Currents course – This course is fully booked!

When: September 17, 2021 until September 19, 2021

You may contact the instructors to be added to the wait list.

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 for 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, September 17th, ending on Sunday, September 19th.  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 (Sep 17) and board the 10:25 am sailing to Mayne Island, returning on Sunday evening (Sep 19) on the 7:55 pm sailing.  The sailings to and from Mayne Island limited and often pre-booked; 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.

Accommodation:  Shared accommodations have 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 $130 per person for 2 nights (may be slightly under, this will be confirmed when registrations are complete).  Speak with Katya or Chantal for more information.

Meals:   As is customary on many SKABC courses and some trips, we would like everyone to bring dishes to contribute to a potluck on Friday and one on Saturday night as well.

Instructors: George Prevost, Philip Kubik and Richard Jensen
Assistant:  Chantal Ethier
Course Coordinator: Katya Yushmanova & Chantal Ethier

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

Limit: 6 participants

Registration: Email instructor, George Prevost to arrange a call to determine whether you meet the prerequisites and ensure 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.  Once George confirms that you can register for the course, one of the coordinator will send you the information and password to register.  Feel free to provide your telephone number and indicate your availability to ease the process.

There are only 6 spaces and this is a very popular course so don’t delay, contact George to reserve your space on this course.

Attending:

Daniel Del Vecchio
Susan Jensen
Kevin Hall
Kelly Robertson
Darlene Brown
Josephine Kovacs

Wait list:

Iveta Janot