More about Permits

Permit Restrictions

  • The permit will often have a restriction on the number of people or boats you can operate
  • The Permit will often limit the level of water you can boat on, e.g. River Avon in summer conditions or Poole Harbour or B3 Known Waters
  • The permit summary below allows the person below to Helm a keelboat on B3 waters but allows them to lead (let others drive) Keelboating on B2 waters.

You can check your permit on Compass, If it is not on Compass it does not exist!

This is what your permit may look like on compass

What about water I don’t have a permit for

  • If you go out with someone with the relevant permits, they can cover you on that water on that occasion
    • i.e. sailing across to the Isle of White you may have a permit for B2 tidal but not B3 for part of it but a person with a supervise B3 tidal permit may need to supervise the part of the crossing that is B3.
  • This can also work to bring in qualified or experienced people to help with an activity who do not have a permit!
    • I.e. bring in an experienced parent to lead a dinghy under the supervision of a Supervisor


Do i need a National Governing Body (RYA, British Canoeing, British Rowing) qualification to get a permit?

You can also be assessed by an assessor WITHOUT the need to have NGB qualifications, this is why the permit scheme was invented.