Sea Kayak Clinic and Practice Session - Open Water Rescue

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Event Coordinator:  Martha Gitt

We are holding a one-day clinic and practice session on Open Water Rescue for sea kayakers.  This clinic is a chance for new paddlers to learn open water rescue techniques and a chance for more experienced paddlers to compare techniques and practice them in a safe environment. This clinic is important since kayakers need to regularly practice these skills so they are “fresh” when we get into a real rescue situation —you want to know how to get yourself or someone else back in their boat quickly and on your first attempt. Open water paddlers should take this course before attempting any "big water" adventures with or without a group.

We will start off each teaching segment by systematically walking through the steps to complete a rescue so that newer paddlers can learn the tricks associated with performing each rescue.  After walking through “one way to do a rescue”, we will compare notes and discuss/demonstrate alternative approaches that people may have seen.

Course Content:  At the course, we will cover the following topics:

·         Wet exiting your boat

·        Solo Reentries (Paddle Float, Cowboy, Reenter and Roll)

·         Assisted Reentries (T-Rescue, Stirrup Rescue, Scoop Rescue)

·         Towing - contact tows, short tows, and regular tows. Will discuss when to start towing and when towing may be needed to assist a rescue   (I will bring extra tow ropes if you don’t have one.)

Course Details

Location:     Geist Park – Contact me if you are not sure how to get there.

Schedule:      
9:30 am                     Please get to Geist Park early enough to be able
                                   launch at this time
9:30 am – 9:45 am    Introductions/Shore-Based Training
9:45 am                     On-Water Training
1:30 pm                     Return to Geist Park for Wrap-Up

Required Equipment: (Contact the Event Coordiantor or Jim Sprandel if you want an exception to these requirements since we may have extra equipment that you can borrow):  

Touring Kayak or Sea Kayak (14’ or longer) with perimeter deck lines running to the bow and stern of your boat.   Must have sealed fore and aft bulkheads or fore/aft air float bags. 

Spray Skirt – We will be practicing bracing and Eskimo bow rescues so you will need a spray skirt .

Life jacket, pump, dry clothes, sun screen.

Paddle – It is best to bring the paddle that you normally paddle with.

Snack/Water – We will probably work through to 1:30 pm without stopping for lunch.  Please bring a snack and water since boat re-entry really can wear a person out.

Recommended Equipment: (Please bring if you have it – Don’t buy it if you don’t already have.)

Paddle Float, tow rope, rescue stirrup

Wet Suit or Dry Suit—Depending on the weather, you may want at least a wet suit to be comfortable.

Nose clips—Nose clips are strongly recommended since we will be getting in the water.

Contact Information:   Please register by  May 30.  Contact the event coordinator or Jim Sprandel  if you have any questions about the course.

How to Register:  Click Register in the left-hand column of this page.