What safety equipment must I have?

Q: What safety equipment must I have?

Under rule 13 of the 2026 Dusi race rules: Lifejacket (PFD): you must wear a personal flotation device for the whole race. It must comply with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) safety regulations and conform to EN ISO 12402-5 (Level 50). Buoyancy: every boat must have at least 10 litres of buoyancy fixed or tied into both the front and the back. Race bibs: if one bib is provided, wear it on the front of your lifejacket, uncovered. If two are provided, wear them front and back (rule 6.2.3). Your fitness to continue: any medical officer or official may order you not to carry on if they think continuing would endanger your health. The organisers may also tell paddlers to withdraw at any point if they judge it unsafe to continue. If you break the safety rules, you may be refused a start, or disqualified if you have already started. Risk: the rules warn that the Dusi is raced over dangerous terrain, in water of potentially poor quality. All entrants sign an indemnity when they enter, and paddlers are encouraged to paddle within their own known skill level.

Question

Accepted Answer

Under rule 13 of the 2026 Dusi race rules:

Lifejacket (PFD): you must wear a personal flotation device for the whole race. It must comply with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) safety regulations and conform to EN ISO 12402-5 (Level 50).
Buoyancy: every boat must have at least 10 litres of buoyancy fixed or tied into both the front and the back.
Race bibs: if one bib is provided, wear it on the front of your lifejacket, uncovered. If two are provided, wear them front and back (rule 6.2.3).

Your fitness to continue: any medical officer or official may order you not to carry on if they think continuing would endanger your health. The organisers may also tell paddlers to withdraw at any point if they judge it unsafe to continue.

If you break the safety rules, you may be refused a start, or disqualified if you have already started.

Risk: the rules warn that the Dusi is raced over dangerous terrain, in water of potentially poor quality. All entrants sign an indemnity when they enter, and paddlers are encouraged to paddle within their own known skill level.