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Sea Kayak Skills Level 2

Aim
To provide the skills and knowledge for proficient kayaking in moderate conditions, on overnight trips along a moderately exposed shore with frequent easy landing opportunities.

Upon Successful Completion
The Sea Kayak Skills Level 2 is certified to:

Teach the following courses:
Not Applicable

Assist and/or Apprentice (Mentorship) on the following courses:
Not Applicable

Prerequisites
• Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Skills Level 1 certification or equivalent skill and knowledge.
• Wilderness First Aid (16 hours) with CPR strongly recommended.
• Experience: At least 3, one day long, kayaking trips in different locations.


Course Length
• 4 days including 1 overnight.


Class Ratio
1 Instructor : 4 Participants

Location
• Moderately exposed coastline with frequent easy landing opportunities.

Conditions
• Moderate winds (12-19 knots)
• Combined sea state less than 1-metre with a moderate sea state.
• Surf < 1 meter.
• Current < 3 knots.

Program Overview
Rescue skills
Unassisted and assisted rescue skills should be well developed. Rescue exercises must require the participant to demonstrate control, confidence and sufficient skill to complete exercises in a timely manner.

• Exercises can extend to include returning an incapacitated paddler to shore and remediation of simulated hypothermia and calling for external assistance.
• Exercises should include typical, yet uncommon difficulties such as seasickness, shoulder injuries, repetitive strain injuries, hypothermia, and leaky boats.
• Exercises should include responses to problems that occur in camp or during launching or landing on shore.

Eskimo rescue
• Perform an Eskimo rescue on demand. The victim should capsize apparently spontaneously and a nearby rescuer will respond as needed.

Unassisted re-entries
• The paddler will demonstrate techniques to re-enter the kayak. The re-entry must be accomplished quickly (2 minutes). The paddler must show confidence and control throughout the exercises. The capsize must be natural with spray deck in place and simulate an unexpected incident - either while paddling or in an attempted brace or sculling for support. Rescue is complete when the victim is back in the boat with the spray skirt attached, the cockpit pumped, and the paddler is competent to continue. (Aids such as rigid or inflatable paddle float or sponsons may be used.)

All in rescue
• The paddler will participate in an all-in rescue whereby two (or more) paddlers capsize and assist each other in emptying and re-entering the kayaks. Rescue is complete when all the paddlers are back in the kayaks, water is pumped out, spray skirts are attached, and all paddlers are able to continue on paddling.

Rolling
• The paddler will be introduced to rolling in calm conditions. A roll on only one side will be taught and the participant may set up before rolling. Completing a roll is not a prerequisite for passing Level 2, but since it is the most efficient method of self-rescue, it is an important skill to develop. Failure to roll at this level requires that the paddler must demonstrate a higher than average competence in other rescue skills within the course.

Towing
• It is necessary to be aware of the inherent dangers of towing and the towline must be easy to released quickly with one hand. Towing techniques should include use of a variety of tow systems such as long and short lines, pig-tails, and deck mounted equipment.

Paddling Skills
Paddling skills in Level 2 must show development of techniques effective for control in moderate sea conditions.

Launching & landing
• Demonstrate a variety of boat launchings/landings.

Forward paddling
• Show efficient and sustained forward paddling during a journey of 6 miles in 2 hours.

Turning strokes
• Turn the kayak in both directions while in motion (with little loss of forward momentum by means of (a) a sweep stroke, (b) a low brace turn, (c) a high brace turn and (d) a bow rudder. Demonstrate good edge control that assists turning.

Draw
• Move the kayak directly sideways. The body should be rotated and the paddle shaft vertical with the blade fully immersed in the water.
• Move the kayak directly sideways while it is moving forward.

Low brace
• With the elbows up, forearms near the vertical and the wrists straight, the back face of the paddle will make contact with the water. Some slapping of the paddle blade may occur, however a primary means of recovery is with the hip flick and proper torso and head motion.

High brace
• With the elbows low and near the body, forearms near the vertical and wrists straight, the power face of the paddle will make contact with the water. Some slapping of the paddle blade may occur, however a primary means of recovery is with the hip flick and proper torso and head motion.

Stern rudder
• Run straight, downwind on small waves, with the paddle kept on one side of the boat. Demonstrate good torso rotation while looking forward.

Knowledge
The knowledge and skill required for safe paddling at this level is governed by the conditions along a moderately exposed shore with frequent landing opportunities. The following list is not exhaustive and is provided here as a guide to the extent of knowledge necessary for safe and enjoyable paddling in a Level 2 environment.

