Flatwater -Trip Levels & Required Equipment

Guidelines for Participation on CT AMC Sea Kayak Trips (revised 6/18/06)

Trip Levels outline both the expected conditions and the necessary skills for the level of the trip – actual trip conditions will depend on a combination on trip location, trip length, tides and currents, and the weather. Thus, the level of any trip can vary from hour to hour. The leader will post the expected rating of the trip but the actual trip may differ from the rated level. You are ultimately responsible for your safety. Furthermore, it is your responsibility to determine whether your level of expertise and your equipment are sufficient for the trip. The trip leader does have the right to exclude you if he or she determines you do not have the expertise for the conditions of the trip or do not have the proper gear for the trip.

Sea Kayak Level I – Beginner

Most of the trip will be in protected water, significantly sheltered from waves, swell and severe wind.Within half mile of shore

Previous paddling experience in a sea kayak.Maintain boat stability and paddle straight.Capable of paddling 2-3 miles

Able to swim 50 yardsCapable of wet exit with a spray skirt, maintaining contact with boat and paddleBe able to re-enter the boat, either solo or assisted.All paddlers must demonstrate a wet exit and re-entry to a leader before starting a first trip.

Sea Kayak Level II – Advanced beginner

Paddling on less sheltered rivers or harbors with waves of 1 foot or less, winds of 5-10 knots, or open water in flat water conditions with access to protected areas.Can handle following seas and boat wakes.

Able to control and turn boat using forward, reverse, sweep and draw strokes.Starting to use edging turns.More confident control of boat including sculling and bracingCapable of paddling 4 miles with 1-2 knot/hour pace

Capable of self-rescue using a paddle-float or other method.Capable of a 2 person rescue, both victim and rescuer.

Sea Kayak Level III – Intermediate

Paddling on open water, up to 2 foot seas, 2-3 knot currents and 10-15 knot winds. Open water crossings up to 2 miles.Be able to paddle up to 8 miles in open waterBe able to paddle briskly for 1 and ½ hours

Well-defined strokes and edging while turning, sculling for supportComfortable with low bracesWorking on a rollDraw boat sideways

Fully capable of self-rescueCapable of several two-person rescuesExperience with towing

Sea Kayak Level IV – Advanced

Paddling on open water, up to ocean swells and chop and 20 knot windsMay have extended open water crossings with significant exposure to winds, waves, currents and boat traffic

Comfortable with strokes in open water and windAble to launch and land in a variety of conditions

Able to rescue others and do towsFamiliarity with charts, tides, currents and navigationDependable roll or self-rescue in 2 minutesCan set and release in towing

Sea Kayak Level V – Expert

Able to paddle in remote locations in foul weather.Winds up to 25 knots/per hour3 foot surfOpen crossings of 5-10 milesPaddle up to 20 miles

Able to show and teach at all levels

Fully reliable rollRe-enter kayak in rough conditionsCan handle a wide range of mishaps

Required and Optional Equipment

Required for Sea Kayak all Levels

  • Sea Kayak with adequate floatation: bulkheads with secure hatch covers or secured floatation bags. The length of the boat should be long enough to maintain stability for the conditions of the trip. A minimum of 14 feet. Generally, the more extreme the conditions, a longer boat is more stable.
  • Paddle
  • Spray skirt
  • PFD-must be worn at all times.
  • Whistle
  • Pump or bailer
  • Paddle float
  • Liquids/water
  • Flashlight or strobe light
  • Footgear – suggest Tevas, watersport shoe or wet suit booties.

