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Rule 9.44: Classification of Waters
a. All waters used for Scouting activities must be classified as C, B1, B2, B3 or A in accordance Rule 9.44b.
b. Water class definitions;
- Class C - safe inland waters (including inland lakes, lochs, rivers, canals or other stretches of placid water) which are less than 100 metres wide throughout the region being used and where surface turbulence is limited to the regular waves produced by wind action (this includes slow flowing water such as rivers and canals where the flow causes little effect); and swimming pools;
- Class B1 - sheltered inland waters and other sheltered water where currents and tides create no real danger;
- Class B2 - the sea up to one mile from the shore, but excluding more dangerous waters close inshore; more sheltered parts of estuaries; large inland lakes and lochs; inland waters British Canoe Union Grade 2;
- Class B3 - the sea up to three miles from the shore, but excluding more dangerous waters close inshore; busy commercial ports, exposed parts of estuaries; inland waters British Canoe Union Grade 3;
- Class A - open sea more than three miles from the shore, and other dangerous waters close inshore; inland waters British Canoe Union Grade 4 and above.
c. A County Commissioner may designate any water as Training Water for Local Groups and approve a variation in the published classification and defined areas for the named Groups.
The National Directory of Waters is available online at www.scouts.org.uk/waterways