Intermediate Coastal Canoeing Skills

The successful participant can select appropriate locations consistent with Intermediate Coastal Canoeing conditions. The course expands upon concepts begun in the Introduction to Coastal Canoeing Program including tidal prediction, marine forecasting and navigation with nautical charts and adds greater detail surrounding land – wind interactions. However, the focus remains the selection of appropriate coastal locations and conditions for Intermediate Coastal Canoeing.

General Learning Outcome

This Coastal Canoeing course provides the skill and theory necessary to paddle with others of similar ability in sheltered coastal canoeing locations. Strokes and maneuvers are to be performed at a higher degree of proficiency than in the introductory program in conditions with greater exposure to wind, waves and possible swell. The participant will be exposed to more exposed locations to be better able to identify the differences between sheltered and exposed coastline paddling. The skills and knowledge gained at this level form a base for confident and safe travel in more dynamic coastal environments. Rescue techniques at this level revisit assisted rescues taught in the Intermediate Lake Tandem course but are performed in a coastal environment.

Prerequisites

Skills Certification

Intermediate Lake Tandem or comparable skills and experience at the discretion of course instructor.

Introduction to Coastal Canoeing or comparable skills and experience at the discretion of course instructor.

Minimum Course Length

16 hours (2 days) minimum.

Class Ratio

1 instructor: 9 students (1 instructor canoe: 4 student canoes).

Minimum Staff and Certification

One Intermediate Coastal Canoeing Instructor.

Course Location

Sheltered waters with easy landing options. No open crossings. An example would be a harbour open at one side. Some refracted swell and / or small breaking waves can be present.

Environmental Conditions

Light wind (0-11 knots) Sea state calm to light chop.

Participant Assessment

Activities focus on safety and comfortable paddling along a shoreline. Successful participants must be able to identify appropriate paddling locations in coastal environments suitable to their level. The participant will be familiar with basic symbols, distance on nautical charts and use marine and land forecasts and a knowledge of land-wind interaction to interpret the impact of that forecast on the local coastal canoeing environment. Activity should concentrate on progress, teamwork and an awareness of the need for future learning. Participants should leave the course encouraged to continue their learning and be aware of their individual limitations.

Skills and Manoeuvres

All Intermediate Lake Tandem manoeuvres will be demonstrated while paddling along a coastline in both the bow and stern positions and with the assistance of a partner. Manoeuvres including forward straight-line paddling (for example, maintaining pace with the group), tight pivot turns, side slipping, improved stopping skills, figure 8s, left and right turns for docking and reverse straight-line will be reviewed; however, the focus in all levels of the Coastal Canoe Program is on application of Tandem Lake skills. Manoeuvres will be demonstrated in “real life” situations along a coastline, for example, reverse straight line out of a sea cave or rock garden.

Paddling Concepts

The participant will demonstrate an expanded knowledge of paddling concepts in the context of a coastal canoe day paddle, including compound strokes, underwater recoveries, dynamic strokes and consistent use of torso rotation.  

Paddling Mechanics

The participant will demonstrate control of the canoe when it is affected by environmental conditions including paddling in a head, tail and beam wind and choppy water.

Balance and Edging

The participant will demonstrate good beginnings of tilting the canoe to assist turning maneuvers. Good beginning of this skill will provide a foundation for outcomes in the Advanced Coastal Canoeing Program.

Strokes

The participant will perform Intermediate Lake strokes including Cross Bow Draws, Bow Pry, Reverse J and Compound reverse strokes while paddling along a coastline. The participant will demonstrate committed bracing in a coastal environment.

Knowledge

Personal Equipment for Coastal Day Paddling

The participant will show up for the coastal paddle portion of the course with appropriate personal gear appropriate for a coastal day trip. This would include, where appropriate, cold water immersion gear such as a wet suit and proper waterproofing of personal gear, protected incase of capsize or inclement weather.

The candidate will also describe boat and paddle design features that contribute to safe and efficient coastal canoeing.

Navigating Shoreline

The participant will identify 3 out of 4 obvious landmarks using a nautical chart. The participant will demonstrate how to use time as a catching feature and will determine time to travel a specific distance using estimated paddling speed in knots and nautical miles taken from a nautical chart. The candidate will identify common symbols on a nautical chart including rock awash, rock with drying height and man-made aids to navigation.

Choosing a Safe Environment

The participant must select, on a nautical chart 4 – 5 safe locations for Intermediate Coastal Canoeing given the local land and marine forecasts. The nautical chart must include both sheltered coastal areas and exposed coastal areas. The candidate must also identify areas on a nautical chart with a probability for land-wind interactions (for example gap winds) and “sea” conditions such as clapotis, cross seas, wind against tide, boomers and surf beaches.

