Sea Kayaks | Emergency Contact Details | Using a Skeg | Equipment for Sea Kayak Trips | Paddling at Night | External Links
Sea Kayaks
The sea kayaks are located in the right hand shed closest to the water. The sea kayak paddles are located with the buoyancy aids, via the shed door nearest to the road. Spraydecks, helmets and towlines are located in this part of the shed as well.
Emergency Contact Details
Each paddler on a club trip is required to carry a waterproof card with the telephone number of their emergency contact details. This is in case a paddler is injured and the leader needs to contact the paddler’s relative\ friend. A laminated card carried in the buoyancy aid is a suitable method. There is a template that can be used on the Club Documents and Procedures page. (Mike/Jane have a small supply of lamintaing pouches for this size – Business card if needed).
Using a Skeg
Generally most sea kayaks when evenly loaded will weathercock – that is the front (bow) will turn into the wind. This is because it is generally anchored in the water whilst it is moving enabling the unanchored back (stern) to be blown downwind.
The skeg is a dropdown fin which if used correctly can provide extra resistance at the stern from being blown downwind making it easier to paddle in a straight line in windy conditions.
All the skegs in the Club’s sea kayaks are adjustable using a stainless steel braided cable or a cord to pull the skeg up into the recess in the stern or to push the skeg into the deployed position. This enables you to set it to the right depth in the water for the wind direction and strength. This requires fine tuning and is not a simple skeg up or skeg down exercise. Adjustments are made until the least amount of correction is required when paddling forwards in windy conditions.
When paddling into the wind the skeg is not required to maintain direction (i.e. skeg should be completely up), when paddling with the wind on the front quarter have it a quarter down (i.e. diagonally across the wind), when paddling across the wind it is halfway down, when paddling with wind on the rear quarter it is three-quarters down, and when paddling downwind the skeg is fully down. This is only a general guide you need to experiment as trim and kayak design will have an effect.
Some Top Tips
- If you’re not sure how to use a skeg seek advice from a fellow paddler – if you’re in any doubt don’t use it at all!
- Don’t use skegs on the canal sessions – there is generally no need to use them in this environment.
- Skeg slider / control (to the left of the cockpit) when fully functioning does not go all the way forward in its groove so don’t try and force it further forwards (there is a good inch or so left to the end of the groove when the skeg is fully up).
- Make sure that the skeg is pulled up when coming into land so it doesn’t create resistance, break, or kink the cable.
- As a general principle, if you want to do any complex moves or get into tight places the skeg should always be up!
Equipment for Sea Kayak Trips
Touring trips / trips suitable for new sea kayakers
Paddlers should try to use sea kayaks which have bulkheads between the cockpit and the water tight compartments and be at least 14 foot long. Paddlers should already have completed a touring paddle and found a boat that they are comfortable paddling for two hours at a time.
They should wear/use/carry:
- buoyancy aid
- touring paddle: these are longer than white water paddles
- spraydeck
- cagoule: wind and waterproof but not necessarily specific to kayaking
- spare clothing
- sun hat / warm hat
- food and drink
- sun cream
Club trips
In addition to the equipment described above paddlers should consider carrying:
- whistle
- personal first aid kit
- kayaking cagoule
- towline (initially club towlines may be borrowed)
- knife: required when a towline is carried
- map and compass
- mobile phone
- helmet (moving water group or if rock hopping is likely)
Advanced paddles
- spare paddles
- pump
- repair kit
- emergency communication: VHF (requires licence), flares (laser flares are preferred)
Paddling at night
All paddlers paddling after dusk must show lights that are visible from front and rear. The Exe Water Sports Water Safety Rules provide a local arrangement of white light on the front and red light at the back when paddling on Exeter Canal.
When paddling on the estuary and other locations paddlers should adhere to maritime regulations which are white lights at front and back.
External Links
Weather: Met Office
Weather: swell forecast Exmouth
Surf forecast Saunton
Saunton is protected from Northerly winds
Surf forecast Putsborough – Putsborough is protected from Southerly winds and from the power of most swells
Straight point firing: range-firing-times
Additional photos from a recent trip: