Intermediate Sea Kayaking Course – 5 days

Day 1

In the morning: paddling techniques

The paddling techniques are divided into 4 phases:
 attack, water contact, removal and air phase. An effective paddling is, first of all, a big rotation of the shoulders and a good transmission.

In the afternoon : Safety techniques
We’ll explore the various sea kayaking safety techniques.

Here is a non exhaustive list of the various techniques we’ll handle according to your level and needs : Rafting, towing and jettisonable knots.

After deep water capsizing, getting back into your kayak with some help and then helping a partner to do so.
After deep water capsizing getting back into your kayak thanks to a paddle-float and then without it.

Early evening : Seamanship then tide times.
After seing the main knots used in kayaking, we will calculate the water level from a sea chart and a tide time calendar

Day 2

In the morning: cottage, balance and direction

Morning revising the main techniques used in sea kayaking: side movement and turning. In the meanwhile we’ll give you landmarks to correct yourself while navigating on your own. We’ll insist on the position of the elbows with regards to paddling to find the effective gesture without traumatizing neither your shoulders nor wrists.


In the afternoon : navigation in waves.
Having selected the best spot according to the swell we’ll see the techniques of navigating in waves:
 Surfing techniques
 and security techniques in waves

Early evening: mapping.

Understanding the sea chart, using the Cras rule to draw a route.

Day 3

In the morning:stream navigating.

We’ll navigate in the streams due to the tide and mainly present in estuaries. We’ll use white water navigating techniques: ferries, peel outs and stops in and we’ll set up specific safety drills. These applications will allow us to highlight the main dangers of these zones.
You will also apply specific sea navigating techniques (avoiding another kayak, crossing a lead (channel).

In the afternoon: navigation in waves (session 2)


Following our previous experience we’ll deepen our basics of kayaking in waves.
We’ll exercise safety drills: leaving with a surfing technique and leaving the wave on demand.
Checking these movements in the zone of wave impact then controlling directional surfing.

Early evening: preparation of the bivouac and the trip of the next day.

We plan the next day trip on the map, according to the weather and the tide times.

Days 4 and 5

To conclude the program we plan a two-day trip with a night in a bivouac. You shall put into practice your first days theoretical and practical experience.

Meeting

First day schedules and meeting places will be defined according to the swell and the tide times. Please get in touch with us to know the meeting place according to your program.

On the fifth day, the program will end at 5pm, in Ploemeur.

Supervisory Staff

An experienced guide who holds a diploma in kayaking and the associate qualification of sea kayaking.

Kayaks

It includes single and double kayaks (Necky, PH, Valley, RTM brand) in which all the stuff is boarded to sail in full autonomy. We also provide dry bags but make sure you have your own one to keep your camera dry, and don’t forget to bring plastic bags in case of rupture. 
Even if the watertight compartments are large, you have to take the strict minimum.

If you wish to invest soon in a personal kayak, you can ask your instructor to try different kayaks and ask for advice.

Accommodation

The service includes 3 overnight stays in a holiday cottage or a youth hostel in and an overnight stay in a bivouac.

Meals

Meals include: lunch from the 1st to the 5th day of your training, prepared in common

Equipment supplied:

Make your nearest and dearest happy with a sea kayak trip

To order it, just download the following purchase order and send it us back with the payment by cheque to the address below.

Purchase order