Out on the water

Here are some suggestions to help you get the most from your sailing trip whilst respecting nature and other visitors:

• Never row out alone – it’s safer with two on the water.
• The weather along coastal areas may change suddenly. Sea fog, bad weather, and changing winds can be life-thre-atening. Check the weather forecast before setting off.
• If you come across seals or birds, you must slow down and avoid sudden movements. Continue rowing quietly and calmly and enjoy the experience.
• Never go ashore on sandbanks with resting seals. You risk that seal pups are squashed or abandoned, or you might be attacked yourself. Seals are not harmless creatures.
• Always use the designated landing beaches when you want to swim. This minimises the intrusion experienced by the animals.
• Be realistic and only row as far as you can manage. If you’re in doubt or have little knowledge of the area, stay ashore or row out with local people.
• Always use a life jacket and clothing suited to the we-ather and season, as it may prevent both cooling down and dehydration.
• If possible, wear colourful clothes when on the sea –orange, yellow, and red colours are easier to spot on the water.
• Check your equipment before departure – your mobile phone is important as is light in the evening.
• Avoid tidal flats and sandbanks unless you’re in danger. They are essential resting places for birds and seals.
• If you need a short break, you’re welcome to pull the boat up on the beach.
• Pick up any rubbish you find and take it with you – even if it’s not yours.

Here are some suggestions to give you a good experience whilst respecting nature and other visitors:

• Before you go on the water, you must make sure that surfing is permitted on your specific location, and whether there are protected areas you need to take into account. Find information on virtually all surf spots on bipper.dk (in Danish). Download the Bipper app to both iOS and Android.
• Keep well away from the coast and avoid shallow waters if at all possible. This will reduce inconveniencing bathers, and you won’t frighten birds into taking off.
• Respect other users of the sea where you’re kite, wing, or windsurfing.
• Remember that hypothermia may also occur in summer.
• Always use a life jacket.
• Remember that you’re a visitor to the countryside – don’t disturb the animals and birds living there. Stay away from tidal flats and small islets.
• Pick up any rubbish you find and take it with you – even if it’s not yours.

Here are some suggestions for your beach walk to give you a good experience whilst respecting the countryside and other beach users:

• Always be respectful and considerate as the beaches are used and enjoyed for outdoor recreation by many diffe-rent people throughout the year.
• Respect the fact that Blue Flag beaches are dog-free zones and that our four-legged friends must be kept on a leash on the beach during the period 1 April – 30 Sep-tember.
• If you gather shells, or similar, from the beach, you can only take enough to fill a bucket or hat.
• Respect that beach angling requires an angling permit.
• If you overnight on the beach, you cannot pitch a tent. You can light a bonfire in the sand, but remember to put it out and cool down the sand, so that others won’t get hurt when walking there.
• If you have a rowing boat, you can pull it up on the beach for a short period. Motor-driven boats must remain on the water.
• Remember to use surface marker buoys and flags when snorkelling.
• Be careful with inflatable beach toys and air beds – par-ticularly when there’s an offshore wind.
• Nude bathing on the beaches is allowed unless expressly prohibited.
• Do not fly kites near beach breeding grounds – or wait until the breeding season is over in July. The breeding birds will interpret kites as birds of prey.
• Stay as close to the water as possible, so as not to disturb animals and birds on the salt marshes.
• Remember that you’re a visitor to the countryside – don’t disturb the animals and birds living there.
• Pick up any rubbish you find and take it with you – even if it’s not yours.