If wind or weather exceeds your club's safety guidelines for on-water practice, what should you do?

• A. Increase pace to keep the crew warm.
• B. Move to a more open area.
• C. Wait until the end of the session.
• D. Cancel or relocate to shore and postpone until conditions are safe.

Answer: (D)

Safety comes first whenever weather or wind exceeds what the club considers safe for on-water practice. In those cases the correct action is to cancel or relocate to shore and postpone until conditions are safe again. Moving to shore limits exposure to dangerous wind, waves, or other hazards, giving you a chance to reassess and resume only when thresholds are back within limits. Trying to increase pace won’t remove the risk and can actually make it harder to recover if control is already compromised. Shifting to a more open area can expose the crew to larger waves or gusts, and waiting until the end of the session may leave you on the water in worsening conditions. By canceling or moving to shore, you reduce risk and keep everyone safe while you wait for a safer window.