Paddling in a Group

The participant will participate in group communication events such as departure briefings and respect group management techniques such as lead and sweep boats, staying with the group, communicating desires effectively, contributing to decision making discussions and working to resolve any group disagreements or conflict. The participant will participate in the filing of a float plan (emergency contacts, destination, anticipated time of return, group participants and description of equipment).

Course Limitations

The participant will describe what additional skills are required to paddle areas with greater exposure and environmental conditions.

Additional Courses

The participant will, through his or her description of the course limitations, demonstrate that the Advanced Coastal Canoeing program has outcomes related directly to canoe travel in areas with greater exposure and more challenging environmental conditions.

Resources

The participant will be aware of Paddle Canada, provincial/territorial regional member associations, national and provincial parks, conservation authorities, canoeing and kayaking schools, private camps and clubs that pertain to canoeing and kayaking. The candidate will also be aware of additional reference material such as canoe/sea kayaking instruction books and videos, Internet websites and more experienced paddlers.

Local Paddling Clubs or Groups

The participant will demonstrate knowledge of local paddling clubs or groups and understand their relevance as a valuable resource of local knowledge.

Paddling Etiquette

The participant must demonstrate consistent practice of proper paddling etiquette where necessary (ex. not leaving a paddle underfoot to cause injury, remaining with the group while underway on the water, etc.).

Leave No Trace

The participant will demonstrate application of the seven Leave No Trace Principles as appropriate in coastal environments.

Canoe Tour

The participant will accompany the instructor on a minimum 1 day Coastal Canoe paddle, as per the conditions of the level. During the tour, the candidate will demonstrate intermediate level strokes and manoeuvres and consistent contribution of safe and cooperative coastal paddling, including keeping pace with the group.

Risk Management

Water, Wind, Waves and Weather

The participant will access both a land and a marine forecast and interpret its effects on the paddling area. The candidate will identify on a nautical chart probable local land-wind interactions based on land and marine forecasts. The candidate will also identify probable locations on a nautical chart with clapotis, cross seas, wind against tide, boomers, swell and surf beaches. The candidate will not actually paddle such areas on the course but will be able to recognize the factors that contribute to those conditions.

Tides

The participant will know what causes tides and will be able to name the factors that influence tidal range and explain what terms such as diurnal, semi-diurnal, spring, neap, perigee and apogee mean.

Navigation

The participant will successfully identify 3 out of 4 obvious landmarks using a nautical chart. The participant will identify several common symbols on nautical charts including symbols for rock awash, rock with drying heights and man-made aids to navigation. The participant will determine time to travel a specific distance using estimated paddling speed in knots and nautical miles from a nautical chart.

Hypothermia

The participant will participate in a mock treatment of a hypothermic patient. The candidate will also describe the individual elements of the 1:10:1 rule.

Personal Preparation

The participant will show up for the trip portion of the course with the appropriate personal items and clothing for an intermediate coastal canoe trip including personal immersion protection such as wet suit or dry suit if appropriate to the location and conditions.

Safe Canoe Procedures

The participant will demonstrate safe and efficient handling of canoe and equipment in an intermediate coastal canoeing environment. This includes respecting lead and sweep boats, staying with the group, communicating desires effectively and contributing to decision making discussions and working to resolve any group disagreements or conflict.

Rescues         

The following rescue techniques are to be performed in controlled coastal environments: That is, light wind with chop in coastal water (for example, not ponds, swimming pools or coastal environments with significant wave action), proper clothing, with assistance of a partner.

Canoe over Canoe (victim and rescuer)

Following a capsize in deep water and while maintaining contact with the canoe, the participants will perform a canoe over canoe rescue at least once as both a swimmer and a rescuer. The rescue will be natural with the canoe loaded for a typical coastal day paddle. Participants must show confidence during the exercise, maintain contact with the boat and demonstrate effective communication with other paddlers (for example, paddling partner and rescue boat).

The rescue will take no more than 4 minutes.

Canoe Towing Rescues

The participant will successfully perform at least one canoe tow rescue. The candidate will approach an un-swamped canoe, secure the canoe to the rescue boat using a quick-release system and tow the canoe 50 meters. The victims can apply resistance using paddles to simulate windy conditions. During the tow scenario, the candidates will efficiently and quickly switch towing boats or conduct an in-line tow.

Note: this exercise is meant to simulate assisting canoe paddlers that are having trouble making headway as a result of injury, illness, strong wind or current.