Stephanie, Paul, Linda, and Anne brought their own sit inside sea kayaks for their 102 class. We started the sunny Sunday morning in the pool with practicing a wet exit with a spray skirt. After we did the “classic” T-rescue, where the rescuee climbs on the back deck behind the cockpit, while the rescuer stabilizes the rescuee’s kayak.
We also practiced the “heel-hook” T-rescue, in which the rescuee puts his outside foot in the cockpit and reaches with his outside arm for the decklines on the rescuers’s boat. Then the rescuee corkscrews into his/her cockpit. Everybody found the classical T-rescue easier because the corkscrewing causes to much tork on the rescuee’s boat so that it may scoop up some water. Also grabbing the decklines is not always easy.
For those with energy left, we practiced the paddle float rescue. Anne was excited about the use of the stirrup to aid her in her self rescue. The stirrup is used as a foot hold, and together with the paddlefloat it is much easier to get on the back deck.
After a hearty lunch, we spent our afternoon on Lake Martin practicing strokes and navigation. The students also towed each other, and switched being point and sweep. As the instructor, I volunteered to be T rescued on the lake. We ended a full day with a debriefing, and said our goodbyes.
Thanks for a great class!
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-Maarten Buijsman, Instructor