Required for leader

  • Flotation bags
  • Knife
  • First Aid Kit
  • Duct tape
  • Spare paddle (at least 2 on each trip)
  • Emergency food
  • Matches
  • Watch
  • Tow system
  • Charts and tide tables
  • Deck compass
  • VHF radio
  • leader should carry extra warm clothes, wool hat, hot and cold liquids, extra food

Highly recommended for participants and leaders

  • Food
  • Wet/dry suit (required for any cold water paddling; may be required by leader)
  • Paddle jacket
  • Hat – may be useful for thermal protection, or sun protection
  • Gloves – neoprene gloves or pogies in cold weather
  • Sunblock, sunglasses, glasses strap
  • raingear

Recommended for participants and leaders

  • Flashlight
  • Flotation bags
  • Knife
  • First Aid Kit
  • Duct tape
  • Spare paddle (at least 2 on each trip)
  • Extra warm clothing, fleece
  • Emergency food
  • Matches
  • Watch
  • Tow system
  • Charts and tide tables
  • Deck compass
  • Helmet (if surfing)
  • Sponge
  • Flares
  • VHF radio
  • cell phone
  • Dry clothing at take out

Trip Leader Responsibilities

All coastal trips require co-leaders

Trip leader responsibilities

  • Destination, route selection, rating the trip, an alternate trip if weather bad
  • Determine size of trip and ratio of paddlers to leaders. Each trip will have a maximum of paddlers to be set by leader(s), no more than 4 participants to leaders.
  • Determine trip leader and assistant-leader
  • Written float-plan, one copy to each leader, one copy to a responsible third party, and one copy at launch site (placed on dashboard visible from outside). Sea Kayak Float Plan
  • Determine if cold weather protection required, wet/dry suit, gloves, head gear
  • Plan a route with knowledge of tides and currents
  • All trips must be listed as a scheduled activity in an AMC publication, website or e-mail list which serve as official announcements of AMC trips, and approved by the CT AMC Flatwater/Coastal Paddling Chair
  • Pre-departure assessment of participants abilities and equipment with registration by phone. Sea Kayak Sceeening Form
  • Sign up with Liability Waiver (required)
  • Sign up for mailing/email list (voluntary)
  • No drugs or alcohol
  • Check for required equipment
  • Do a shared safety check; who has spare paddles, tow rigs, first aid kits, exposure gear, etc.
  • Introductions
  • Take a group skills and rescue inventory
  • Outline trip and determine if everyone is capable, how fast to paddle, etc.
  • Determine any medical or personal constraints
  • Review signals and other safety issues
  • Use a buddy system
  • Designate leader and sweep, make sure everyone knows
  • Know where everyone is
  • The leaders should assess who are the strongest paddlers and who potentially may need help
  • The leader and sweep need to periodically check in with each other
  • Ongoing navigation
  • Take charge of any rescues
  • Know about beginning paddlers and provide assistance
  • Determine need for changes in trip and communicate to group
  • No-one paddles alone
  • Set pace and determine when to take breaks
  • No group division. If one or more persons leaves group without permission, they are no- longer considered part of the trip. They should be notified verbally. Both leader and assistant leader should witness.
  • Everyone accounted for. See if anyone needs food or liquids. Contact person not on the trip who was given a copy of the float plan. Let them know status of trip and participants
  • Help with loading up
  • Publicize AMC and future trips
  • The liability waiver must be forwarded to the CT AMC Flatwater/Coastal Paddling Chair
  • If there is an accident or incident involving any medical attention, evacuation or outside assistance, an accident report must be written and forwarded to the CT AMC Flatwater/Coastal Paddling Chair as soon as possible. The committee chair should be notified verbally as soon as possible.

Trip leader qualifications

Leader

  • Have paddled with and recommended by a member of the sea kayak committee
  • Solid self-rescue and group rescue skills demonstrated in a paddle with committee members
  • Basic navigation skills – knowledge of how to read a chart, use a compass, understand tides and currents, find a route
  • Towing skills
  • Comfortable with decision making, communication and ability to work in a group setting. Able to turn down participants who do not qualify for scheduled trip
  • Has taken one safety or skills course each year on the water.
  • Attends safety workshops organized by the committee
  • Required reading – AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership
  • Previous paddling experience
  • Current paddling skills
  • Current safety skills
  • Skills and safety courses taken
  • Leadership experience, paddling and otherwise
  • Agreement to abide by committee rules

Assistant leader

  • Solid paddling and safety skills for level of trip
  • Be will to take leadership responsibility

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