Equipment
See the Recommended Equipment List
Context of Risk Assessment
At the meet paddlers with experience and local knowledge decide on routes based on the forecast, visible prevailing conditions and group skills. Wind speed, water temperature and sea swell are key inputs to these decisions. Sheltering tactics are frequently used to reduce the exposure to risk, conversely challenging conditions can be intentionally sought out to build experience with the support of the other group members.
It’s up to every individual to familiarise themselves with the risks below, and the risk reduction measures are the shared responsibility of all taking part in the trip.
Experience and Qualifications.
- ISKA is a community of paddlers, many of whom have years of experience paddling with each other. Decisions on who leads the briefing are based more often on that known history and local knowledge than on certification level. Leaders are usually not certified coaches or instructors. Several experienced paddlers are usually on hand to assist. Skill levels are self-declared and trusted, it’s up to each individual to know their own competency, there is no checking of certificates on the shore or otherwise.
- All paddlers in the group shall be at least CI Level 2 Sea Skills Award holders or have equivalent skills.
Risks and Mitigations for Sea-Kayaking
| ACTIVITY | HAZARD | RISK REDUCTION MEASURE |
|---|---|---|
| All activities apart from launching and being on the water | Burns from cooking and campfires Falls due to uneven ground Injuries loading and unloading boats . |
All attendees are adults and expected to be able to take due care in the meet environment and have the skills to load and unload their boats safely. Those planning to cook should bring a first aid kit with burn cream |
| All paddling-related activities | Leaders are rarely certified instructors or coaches, so may make inappropriate decisions or fail to make appropriate decisions due to inexperience or lack of training. This could contribute to any of the hazards below. | Overall risk to group members over their paddling lifetime is presumed to be lower due to the willingness of experienced paddlers to volunteer to lead a group and share their knowledge, than if people didn’t have these opportunities and only went solo paddling, paddling with friends or on paid instructor-led or coach-led trips.
ISKA arranges training opportunities for members to upskill, but has limited resources and ultimately values experience and local knowledge over certification. Every paddler should know their own capabilities, inform themselves how ISKA paddles operate, take part in briefings, raise any concerns, and ultimately decide if the paddle is appropriate for them based on their skill, experience and fitness level. At the briefing all paddlers should:
|
| Launching/Landing | Slips and falls Kayaks capsizing. |
A suitably sheltered and calm launch point should be chosen. |
| During the paddle | Loss or separation of paddlers from group | At the briefing:
On the water:
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| During the paddle | Capsize of one of more paddlers | At the briefing:
On the water:
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| During the paddle | Unexpected conditions, weather not as forecast, sea state more dynamic | At the briefing:
On the water:
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| During the paddle | Hypothermia/Hyperthermia | At the briefing:
On the water:
At breaks:
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| During the paddle | Health issues, sea sickness. injuries, fatigue | At the briefing:
On the water:
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| During the paddle | Reduction in visibility | At the briefing:
On the water:
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| During the paddle | Capsizes due to: Tide-race Surf-launching / landing Rock hopping, overfalls |
At briefing
On the water:
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| Kayak surfing | Capsize Concussion Cuts, bruises, injuries Kayakers blown out to sea Collision |
At briefing
On the water:
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