Paddleboarders addled

As one state official put it, “It’s bureaucracy at its finest.”

In a move that has left some bewildered and others scrambling to educate the public, the U.S. Coast Guard has ruled that paddleboards — those flat, surfboard-like devices men and women stand on in the water and paddle themselves around on — are legally “vessels.”

“OK, big deal,” you might ask. “So my paddleboard is now a vessel, so what?”

Well, legally, when you’re on a vessel, you have other requirements to follow. According to the Coast Guard’s announcement of the ruling in late October, paddleboards are now required to have a sound-producing device, a visual distress signal and proper navigation lights. The driver, sailor or, in this case, paddler is required to have a life jacket.

Don’t fret though, it’s much simpler than it sounds.

“A police-type whistle and a flashlight comply with these requirements,” Coast Guard officials said.

In Newport Beach, that translates to paddleboarders being required to wear a life jacket and carry a whistle and flashlight while cruising around the harbor. According to the ruling, a paddleboard is a vessel in all areas not designated for surfing or swimming.

So while in the harbor, you’re on a vessel.

Paddling out to catch some waves?

You’re not.

The ruling is still new to many, authorities said. Lt. Erin Giugiueidice of the Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol said her department is just handing out warnings for now, stopping paddleboarders and informing them of the life-jacket requirements. She did not specify whether officials were cracking down on the whistle and flashlight requirements.

“We knew when it got handed down about a month ago there would be some public information needs,” she said.

The public for the most part has been responsive, she said, and saves any criticisms of the law or enforcing it for the lawmakers.

“Anything that’s going to help ensure public safety is certainly good. That’s our mission: anything that’s going to enhance safety,” Giugiueidice said.

Ray Tsuneyoshi, director of the Department of Boating and Waterways for California, was more blunt about reactions he’s heard.

“I know [the Coast Guard] is starting to get a whole bunch of negative comments coming in about, ‘That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done,’” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the Coast Guard; I work closely with them all the time. I think in this case, it was made by a bunch of guys who didn’t know what a stand-up paddleboard was and just went off anecdotes.”

According to Coast Guard officials, the ruling came after a question on the subject by Oregon state officials, who’ve seen an increase in paddleboards up there. Tsuneyoshi said if the public wants to the ruling changed, it’ll likely take appeals to federal lawmakers now, as the ruling applies nationwide.

“Now that they let the cat out of the bag, I don’t know if they know how to get the cat back in the bag,” he said, chuckling.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].