SEA KAYAK RESCUE SKILLS

[Adam Coulson]

How’s your roll? Is it absolutely 100% bombproof? Does the same apply to all of your paddle buddies? If not, you might find yourself in the position of having to either execute a rescue or be rescued. When did you last do that? Have you had any training or practice recently?

We are offering the opportunity to practice some skills in a sea kayak that might, on occasion, prove to be life saving but which we don’t use every day. Those skills may include:

• An eskimo rescue although it is rare for another paddler to be close enough to offer their assistance whilst you are hanging on under the boat. Therefore …
• A deep-water rescue (as victim and rescuer) and how this might be executed in a gulley.
• A self-rescue (just in case you got separated and nobody else is about)
• The rescue of an unconscious paddler still in their boat. Thankfully more commonly …
• The rescue of an injured paddler e.g. shoulder dislocation) unable to get themselves back in unassisted.
• Helping a paddler who has damaged their boat on the water so that a hatch is flooded and some distance from land – how are you going to empty and repair it, and what does the paddler do in the meantime? After that you paddle back to the coast but there is no easy get out so …
• Technical landings in surf or onto rocks

Don’t be intimidated – the idea is for a few evenings of guided self-discovery during which you have the opportunity to challenge yourself as far as you wish in a safe environment with support. And there is no way that everybody is going to do it all!

We have 4 Tuesday evenings set aside in August: the 1st, 8th, 22nd and 29th for some fun in a sea kayak without paddling very far. Please be prepared to spend some time in the water and therefore dress accordingly. The water may be a similar temperature to the air, but it cools the body 25 times faster. I have reserved the club Atlantic sea kayaks for members to use.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions. It is helpful but not essential if you can let me know if you are planning to come on any of these Tuesdays – it is not necessary to do them all.

Adam

[Author]

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