Hire Agreement

1. Responsibility and Insurance
The Centre’s insurance (Activities Industry Mutual) covers all legal liabilities of the Centre to clients, but does not cover personal accident or loss where there is no liability on the part of the Centre or its employees.

Clients may wish to consider taking out insurance to cover the risk of personal accident or loss of personal effects and also the risk of cancellation.

Accidents can happen without any contributory negligence from the centre or its staff. The centre can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to personal property or for personal injury not arising as a result of its own act or default

All craft on the water must be insured for third party risks (minimum), have adequate buoyancy.

Hirers should be physically fit to take part in this activity.

Hirers should be able to launch and recover themselves and self-rescue with/without the help of someone from their own household.

Water safety cover is provided in the form of a powerboat and driver. You are responsible for your own safety on the water, if you require the back-up of our duty staff to assist in a rescue please alert them using your emergency whistle. Users (including juniors) are advised that they participate in the activities at their own risk.

2. Safety
All water users must be able to swim 10 metres.

Swimming (apart from with your craft) is not allowed and whistles must only be used for genuine reasons when rescue is needed.

In the event of capsize, hirers must stay with their craft and swim with it to shore to empty it or in the event of an emergency call for help by blowing a whistle and wait for assistance. A boat/board must never be left unattended on the water.

Any planned capsizing must be carried out within sight of the Log Cabin (Waterfront Office).

Hirers must keep 10 metres from the fishing banks and must not exit the water on the fishing banks.

Footwear must be worn at all times.

All water users must have a minimum award or equivalent experience for their desired sport. 1 Star/Discover for kayaking/canoeing, RYA Start Windsurfing, RYA Level 2 Dinghy Certificate.

Equipment must not be lent to others and should be properly put away in the designed drop off area for cleaning when finished with.

All users should follow the government advice of staying 2m apart at all times unless with someone from your own house-hold

3. Buoyancy Aids
CE approved buoyancy aids with a whistle are included in the hire fee and must be worn and kept fastened at all times on the water, pontoons and surrounding areas.

4.Weather
In order to maintain social distancing, we have changed our safe operating parameters which means we may need to close the water if it is windy.

You will also need to make the decision to only go out if you are comfortable and feel you are able to self-rescue.

4. Medical Conditions / Special Needs
Users must notify the Duty Officer of any relevant medical or physical condition that may affect their fitness to participate in the activity (e.g. asthma, epilepsy, heart conditions etc.)

5. Photography
Photographs taken by HOAC staff will only be used for HOAC publicity purposes, and will not be passed on to third parties.

6. Personal Data
Your data will only be used for HOAC purposes and will only be shared to aid the delivery of our service. This could include national governing bodies where certification is required to be issued etc.