Kayaking Skills, Safety, & Rescues
Custom dates on request.
Designed for beginning and intermediate paddlers who want to feel more confident, be safer, and have more fun. We will focus on three areas: (1) paddling & boat control skills; (2) safety awareness & skills; and (3) rescue skills. Participants will learn and practice boat control, forward stroke, turning, edging, bracing, and various methods of self and assisted rescue. Fun–and a few games–will also be part of the learning process. You’ll come away with increased ability and confidence as well as respect for the challenges of going out on the sea in small boats. $300.00 for 6.5 hours for up to 3 people (includes kayak, gear, instruction, snacks). Additional people at $100 per person. Discount available if you have your own boat and gear.
Fast Track Coastal Kayaking Course: (available on request)
13 hours over 2 days. Designed for the paddler with anything from a few days to a few years of experience on the water who wishes to rapidly push his / her paddling technique and knowledge to a higher level, and thereby experience increased enjoyment and confidence. Three main components make up this program: (1) Rescue technique, (2) Paddling technique, and (3) Safety, Seamanship, and Navigation. Rescue sessions focus on developing and refining techniques such as the paddle-float rescue, t-rescue, Eskimo rescue, and Eskimo roll as well as lesser-known techniques such as re-entry and roll with a paddle float and modified t-rescue. Various tows will also be practiced. Paddling technique sessions include development and refinement of forward and reverse strokes, sweeps, braces, j-lean, etc. Safety, Seamanship, and Navigation sessions include discussion of chart & compass, GPS, VHF, tides, currents, wind, waves, and weather. The beginning and intermediate paddler will come away from this session with increased ability and confidence as well as respect for the challenges presented by going out on the sea in small boats. $300.00 per day for up to 3 people (includes kayak, gear, instruction, snacks). Additional people at $100 per person. Discount available if you have your own boat and gear.
Kayaking in Conditions Workshop (available on request)
Location: Reid Beach State Park, south of Bath, Maine. Suited to paddlers who have begun to learn (but not necessarily mastered) bracing, rescue techniques, paddling in adverse conditions and are ready to push themselves a bit further. Boat readiness, paddling in wind, currents, and confused seas, and rock gardens as well as launching and coming ashore in moderate surf & rough water safety and rescues will be emphasized in this course. In the meantime, we will enjoy the spectacular and varied shoreline of the peninsula south of Bath, Maine, which includes several miles of sand beaches as well as rocky islands and tidal rivers. $360.00 for 6.5 hours for up to 3 people (includes kayak, gear, instruction, snacks). Additional people at $100 per person. Discount available if you have your own boat and gear.