Sea Kayak Navigation and Touring Essentials
Prerequisites:
We recommend that you take our Introduction to Sea Kayaking and Capsize Recovery or have had similar instruction or experience before taking this class.
Smart Start: Level Two | Sea Kayak Navigation and Touring Essentials
Take your kayaking skills to the next level with level two of the Smart Start series. This class builds on the foundation of Smart Start: Introduction to Sea Kayaking and gives you the confidence to explore the Puget Sound and beyond. Further develop your intro skills and become a well-rounded kayaker.
Your professionally trained instructors will guide you through solo and multi-person rescues, wet exits, equipment selection, towing and on-water safety.
This class will expand on the Introduction to Sea Kayaking, and help you develop a better understanding of sea kayaking navigation and trip planning skills. In addition to being able to comfortably perform self and assisted rescues, you will learn about tides and currents as well as basic navigational tools that will allow you to confidently pursue your next sea kayak adventure.
As well as better balance and control of your boat, building the knowledge and confidence you need to expand your horizons and grow within the sport. You will increase not only your own safety on the water, but also those around you and the added sense of security means you will have much more fun doing so!
Prerequisites: We recommend taking our Smart Start: Introduction to Sea Kayaking OR a comparable class or have similar experience with sea kayaking before taking this class.
Not able to make it this time, but still want to have some fun out on the water? Click here for our Summer Calendar!
What's Covered:
- Basic understanding of tides, currents, weather and hazards
- Basic trip planning and navigation
- 7nm paddle including multiple crossings
- Towing
- Basic maneuvering and turning strokes
- Balancing and bracing
- Proper kayak fit
- Capsizing safely
- Wet exits
- Paddle Float Rescue
- T-Rescue
- And more!
* Kayak rolling not covered in this class.
* This class is held on Puget Sound, Port Gamble Bay and include ~7nm of paddling with multiple crossings.
What to Bring:
- Plenty of water
- Lunch and snacks
- Sunscreen and sun protection
- Dry bags/containers or gallon Ziplock bags
- Insulation to be worn under your dry suit (long sleeve top, pants, socks. Fleece or other synthetic clothing recommended)
- Complete change of warm clothes for after
- Towel
- A positive attitude and eagerness to learn!
*Dry suits or wetsuits are required.
Where to Meet:
Olympic Outdoor Center Beach, Port Gamble, WA
Itinerary
We will start class on our beach with check-ins and introductions. A refresher of the topics covered and what we learned from the previous day in Smart Start 1: Introduction to Sea Kayaking. We'll go over the sea kayak safety including proper immersion gear, kayak fitting, and kayak nomenclature. Then, we will have an on land lesson about navigation, tides currents and trip planning. Together, our group will go over the plan for the on-water moving classroom as we navigate our way from Port Gamble and embark on our adventure. While on the water, we will continue to fine tune maneuvering skills and strokes while we make our way towards Point Hanon for a navigation exercise, There will be opportunities for towing practice and rescue practice throughout the day, with emphasis on group management and teambuilding skills, There will also be time for capsize prevention skills like balancing and bracing.
On the water, there will be opportunities to practice wet exits, t-rescues, sling rescues and the paddle float rescue. If we have time at the end, we'll go over exercises for balancing and bracing (capsize prevention!)
*This is a great class for Mountaineers and other local club members who are interested in working towards Mountaineers equivalency or the Basic Sea Kayaking Badge.Need to Rent Gear?
Kayaks and equipment are available to rent for this class. All kayak rentals include individually fitted personal flotation device, paddle, bilge pump and paddle float. All rental equipment will be ready at our facility.
*Dry suits or wetsuits are required. If you are unsure of what immersion gear is needed, please call us at 360.297.4659. If you do not have the appropriate gear, we are happy to offer rental equipment.
Paddlers who bring their own equipment will also need to bring a Life Jacket, a Bilge Pump and a Paddle Float.
Our Instructors
Here at Olympic Outdoor Center, we have been teaching classes since 1986 and all of our instructors are experienced paddlers skilled in multiple techniques and safety rescues and we are committed to developing and delivering the best programs possible. We hire and train skilled instructors who are passionate about teaching, the environment, and outdoor recreation. All instructors have basic first aid and CPR certifications.
