British Canoeing Coastal Sea Kayak Award

Your Coastal Sea Kayak Award endorses your judgment, decision making and expertise and requires a good understanding of paddling on the sea. You should be confident planning and undertaking journeys on the sea in winds up to and including force 4 and/or tides up to 2 Knots, in a sea kayak or specific sit on tops in tidal or non-tidal environments. To have an enjoyable day out at sea you will need to make some key decisions to ensure you are at the right place at the right time. You and your Coach will consider how swell, the weather, the tide and the features of the location we choose will impact our paddle.

The skills to control your boat will be developed. You will be able to control your boat using effective positions and keeping your actions within your abilities. This includes extending your rescue skills to cover the different water conditions to help keep both you and any others with you safe. After each session you and your Coach will determine where you will go next. You will consider what you have learnt in the session and what there is to focus on the next time. This could include observing other paddlers to gain development in your own technique.

Each day we spend sea kayaking further expands our skills and knowledge, creating a more enjoyable experience on the water. Because no two trip experiences are the same, we never stop learning. Continually evaluating the choices we make creates a natural evolution of decision making and sea kayaking ability. Your award should be seen as a sound basis for independently building the experience and expertise we associate with Advanced Sea Kayak Award holders.