 84