BOATING ON THE KNYSNA LAGOON

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GENERAL

• You may not hinder or obstruct any SANParks officer in the course of his or her duties nor any person who is authorised to ensure compliance with the regulations. It is also illegal to refuse to comply with any request or prohibition made by such a person.
• It is illegal to use indecent or improper language, to behave in an offensive or improper manner, to swim or sunbathe in the nude, to "wilfully or negligently" inconvenience any other user of the water or to, disturb the peace in the Lagoon area.
• You may not load or discharge a spear gun in the Lagoon.

BOATING LIMITS - THE RED BRIDGE AND THE HEADS

• Power boats with an engine capacity of 5.9 kilowatts (8 horsepower) or more may not travel north of the Red Bridge.
• You may only sail into The Heads if you are a licensed skipper and your boat complies with the regulations of the Merchant Shipping Act. The cut-off point is an imaginary line between the white beacon at Fountain Point on the Eastern Head and the invertebrate reserve marker - a white pole numbered K6 - near the tunnel on the Western Head.

WHERE CAN I FIND COPIES OF THE REGULATIONS?

A complete copy of the Lakes Areas Development Act can be viewed at the SANParks offices on Thesen's Wharf.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Power boats must carry the following equipment: a life jacket for each person on board; an anchor and chain equivalent to the length of the boat; an alternate means of propulsion (oars, paddles or a spare motor); a suitable fire extinguisher; a siren to warn other boats of possible collisions; a pump or bailer. Boats which are used in the hours of darkness must display a white all- round light which must be visible from 200 metres. It is also advisable to carry smoke flares and pencil flares for emergency signalling.

Users of sailing dinghy's, Hobie Cats and canoes should wear life jackets at all times, and rowing boats should carry a life jacket for each person on board as well as a suitable anchor and chain, a bailer and, if possible, a spare oar.

Sports rowing boats (rowing shells, etc.) should be accompanied by a power boat capable of carrying all members of the rowing crew in an emergency.

COURTESY AND COMMON SENSE

Boating on the Knysna Lagoon should be enjoyable and relaxing - and will be if you operate your craft with courtesy and common sense. Here are a few pointers:

• Remember that you are responsible for your boat's wake.
• Please observe the no-wake zone between the SANParks offices (Thesen's Wharf) and the Angling Club (KADA). This means that you should proceed at idling speed in this area. That's slow, we know - but use the time to enjoy the surroundings. This is, after all, one of the most beautiful places in Africa.
• Please give way to passenger ferries - they carry tourists who are all VIP's in Knysna. And it's not that easy to stop or turn those large vessels.

SAMSA REGULATIONS

SAMSA (the South African Maritime Safety Authority) regulations regarding skippers' qualifications, the numbering of boats and buoyancy requirements for boats will apply on the Knysna Lagoon.