Navigation Training Weekend

NAVIGATION FOR SEA KAYAKERS

Port Stephens, 8-10 November 2024

Navigation: The art of knowing where you are and how to get to your destination in a safe and timely manner.

This is a weekend session that focuses on the above definition in a Sea Kayaking context.  By the end of the session participants will be equipped with the knowledge to more than satisfy the navigational requirements of the Paddle Australia Sea Skills award.

There will be a focus on the skills and knowledge most relevant to planning and successfully completing a kayak journey with a range of typical considerations and circumstances to manage.

We will be based at a members home at North Arm Cove, Port Stephens with both indoor and on-site camping available. You will need to arrive on the Friday afternoon or evening so that we can get started on time on the Saturday.

There will be a high level of participant involvement throughout (with the bonus of some nice paddling).  Weather permitting, the weekend activities will be predominantly practical, focused on application of trip planning and way finding skills. Day One will include working with compasses, charts and maps followed by on-water exercises.  Day Two will be exclusively on-water (with a shore break for lunch) putting into practice the lessons of the previous day in a 20km open water paddle.

So  that we can hit the road running on Day 1, registrants will be provided with pre-reading materials related to working with compasses and charts and maps.  Please work through these and contact either Campbell or Caoimhin if you have any problems with it as the contents will be assumed knowledge for the weekend activities

There will be a registration cost (less than $100, not yet finalised) for the weekend to cover  materials supplied by the Club and other expenses.  Participants will be required to bring their own writing materials and a compass - deck, bushwalking or both (if they have one).

Kayaks and paddlers to Grade 2 as a minimum please.

Please email Campbell camtil99[at]gmail.com or Caoimhin via the website if you have any queries regarding the weekend.  Otherwise, use the registration facility on the Club’s website to secure your spot (class size limited).

This weekend will not run if we have insufficient registrants.  Please indicate your interest early.