Sea Kayak Navigation & Planning

The course is suitable for anyone wishing to undertake journeys on the sea using a kayak who would find the technical and theoretical aspects not only useful, but essential for safe travel in the marine environment. This course is a pre-requisite for anyone working towards their Sea Kayak Leader (non-tidal and tidal) award.

Course content:

• • Navigation for Paddlers introduces both pre-trip planning and on-the-water navigating, including when you may need to change your plan. Topics covered – handrailing, collection points, aiming off and attack points, estimating speed and distance, as well as taking a compass bearing.
  • Surf and Swell gives paddlers an introduction to ground and wind swell, as well as surf forecasts. We explore how different environmental considerations can affect surf and swell including tide races, overfalls and rip currents.
  • Tides. How tides can impact paddling in estuaries and coastal waters. Topics covered – how to find tidal information for paddlesports, tidal flow and tidal windows, depth of tide and how the local environment impacts tides.
  • Weather. For paddlers on inland or coastal waters wanting to increase knowledge of weather forecasting and how different conditions can affect trips. Topics covered – wind, visibility and storms, interpreting environmental clues and understanding synoptic charts and the shipping forecast.

What to bring with you: – Silva type 4 or similar compass suitable for map work

Recommended reading (but not essential to have to attend the course): Sea Kayak Navigation, Franco Ferrero (2nd edition, 2007)

Attendance Certificates are issued to successful candidates by British Canoeing.

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