1. Everett Mountaineers Sea Kayaking Safety Presentation
First Aid
Trip Planning
Know when to say “No”
Safety tools
Emergency tools
Right of Way
Trip Plans
Other Training
Students are taking the best first step by being in this class.
What we teach is not complicated, it’s mostly common sense, but there is knowledge here that could save your life, others in your group or other paddlers out on the water.
The Mountaineers have an excellent safety record both in kayaking and in the many other activities they teach and sponsor. All instructors, leaders and helpers in the course are doing it voluntarily out of love of the sport and desire to pass along the knowledge that has been given to them by previous Mountaineers in Kayaking and other activities such as scrambling, snowshoeing, climbing, MOFA and navigation.

2. Carry a first aid kit and know what is in it and how to use it
Red Cross basic first aid and CPR is a minimum
Wilderness First Aid training offered by the Mountaineers
Water safety first aid course
911 is not available at many kayaking destinations.
Leaders - know if members of the group have health care issues. Are paddlers carrying medication? where is it? what is it? how is it administered?
You can buy a put together kit, just make sure it has what you need and will use.
Most first aid incidents need band aids and anti bacteria cream, Benadryl and ibuprofen.
Being equipped to do minor surgery is good but not all that practical.
If you have health issues or carry medication let your trip leader know before departing on a trip.

3. Trip Planning (not just for leaders)
Talk to the trip leader
Know what is involved with the trip you are planning to go on
Charts
Tides & Currents
Weather forecast
Signaling (hand)
Pick trips appropriate for your skill level
Safety begins at home. Take time to prepare and get ready for the trip
As students you should be talking to the trip leader before every trip you go on.
Allow enough time to participate in the trip and enjoy the day and the company of the paddlers on the trip.
Don’t rush the trip because of other commitments.
Doing trips in a hurry cause problems and poor judgment to occur.
Use list and organization techniques to be ready and prepared when it’s time to go.
Like Dan and Wendy’s gear organization in their ditty sacks.

4. August 7th/8th, Sat.-Sun Pelican Beach Overnight (SKIII) 17nm round trip. Party limit of six. Launch from Washington Park, cross Guemes channel, up to Youngs Park on Guemes for lunch. Then through the Cone Islands to Pelican Beach on Cypress Island. Plan to hike up Eagle Cliff to watch the sun set behind the San Juan Islands. Wet or dry suit required. Questions and sign up with Doug or
As a leader I take into consideration a distance of about 8-9 nm a day.
Camping overnight, more gear to pack at launch time.
Must be on time and prompt because of current considerations.
Will do at least four crossings in shipping lanes.
Leader will not want all students or all new campers depending on skill levels of other group members.

5. Is in the student handbook.

6. Know when to say “No” Not every trip is suited for every paddler
Ask how fast the group is expected to paddle?
Ask how far the paddle is going?
What are the currents doing?
What are the expected wind/weather conditions?
Is this trip within my experience level?
What does the trip description say?
What does the leader say?
A wide variety of trips are sponsored in the Mountaineers.
Some are fair weather nature paddles with low skill requirements and others are aggressive distance trips where high skill, speed and endurance are needed to complete and stay with the group such as a day from Anacortes to Friday Harbor and back.
You will have a much more enjoyable trip when you are in your comfort zone.
Paddlers often find a leader that paddles at their pace and will paddle with that leader repeatedly.
Once you have your student paddles done and start to go on club trips don’t be afraid to push yourself if you feel comfortable with what you’ve been doing, just let your leader know your exploring new territory.

7. Safety Tools/Gear Know how to use your tools before you need them
Chart
Compass
VHF Radio/Cell Phone
Distress Devices
GPS
Tow Belt
Paddle Float
Show and tell.

8. Emergency Gear Flares (Meteor, Parachute, Handheld, Smoke)
Strobe Light
Signal Mirror
Whistle (Coast Guard requirement)
Flags
Dye Markers
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
VHF Radio/Cell Phone
Fog Horn
First four items should be carried by all paddlers
Show and tell.

9. Right of Way
Shipping lanes, other boats, right-of-ways, ferry routes and docks
Know where the shipping lanes are and if you are in them
Avoid all traffic in shipping lanes
Signal your intended course early, large vessels may take up to 2 nautical miles to stop, they will not be able to avoid you
In all crossings stay grouped together for visibility. Consider spacing/staggering when in waves and swells to enhance visibility
Cross ferry and shipping lanes at right angles to minimize time in the lanes
Maintain a 100 yard distance from all docked ferries and their wakes
Rule of greater tonnage
Ships in shipping lanes will not stop for you.
Stay grouped together and ready to take direction from the leader.

10. Point out shipping lanes.
GPS can tell you where you are.
Go at right angles to shipping lanes

11. Defensive Boating Know your responsibilities to avoid collisions:
Give-way boat – Responsible to change speed or direction to avoid a collision
Stand-on boat – Responsible to maintain its speed and direction to avoid a collision. If the give-way boat doesn’t take evasive action, the stand-on boat may need to change its speed and direction to avoid a collision
When being overtaken from behind the forward boat is the stand-on boat – maintain speed and direction
Often a boat will become the stand-on boat because of restricted maneuverability
Many times the kayaker will be the give-way boat due to its maneuverability
Show your intent by stopping paddling or pointing in a direction that avoids collision
they may be disabled, too big to change direction quickly, restricted to a specific location (in a channel), or a sailboat under sail 11

12. Trip Plans Where you plan to launch from and return to
Dates you will be gone
Destination of trip and where you plan to be on what dates
Description of you, your boats and tent
How can you be reached in case of an emergency, both incoming and outgoing
Carry ID on your boat or pfd
What time do you expect to be back
When should your contact call the Coast Guard
Coast Guard contact information for the area you are paddling in
Give this Float Plan to a trusted person and carry a copy with you
Used mostly on overnight or extended trips.

13. Kayaking Float Plan - Barkley Sound
Donna and Doug Garland
Donna Garland: Paddling a blue Seward Legend kayak in a yellow PFD
Doug Garland: Paddling a yellow Northwest Synergy kayak in a red PFD
Emergency contact is Pat Wheeler in Snohomish WA phone # (425)
We will be launching from Toquart Bay Forestry Site in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island B.C. on Monday, July 19th. We will be returning to the same point by Saturday, July 24th. We will leave our silver Subaru Outback, WA license plate number NWKAYKR at this location.
We plan to Kayak in the Broken Island Group and will probably be camping on Hand, Willis or Clarke Island. We have a blue and yellow North Face tent. We also have a mobile VHF Marine radio and will be monitoring channel 3 in the morning about 9:00 and in the evening about 19:00 most days.
The Canadian Coast Guard can be reached at , , or VHF channel 16. The Broken Island Group is part of the Pacific Rim National Park, phone number They have a park warden station on Nettle Island and they do patrol the islands. They monitor VHF channel 6.

14. Other Training Learning to kayak is an ongoing experience
Classes/Clinics on strokes, braces, towing, rescues, Eskimo rolls, advanced navigation
Basic Sea Kayaking graduates are eligible to paddle and take classes/clinics from all branches
Other sources of classes are ACA, BCU, NWOC, etc
Assisting in next years class
Train the Trainer for leaders and assistants
Practicing rescues
Leader qualification
This is an introductory class and not a leaders class
You will only improve through experience and practice
You do not need to be an ACU, BCU ten star general to be an instructor or help out in the kayak group.
Volunteering is the Mountaineer way of paying back the club for the high quality of training you get for such a reasonable price.