A WIND and kite surfing enthusiast is leading the way on the south-east coast by joining up to a new sea safety scheme.
Simon Bassett, owner of X-train and 2XS in West Wittering, is among 25 sea activity outlets across the country to sign up to the Surf Hire Safety Scheme, which aims to slash the number of surfing-related incidents.
The scheme, run by the Royal Na
tional Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the British Surfing Association (BSA), encourages people to offer reliable sea safety advice and regular equipment checks for damage.
Mr Bassett (42) said: "Ultimately the Surf Hire Safety Scheme is trying to reduce the number of people getting into difficulty where it could have been very easily avoided.
"The RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew members are on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to emergency calls at sea, but hopefully it will mean those rescues that could be avoided in the first place, will be."
Of the major sea activity-related incidents RNLI lifeguards attended in 2007, surfing and body boarding accounted for 46 per cent.
It is hoped the more people who sign up to the scheme, the more this figure can be reduced.
To become a member, surf hire outlets must agree to:
* Only rent equipment that is suitable for a person's ability
* Provide safety information to all customers
* Check equipment regularly for damage
* Maintain adequate insurance
The RNLI and BSA regularly monitor outlets to ensure they are following the requirements.
To find out more, or to register, call the RNLI beach safety team on 0800 328 0600,
email or visit the
website.
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The full article contains 349 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
