LIVING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Living this close to the ocean the common choice for human powered water-craft is the kayak. When I moved to Port Townsend my knowledge of sea kayaking came from a gulf coast perceptive oblivious to the ups and downs of Pacific tidal currents with its 50 degree water. So I enrolled in a basic set kayaking class taught by the Mountaineers.
It was a good choice.
Each class is grouped into sets of 4 students led by a certified instructor and a recent graduate of an earlier class who’s looking toward their own certification. You’re introduced to a real sea kayak starting with two pointy ends on opposite sides (I’m not making this up). They suggest which items can to be on top and “below deck” focusing on what the ocean may and will do to anything “on top”. Classes include navigation, weather prediction, reading tidal tables emphasizing its numbers are averages and as such may lead you astray (you’d better know the area), how to dress and undress in a dry suit, etc. They discuss various opinions about “this and that” with nothing of real consequence other than you’ve now heard it before; e.g. a skeg or no skeg.
Which beings us to their graduation requirements.
You must attend each scheduled lecture. You must complete six student paddles typically with your class or with an earlier class Here’s how the typical trainee paddle works.
You meet at the put-in. You’re asked what you know regarding the current and forecasted weather plus the tidal predictions. While paddling you are watched regarding paddling skills and, but of course, the standard game of going around a line of floating objects focusing on turning while paddling with a lean. Finally you’re paired with another student to practice rescues; each must flip over and rescued by your partner. The entire group observes as each set of two completes the rescue and rescued. After completion the instructor asks the group what they observed then the instructor chimes in with what he or she observed.
During one of my training paddles the lead instructor brought home the importance of knowing the current and tidal patterns of the area regardless of the tidal tables and weather forecast. We were paddling along a coast which seemed to disappear into a bay or some such thing a few thousand yards ahead. We were told to take a break on the beach and, once there, we walked toward this “bay”. The closer we came the stronger the wind to the point you could not walk forward. Back we went to the kayaks. Our instructor knew enough about the area and the affect of mountains on wind at that time of day. Going back to my earlier point with respect to the tidal tables may “lead you astray”…know the area or someone who does.
So I graduated. I now paddle with a local group of retirees who believe if you don’t flip over you won’t need a rescue; sort of makes sense? Once every so often one will go astray and somehow, in the depths of long-ago training memory, the astray is rescued.. Haven’t lost anyone yet but it’s tempting.