Riverland Paddling Marathon

Reminders for 2026

Compulsory Safety Equipment – Paddlers

All paddlers are required to carry and wear the following compulsory safety equipment:

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

• From 1 January 2025, all lifejackets must comply with Australian Standard AS 4758. – When purchasing a new lifejacket, ensure it is clearly branded AS 4758 (see attached image).

• Selected international standard lifejackets are also acceptable. Approved ISO lifejacket standards remain valid and were not affected by the changes introduced on 01/01/2025.

• The following Australian Standards are no longer accepted in South Australia as of 01/01/2025: – AS 1512, AS 2260 & AS 1499

Approved PFD Type

Paddlers must wear a correctly fitted Type 50S PFD (which replaces the former Type 2 and Type 3).

• The PFD must be certified to Australian Standard AS 4758, with approval markings clearly legible.

• PFDs must be worn at all times while on the water.

Compliance & Enforcement

• Any paddler found not wearing a properly fitted and fastened PFD at any time will be disqualified and removed from the water.

Prohibited Lifejackets

• Inflatable Level 150 lifejackets are not permitted.

  • These provide no buoyancy unless manually activated, which may not be possible if the wearer is incapacitated.

Leg Rope – all ski’s – including Surf Ski’s and Ocean Racing Ski’s will require a leg rope to be fitted and used in addition to the standard compulsory equipment.

Space Blanket: which must be carried on the paddler – in a pocket of the PFD.

Clothing: The paddler is required to wear clothing suitable to the conditions and to additionally carry on their boat in a waterproof bag a set of warm clothing.

Signalling: Each Paddler is required to have a pea-less whistle attached to their PFD (compulsory since 2015) and all RPM 200, RPM 200 Relay and RPM 100 Paddlers are required to carry a waterproof torch and front & rear lights for all craft before daylight must be displayed.

Food and Water: Each Paddler should carry sufficient food and water

Suitable clothing includes footwear, long pants (thermals are suggested), long sleeve top (again, thermals are suggested) and head cover in the form of a hat that provides sun protection.  Clothing against the skin must not be cotton – as when cotton gets wet it very quickly draws heat away from the body and this could potentially cause hypothermia for a paddler.  All clothing worn may get wet, so choosing clothing that dries quickly and provides sufficient warmth and sun protection should be chosen.

Optionally, (but recommended) is a spray jacket or other suitable waterproof coat in case of rain.