Skills and concepts, to include:

Communication and signaling (VHF radio protocol / pyrotechnics / smoke)

Basic field repair

Nautical rules of the road

Situational awareness

Avoidance, assessment and management of minor injuries

Avoidance, assessment and management of coldwater shock, hypo/hyperthermia

Appropriate leadership, judgment and group management in a variety of open water coastal environments

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
Equipment: working knowledge of paddling equipment
Safety: understand the dangers of kayaking and how   to avoid trouble
Cold Water Shock / Hypo / Hyperthermia
Environmental Issues
Trip Planning
Group Awareness
Group Leadership
Marine Environment: effects of wind, tide, land   masses and current
Knots: bowline / figure 8 / clove hitch / round turn   / two-half-hitches / trucker’s hitch
Repairs in the Field
Packing / Trimming of the boat
Navigation- Charts- Compass use
Rescue Aides- Visual- Auditory
Nautical Rules of the Road

 

 

 

 Be Prepared for:

Working with current

Navigation Talk

Preparation for inlet paddle

Determination of eddies etc..

Crossing channels with current

Dealing with overfalls

Standing Waves (inlet mouth)

Discussion of Group Management in inlet

Launch to overfalls

Practice ferrying

Circles in eddy

Crossing of inlet mouth and practice in standing waves

Taking turns landing group through surf

Demo of proper technique

Talks – Beach Dynamics, launching and landing

Practice launching group

Establishing a launching & landing drill

Head out to shoals (if conditions warrant)

Towing in swells

Rescues in rough water

Return back through inlet with incoming tide

Practice surfing Inlet waves

Possible on-water scenarios