There have been regular incident reports received, near-miss notifications, and safety alerts concerning paddlers experiencing difficulties during capsize or emergency egress due to securing systems and cockpit attachments.

In paddlesport, we frequently utilise equipment and systems designed to enhance control, and connection to improve performance, or prevent water ingress.

This includes:

• Cockpit Seals – Spraydecks (nylon or neoprene).
• Control Systems – Thigh straps (Whitewater Canoes/Sit on Tops/Packrafts)
• Securing Systems – Lap straps, pelvic belts, chest harnesses, or active strapping used in surf kayaking, waveskiing, and adaptive (para-paddling) disciplines.

While these supplementary modifications provide significant advantages in stability, connectivity, and dryness, they introduce a critical safety hazard: mechanical entrapment during a capsize, of which Paddle UK has received several reports across different paddlesports disciplines and activities referring to issues with such systems.

Paddle UK has established this guidance to ensure that clubs, disciplines, providers, deployers, coaches, leaders and event organisers can manage these systems with the highest level of assurance.

To view full guidance on this, please click here.

This guidance does not cover leashes, for research and advice on paddleboard leashes click here.