Centres' Notice

•	Notice of 12 December 2024 No Hiring of Crafts at St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre Hiring of windsurfing (Short Board) equipment will be suspended from 1.1.2025 (Wed) to 3.1.2025 (Fri) and hiring of all water sports equipment will be suspended on 4 and 5.1.2025 (Sat & Sun) at St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre for preparation and staging of St. Stephen’s Beach Short Board Race 2025. SmartPLAY and counter services remain as usual. Please contact St. Stephen's Beach Water Sports Centre for enquiries.
•	Notice of 15 August 2022 Additional Notes for Enrolment in Training Programmes of Water Sports Centres This additional notes will take effect from 1 October 2022 and details of which are as follows: Participants of the training programmes of water sports centres are required to produce the original copies of valid qualifications and activity log books in the first lessons for inspection by the Department’s staff/coaches, as proof that they have obtained the certificates/qualifications and gained the required hours of navigation before payment. In case of non-compliance, the participants and their accompanying carers will be disqualified from the training programmes in question, and the fees will not be refunded. Those disqualified must not participate again in the programmes by means of on-the-spot enrolment. In case of no on-the-spot applicants, the centres may, at their discretion, allow the disqualified participants to attend the rest of the programmes, provided that it does not cause disruption to the normal operation of the programmes. For enquiries, please contact the staff of water sports centres.
•	Notice of 17 February 2022 Hong Kong Sailing Federation New Dinghy Training Scheme In view of the Hong Kong Sailing Federation’s new Dinghy Training Scheme, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has accordingly revised its current sailing training courses, which will be rolled out from 1 April 2022. The new sailing courses include the Introduction to Sailing (Level 1), Sailing Basic Skills (Level 2), Sailing Improving Techniques (Level 3), Trapeze Technique, Spinnakers, Day Sailing, Go Racing, Introduction to Multihulls, Multihulls Helmsman and Sailing Advanced Skills. For the details, please visit the LCSD’s website or refer to the “Monthly Water Sports Centres Recreation and Sports Programme Sheet” available at various water sports centres. You are also welcome to contact the water sports centres for any enquiries.
•	Notice of 3 January 2022 New Requirements for Kayak Training Courses The Hong Kong Canoe Union has revised the age limits for its courses, with the age requirement for junior kayak training courses adjusted from between 8 and 11 to between 8 and 13, and the minimum age requirement for other certificate courses raised from 12 to 14. In view of the above new requirements, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has adjusted the age requirements for its kayak training courses accordingly.  The new requirements apply to courses with the first session falling on or after 1 April 2022.  Details are accessible at the LCSD’s website and set out in the “Monthly Water Sports Centres Recreation and Sports Programme Sheet” distributed at the water sports centres.  For enquiries, please contact the water sports centres.

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Notice of 22 June 2020 “On-the-spot Enrolment” Arrangement for Water Sports Activities Enhanced arrangements for “On-the-spot Enrolment” will be implemented with effect from 1 August 2020. Details are as follows – If enrolled participants fail to attend a programme or are absent or late for 30 minutes or more on the first day of the event**, their places will be filled by standby applicants on the spot on a first-come-first-served basis. Remarks: (i) As far as those programmes of more than 2 days are concerned, participants who need to be absent or late for 30 minutes or more on the first day of the event** shall submit their written applications to the centres at least two working days prior to the commencement of the programme. Such being the case, the on-the-spot enrolment arrangement will not be applicable. (ii) In the circumstances under item (i), the participants may submit their applications to a given centre only once within a period of 90 days. (iii) The venue manager/duty officer in-charge may cancel or suspend the on-the-spot enrolment arrangement at any time for operational reasons or due to special circumstances nearby. (iv) In the event that there are no standby applicants filling vacant places, if any, on the spot, the centres in question may at discretion allow those participants who are late for 30 minutes or more to take part in the remaining sessions of the programme, provided that it does not cause disruption to the programme. **Dates of events are subject to change. Please refer to the LCSD’s website for the latest updates. For enquiries, please contact staff of the respective Water Sports Centres.

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Notice of 10 December 2019 Intermediate Windsurfing Award Assessment Course The Intermediate Windsurfing Award Assessment (IWAC) will be held by the Water Sports Centres of the LCSD from April 2020 onwards on the basis of one day per session.  Qualified participants must have completed the Intermediate Windsurfing Training Course within one year prior to the month of the IWAC (e.g. a participant can only take the IWAC on 30 April 2020 if he/she has completed the Intermediate Windsurfing Training Course on or after 1 April 2019) with proof of 100% attendance, and must not be a holder of the Intermediate Windsurfing Award. For enquiries, please contact staff of the respective Water Sports Centres.

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Notice of 4 January 2018 Arrangements for Filling Vacated Places in Recreation and Sports Programmes Organised by Water Sports Centres Participants who are unable to attend any activity should inform the concerned centre at least one day in advance, so that the vacated places can be publicised and released for enrolment.

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Notice of 29 February 2016 New Arrangements for Junior Kayak Training Courses With effect from 1 April 2016, training courses will be organised separately for each of the awards in junior kayaking (namely, the Starfish, Sea Horse, Seal, Sea Lion and Walrus Awards) at the water sports centres.  Courses for combined awards will no longer be offered. The courses for different awards are all one-day programmes designed according to the course outline laid down by the Hong Kong Canoe Union (“the Union”).  Participants who pass the assessment may move on to a course at the next level of award.  The courses are available for open enrolment by applicants who meet the qualification requirements specified by the Union for each award.  Details are set out in the “Monthly Water Sports Centres Recreation and Sports Programme Sheet” distributed at the water sports centres and accessible at the website of the water sports centres. For enquiries, please contact the staff of water sports centres.