Equipment
• Advantages and disadvantages of rudders skegs and deck lines.
• Various features of different sea kayak paddles.
• Various materials and construction of spray skirts.
• Advantages and disadvantages of foot, deck, hand held, and electric pumps.
• Supplementary features available on a PFD designed for sea kayaking.
• The attributes of various fabrics and pieces of clothing designed for paddling in harsh conditions.
• Features of rescue and safety equipment necessary for coastal kayak tripping.
• Interpretation of charts and maps to plan and execute an extended trip.
• Preparation and understand the use of a basic First Aid Kit.
• Preparation a general repair kit.

Kayaking resources
• Research various sources of information such as: Tide and Current tables, Guidebooks, Navigation texts, Chart #1, hydrographic charts, topographical maps, other books, videos, websites and a wide variety of resources that pertain to kayaking.

Journeying & Seamanship
• Journeying and seamanship refers to the practical skills, equipment preparation, trip planning and judgments that are on going throughout the planning and completion of an overnight trip. The following list is not exhaustive and is provided here as a guide to areas of judgment necessary for safe and enjoyable paddling in a Level 2 environment.

Preparation
• Organize the gear and packing for an over-night outing.
• Create a list of minimum gear for an over night trip.
• Describe the methods of outfitting a kayak to properly fit the paddler.
• Organize the gear and packing.
• Pack a kayak with a balanced and stable load for an overnight trip.

Navigation and route selection
• Use charts to interpret aids to navigation and determine potential hazards.
• Use marine charts and/or topographical maps to navigate a route.
• Use marine charts and/or topographical maps to determine possible launching and landing sites.
• Use tide and current tables for tidal predictions.
• Use a compass for simple navigation. Record, dead reckoning data and calculations.
• Use ranges and other simple piloting methods to aid in navigation.
• Introduce the use of basic GPS features in conjunction with a chart or topo-map.
• Use piloting methods such as lines of position formed by natural features, man-made structures, and compass bearings.
• Communicate your position and course to members of the paddling group and others such as rescue services and persons at a distance outside of the group.

Weather and sea conditions
• Obtain a marine weather forecast, and interpret its probable effect on paddling conditions.
• Understand the cause and effects of currents and winds, on sea conditions.

Group awareness
• Understand the nature and purpose of leadership in a paddling trip.
• For group control and awareness, use the concepts of lead and sweep boats, or home boat, and paddling buddies.

Communication
• Participate in a discussion of signaling devices such as, flares, whistles, horns, mirrors, strobes, radios, cellular phones, and EPIRB.
• Use visual and sound signals to effectively communicate on the water.

Knots
• Demonstrate and describe the use of various knots: clove hitch, bowline, figure of eight, rolling hitch.
• Understand the fundamental characteristics of line made of various materials.

Safety
• Hypothermia-Causes, effects and treatment (e.g., more in-depth understanding, the additional concerns with an overnight trip).
• Describe emergency procedures for communication with Coast Guard, Police and the commercial and public boating community.

Camping skills
• Describe the features of a good campsite.
• Using a chart or map describe how to determine locations likely to provide good campsites.
• Prepare a campsite for safety and comfort during inclement weather.

Heritage
• Relate traditional Greenland and Aleutian designs to contemporary kayak design features. Discuss the merits and challenges of the identified design features.
• Identify at least 2 other genres of kayaking, and describe how the practice of kayaking differs in these genres (equipment, technique, environment), Flatwater racing, Slalom racing, Surf Ski, White water, Kayak polo

Environment
Participants will provide evidence of their environmental ethics by describing the seven "Leave No Trace" principles and practices and work to integrate these principles and practices while on the trip

The seven Leave No Trace Principles are:
o Plan ahead and prepare
o Travel and camp on durable surfaces
o Dispose of waste properly
o Leave what you find
o Minimize campfire impacts
o Respect Wildlife
o Be considerate of other visitors

Using a variety of resources (previous knowledge, other participants, leaders, guide books) , Participants will be able to identify 1-3 natural objects found during the trip.

Instructors
The following instructors are accredited to offer this course:
Sea Kayak Instructor Level 2
Sea Kayak Instructor Level 3
Sea Kayak Instructor Level 4
Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer Level 1
Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer Level 2
Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer Level 3


The following instructors may assist/apprentice (Mentorship) on this course:
Sea Kayak Instructor Level 1
Sea Kayak Instructor Trainer Introduction to Kayaking


Assessment
Activities focus on the practical skills for overnight trips. Well-developed skills such as a strong forward stroke, effective bracing, maneuvering in waves and current, rescue skills including rolling and towing are necessary. Activities that show control and confidence can include: paddling through narrow rocky channels with small waves or current or traversing moderate tidal races. At this level the participant must also engage in judgement, planning and navigation tasks relevant to an overnight trip along a diverse and moderately exposed shoreline.