Wet but more competent now
Today we had a private 2 hour kayaking class. As with most professional instruction, I found out that what seems simple, really is, but has more nuances than you suspect.
Mike, our instructor from Aqua Adventures, started us off on the dock explaining basics like the parts of the kayak and how to put in place various needed items (like skirts, pumps, self-rescue floats), as well as how to inspect the kayak to make sure it is ready and safe to use.
Then we got in the boats and started paddling. We learned the an efficient forward stroke, various turning strokes, and moving the boat sideways and backwards. We also learned the brace stroke, which aids in keeping you from flipping over. We also adjusted the kayak for comfort – mainly so I would be doing ab crunches all afternoon.
After we could propel the boat accurately and efficiently we got into water rescue – also known as “how the hell do I get back in this thing that always wants to tip over”. He demonstrated three rescues – the Eskimo roll (for more advanced students), the T rescue, and the float on a paddle rescue. We then did the last two our selves. This involved purposely flipping the boat upside down. Yep – sit upside down, locked into a kayak.
First… tuck the paddle into one side or the other. Don’t lose it!
Second… take both hands and rap the sides of the kayak to let others know you flipped. This seems counterintuitive, cause I’ll be hollering for them if they don’t notice, but I think it mainly serves to calm you down.
Third… pull on your skirt release. The skirt is a neoprene tube you wear over you like a woman’s skirt. The bottom of the skirt locks into the cockpit to form a water tight seal. You have to pull forward, and then up. Easy but under stress you can forget. Both Kevin and I handled it fine.
Fourth… hook your foot into the cockpit and hold onto your paddle. Get your wits together.
Now, if you are alone, you better have a float you can attach to your paddle. Use this as an outrigger to keep you from flipping over when you get into the kayak. But this is quite hard to do and I don’t think it very doable in rougher water.
If you have others, do a T rescue. Basically, make the boats a T. The guy still in the boat hauls it up, flips it to drain it, and then puts it next to his boat (bow to stern). He grabs on and the swimmer hauls himself in. This was a lot easier that the float rescue.
Our instructor, Mike, was patient and competent. We learned a lot.
Now we are qualified to take cockpit kayaks instead of sit-on-top kayaks. These paddle much easier.