Valid as of 2011
1.	Start, finish and (if applicable) aborted attempt should be announced in writing to:
			Havspaddlarnas Blå Band (HBB) c/o Lennart Bergström Ringvägen 13 331 43 Värnamo tel. +46 (0)370-138 08, mobil +46 (0)70-58 718 80 E-mail: lb(at)havspaddlarnasblaband.se
	Minimum age at time of start is 18 years. Starting fee is not applied.
	Starting point:		*/ Information to be found under page Links and below
	The land-abutment of the old Svinesund bridge at the Swedish side
	Finishing point:		*/ Information to be found under page Links and below
	The border marker No 59 at the outflow of the Torne river at Virtakari point on the Swedish side just south of Haparanda town. The trip is concluded when the paddler puts his hand on the border marker
	Starting notification
	must contain the following information:
		Name of paddler
		Age at start and Day of Birth (year, month, day)
		Address, including e-mail address if available
		Home phone number and mobile phone number
		Link to homepage/blog reproducing log-book during the tour
		Type of kayak (model and brand)
		Safety equipment carried
		Start date should also be included. As the weather situation is unpredictable this date is considered preliminary
		Once under way the paddler should without delay - by phone or SMS - give the correct date and time of the start
	Finishing notification
	must be submitted no later than one week after finishing and contain the following information:
		Confirmation of the previously indicated starting date and time
		Date and time for finishing (i.e. when touching border marker no 59)
		Number of paddling days
		Distance paddled in kilometres
		Finishing notification should be confirmed in writing by post or E-mail even if this has been given by a call
		Paddlers who, as a memento of the trip wish to have their own handmade HBB miniature kayak personalised with their name, can obtain one at cost which currently is SEK 400.- . If the paddler in the finishing notification indicates this wish the miniature kayak will be awarded to the approved paddler at the jury meeting.
2.	The trip should be undertaken in a single kayak. All provisions and equipment such as maps/charts etc. should be carried aboard the kayak. Swapping kayak along the route or receiving assistance by land support for adding or unloading any provision or equipment is not allowed.   However should a kayak be stolen, the paddler may seek help to get a replacement. The same goes for safety equipment such as paddles, float, PFD, spray skirt, compass and mobile phone, with amendment that those may be fetched with outside help even if they have been lost under other circumstances. If other equipment, not classified as safety equipment, become unusable, addition may only be made by the paddler her- or himself.   Eventual repairs should be made by the paddler, why a repair outfit ought to be part of the equipment. Should damages of such extent occur that the paddler is not capable of within reasonable result make the repair her- or himself remains the fact to abandon, get the help needed and restart from Svinesund or continue outside HBB.   Addition to provision along the route should be made by the paddler her- or himself. If visited by or co-paddling with relatives and friends during the trip, it is neither allowed to receive provisions from them, nor to get their help with unloading or completing the equipment.
3.	Each distance and place of camp should be carefully marked on the map/chart (scale at choice) and entered in a log. All days including days of start and finish are considered fully paddling days. The trip should be completed within one and same calendar year.
4.	The whole of the trip should be undertaken in the sea without portages. The paddler's route at sea should thus be possible to mark as a coherent line from start to goal. It is allowed to paddle through all canals without locks, such as Sote canal in Bohuslän, Falsterbo canal (adjustable flood damper that will be lowered during passage) and Väddö canal by the Roslagen coast north of Stockholm.
5.	For propelling the kayak only the use of paddle is allowed.
6.	There are no checkpoints along the route. Each paddler's kayak-honour is a guarantee of that the rules will be complied with. After completion the paddler will give an account of her or his trip before a jury.
7.	All those who according to the rules complete the paddling will be awarded the Seapaddler’s Blue Ribbon regardless of how many days she or he has used. Any paddler is free to obtain the Seapaddlers‘s Blue Ribbon more than once.
8.	Each paddler's name, age, year of completion and number of paddling days will be put on display in a glass showcase with a styled miniature kayak and a blue ribbon at Svima in Solna.
9.	In case the slightest doubts concerning the rules should arise, ask for information before the start or during the paddling. Nothing would be more painful for a jury than to reject a trip on the grounds that a paddler has taken too lightly on the rules.

The meaning with the rules for obtaining HBB is that the paddler after own ability, own navigation
and with good seamanship shall carry the tour through by own strength and navigate
the craft in to port without any support from the outside.

AS ALWAYS: THE RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS

HBB-miniature kayak

We talk about safety and give some hints in our wish to strengthen and encourage your own safety adaptation.
No matter we paddle alone or in groups.

*/   For information about and road advices to Starting point in Svinesund and Finishing point in Haparanda we direct you to page Links — SVINESUND and VIRTAKARI.

Here are the rules as a MS Word for saving or printing