The smaller craft and the toys: kayaks and paddleboards, jet skis and other personal watercraft, and the towables, wakeboards and snorkelling kit that come along on a boat day.
Why is an offshore wind dangerous for paddleboards and kayaks?
Because it pushes you out and you cannot feel it doing so. Going downwind, the wind adds to your speed and the water near a windward shore stays flat, so the paddling is easy and the sea looks calm. Turning back, you paddle into the same wind at a fraction of your speed, and a stand-up paddler is a sail. In 15 knots most recreational SUP paddlers make no headway at all. The rule is simple: if the wind is blowing off the beach, start upwind and stay close, or do not go.
Which paddle board leash should I use?
It depends on the water, and the wrong choice is dangerous. On the sea, a lake or in surf, a coiled ankle or calf leash keeps the board within reach, and the board is your biggest flotation device. On a river or anywhere with current, an ankle leash can pin you underwater against a rock, tree or bridge pier. There you wear a quick-release waist leash with a toggle you can pull with either hand. British Canoeing and the RNLI both give this advice, and river drownings with ankle leashes are why.
Do you need a lifejacket on a kayak or paddleboard?
Yes, every time, and worn rather than strapped to the deck. Most paddlers who drown were not wearing one. A buoyancy aid (roughly 50 N) is the standard for kayaking because it lets you swim and re-board. For SUP, an inflatable waist belt is the compromise many paddlers accept: it does not get in the way of paddling and inflates when you pull the toggle, but you must be conscious to use it. Rules vary by country; the US Coast Guard treats SUPs beyond a swimming area as vessels that must carry a PFD.