Sign in and out every session
In order for our BCU insurance to cover non-BCU members, we have to be able to provide evidence of numbers on the water

Every session, the sign-in book will be available attached to the club noticeboard, on the front of the club cage.

It is your responsibilty to sign in before using a boat on the canal AND to sign again after leaving the water.

Paddling beyond the canal basin
Regents Canoe Club recommends that you paddle only in the basin in view of the club base until you have sufficient paddling skills to ensure you can go further afield safely and in control i.e. you have directional control of your boat, can avoid bumping into other canal users and know what to do in the event of a capsize.

In all cases it is recommended that you should not paddle beyond the basin on your own. These recommendations are for your own safety and that of other canal users, and considering the following:

• People live on the barges moored along the canal and you should take care not to bump into these, other craft and the canal side generally to ensure we continue to get a welcome from our neighbours.
• Club sessions from early autumn onwards to late spring take place when it is already quite dark and you may not be spotted easily if you get into difficulties at any distance from the Club base
• The sides of the canal are quite high and make it difficult to get out should you capsize away from sight of the club and from assistance

Club members are a friendly lot, so please ask for advice and assistance in improving your skills from others members out paddling.

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Training opportunities
RCC members have requested to know more about the training routes available for them to further their personal paddling, safety and rescue, river leading and coaching skills.

Regents Canoe Club has put together a 4-page 'briefing' on some of the options available to you. Members should also be reminded that they can apply for a 40% subsidy for the cost of courses that they wish to go on.

Training Briefing

Members should note that RCC will be organising group WWSR and AWWSR courses (to find out what these acronyms mean, you should read the briefing!) over the spring/summer when it's warmer to jump in the rivers - for further information on this, the briefing and subsidy or any training questions, please contact Christine on christine.dove@camden.gov.uk.

Training subsidies
Members who wish to organise professional kayak or first aid training and/or assessment for themselves or a group of members can apply to the committee for a discretionary subsidy. Subsidies will only be given if the training will be of benefit to the club, rather than the individual.

Complete the form below and either pass to a Committee member or post to:

Training officer
Regents Canoe Club
16-34 Graham Street
London N1 8JX

Subsidy application form

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Organising a trip

Regents Canoe Club has provided a guide to organising a club trip. The guide is available in Word format. Click on the link below to open the document.

RCC Guide to Organising a Club Trip

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Other information

British Waterways Petition – Save our Waterways

You may know about the media speculation that the Government intends to include the British Waterways' property portfolio as a component of the £16bn asset sale. The Government has made no announcements and is steadfastly refusing to be drawn on the subject. We stand the best chance of preventing this sale if the Government can be persuaded not to do so, during this period of Ministerial silence. Whilst no announcements have been made, it is easier for Government to back away as it involves no public reversal of policy, however, an e-petition has appeared on the 10 Downing Street website. The worst outcome now that this is in the public domain, would be if this petition receives scant support giving Ministers the impression that there are few waterways supporters who care very much about the issue. On the other hand, if it is well supported, the Government, this close to an election, is very sensitive to actions it might take which may lose votes, and would probably take notice.

I am therefore urging you to sign up to this petition, if you agree with it, and ask that you encourage everyone that you know, to also sign up.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/protectourcanals/

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Civil Service Canoe Club pool sessions

The Civil Service Canoe Club currently rents the Porchester Baths on Tuesdays from 9pm to 10pm for kayaking practise. Anyone from Regents is welcome to attend the pool sessions. Sessions will start again on 12th January and continue until 2nd March 2010. They charge £5 per session for non-members. They would be grateful if anyone wishing to attend could let them know in advance at secretary@civilservicecanoeclub.org although they won't turn you away if you just turn up on the night!

The nearest tubes are Royal Oak, Paddington, Queensway and Bayswater. Or Paddington mainline station.

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