Currents course

When: July 13, 2018 until July 15, 2018

Location:  Mayne Island

To paddle safely in currents one requires basic knowledge of currents such as when and where they form as well as developing skills such as ferrying across currents and crossing eddy lines to manoeuvre in and around them.  This course provides a wonderful opportunity to learn and practice paddling in currents.

Prerequisites: Participants must be comfortable with bracing, wet exits, self-rescues and assisted rescues.  These skills do not form part of the lesson plan, nevertheless all participants will be expected to perform rescues during the course when and as opportunities arise.

Participants must be prepared for immersion with a wet or dry suit, proper footwear and a helmet.  In addition to the required safety gear, kayaks must have watertight hatches and bulkheads of flotation.  Kayaks must also have proper deck lines and grab handles for rescue purposes.

Course Format: This is a 3 day course; beginning on Friday, July 13th, ending on Sunday, July 15th.  The on-water portion of the course will focus on topics such as ferrying across currents and crossing eddy lines.  There will be evening, classroom sessions where we will study the theory of why currents occur and how to forecast them.

Special Instructions: Participants will meet at the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal on Friday morning and board the 9:35 am sailing to Mayne Island, returning on Sunday evening on the 8:45* pm sailing.  These sailings are sometimes busy; we strongly recommend making reservations to ensure participants get on and off the Island as expected.  There is no booking fee to make reservations on the Southern Gulf Islands sailings.**

*  Please note that if the 8:45 pm sailing is too late, you may choose to end early and book your return on the 4:05 pm sailing, however we ask that you advise the training team accordingly.

** Please note Ferry times are approximate and based on last years as the schedules for sailing to and from Mayne Island has not been posted on the BC Ferries site yet.

Accommodation:  Shared accommodation has been blocked for course participants in cabins at Blue Vista Resort near Bennett Bay on Mayne Island.  The evening theory sessions will take place in one of the cottages.  The final cost of accommodations will be confirmed as soon as possible; it should be approximately $100 per person for 2 nights (may be slightly under $100 per person).  Speak with Chantal for more information.

Meals:   As is customary on many SKABC courses and some trips, we would like everyone to bring a dish to contribute to a potluck on Friday night and if everyone is open to it we would like to suggest having a nice dinner at the Bennett Bay Bistro, which is located close to the Blue Vista Resort and is one of the best restaurants on the Island.  Participants must bring food for their meals and snacks.

Instructors: Peter Kearney and George Prevost
Course Coordinator: Chantal Ethier

Fee: $60 (Accommodation, ferry fares and food are not included in the course fee.)

Limit: 8 participants

Registration: Email both instructors to ensure you meet the prerequisites and that the course is a good fit for you.  Clicking on the “instructors” will open an email that will be addressed to the instructors and the coordinator.  One of the instructors will email you back with their availability to have a telephone conversation, Feel free to provide your telephone number and indicate your availability to ease the process.  Once the instructors have determined that you meet the prerequisites, you will received and a confirmation email and payment instructions to finalize your registration.

There are only 8 spaces and this is a very popular course so don’t delay, contact George and Peter to reserve your space on this course.

Attending:

Eva Jackson
Dermot Shane
Mike McHolm
Kapila Jayaweera
Tracey Thuy Pham
Kevin Amos
Bob Meraw