Stand up paddle board (sup) rules and regulations

Checklist to see if you are allowed to distance yourself from the coast.

– If your board is inflatable or hard and under 3.5-m long, then you haveown beach recreational equipment and as such, you must remain within 300 m of the shore. If your board is inflatable or hard and under 3.5-m long, then you are in possession of beach recreational gear and as such, you must remain within 300 m of the shore.

– If your board is hard and longer than 3.5 m, then you have the right to navigate up to 2 nautical miles (about 3 km) away from a sheltered area. You will need to equip yourself with a life jacket, a leash, a towing device (long and solid) and a light tracking device (waterproof flashlights secured to a life jacket).

Note: The use of a leash is forbidden in river SUP.

SUP: the rules of priority at sea. At sea, vessels with the most limited maneuvering capacity are given priority. In SUP, therefore, you will have priority only over motor boats that have full maneuvering capacity. Give way to sailboats, which have less maneuvering capacity than you.   

SUP: the rules of priority in rivers. In rivers and enclosed bodies of water, the SUP is considered as a small craft: it must therefore move out of the way of all boats longer than 15 m (barges, cruisers). Again, sailboats must be given priority; however, a motorized craft of less than 15 m is obliged to maneuver around and away from you.  

The rules of priority... between two SUPs! The one approaching from the right has the right-of-way! And if you find yourself face to face, you will have to pass on the left of the other practitioner... like in a car!