Advanced Sea Skills

The holder of this award has demonstrated the ability to plan and conduct self reliant advanced sea kayak activities. Advanced sea kayaking includes longer expeditions, more remote sea kayaking activities, more extreme conditions.

Note: Extreme conditions are winds greater than 27 knots, seas greater than 2 m.

Prerequisite

Sea Skills

Skill component

Demonstrate sea kayak skills at sea in Strong Wind conditions:

• Launch and landing skills:
  • surf to 2 m
  • currents > 2 knots
  • winds greater than 22 knots
  • rock platforms
• Paddling skills:
  • stroke efficiency and integrity in winds to 27 knots in seas to 2 m
  • roll, bracing and support skills in surf to 2 m
  • self rescue skills (re-enter and roll in surf and strong winds)
• Navigation skills:
  • low visibility navigation
  • over the horizon navigation
  • ability to conduct crossings and committing coastlines of greater than 4 nm.

Knowledge component

Demonstrate knowledge of:

• The history of sea kayaking
• Equipment design, construction and use
• The environment:
  • remote weather forecasting
  • ocean characteristics
• Planning:
  • longer expeditions (>5 days)
  • remote area activities
  • extreme environmental conditions (hot, cold, committed runs)
  • remote communication and rescue equipment
  • Australia Pilot, Notices to Mariners.

Experience component

Produce a verified log showing at least:

• Three years of sea paddling
• Three different five days self contained expeditions
• One seven day self contained expedition.

Communication component

Demonstrate the ability to:

• Maintain effective communication with a group in extreme conditions
• Monitor group welfare in extreme conditions
• Be self sufficient in extreme conditions.