How to eskimo roll a sea kayak

Righto - I was tole early on by  couple of old timers that rolling was the best defense to being in the water, and gettting into trouble.

although there are a few good descriptions about kayak rolling one useful progressive learning technique - that splits the roll into several actions that are then mastered before piecing it all together into one choreography or "dance".

I also found that differnet wrtters empahsied diffrnet aspects - or described th rolling in  a slightly different way.  So reading a few accounts nad look at a number of videos does pay off.

Good step by step progrssion - espec. demonstation of mastering the "hip flick" the central stage that pulls the body round .and lessosn in learngin about the centre and how to mnaiputae ones body and movement of hte kness during a roll "... pulling the kayak over with the left knee, then rolling it by pulling the right knee through under the kayak..."

 Nice Tips and Finer points to rememebr
Learning to kayak roll step by step
Good written descriptin of the movement or dance moves you need o execute

Sea Kayaking Websites Worth A Read

Paddling Light

Sea Kayakin Gear List

Sea kayaking VHF Radio

UNIDEN SEA KAYAKING
Obviously you are going to want to have it attached to your PFD, so a handheld VHF that is has a submersible. waterproof rating is a must have. Ratings are normally in the specs and classed form slash proof JIS1 to fully submersible JIS8 waterproof rating ( to improve the longevity of the VHF - along with all your gear - make sure you rinse the sea water off after you use it).

I am backing the Uni-den Range and personally have a Uniden Voyager that has been widely used in teh sea kayaking/wind surfing  community  (though these have had a few problems  with the waterproofing caps staying on - though can be treated with silicone ) - the new version cna be purchased (Feb 2012) for about $190NZD.

Cobra 

Icon
Icom34 is used by search and resuce and some government departments

WATERPROOF VHF CASE

http://www.altrec.com/aquapac/small-vhf-classic-waterproof-case
https://www.absolutemarine.co.nz/products/index_dynamic.php/product/8470

KAYAK FLOAT PLAN

Simialr to an intentions sheet filled in when hiking  an example float plan. It is a basic set of instructions fro anyonw finding your car, or alternatinveinly left at soemones addresss. It tells them most hings they need to know. And what to do if x does not happen. At a stretch place it face donw in the drivers seat - with words plan

KAYAK CHECK LIST

KAYAK BAIL OUT / BUG OUT BAG

It is popular amoundg some kayakaers to have a small bag under the bungy cords of the kayak. This contacts all sorts of extra gear
I like to have it in heavy duty dry bag ( at a linch you cna use this as an exra floation devieinc under do it and wrap it with air inside then seal.

there are variosu lists of bail out bags found on ht eweb example a - hte idea is to have stowed on deck a small bag you can grab if you need to bailout na dhead for shore (only if its very close) or your kayak has sunk, or you cna t get back into it due to th conditions (most likely) .. however as some advice goes if its not on you .. you dont have it. So some peoepl argeu that you should aim to have a core amount of gear on your person - a valid point.

although thre is much tlak of not losing your kayak - a good strong wind blowing it out of swimming reach? mulitle capzies in a group after a big wave?

A bail out fanny pack as suggested in this blog i a great idea
keeping warm - hypothemia is a major kiiier in fact in NZ biggest sea disaers - the sinking of the Wahine - it was hypothemia that killed the most people - AFTER - they got ashore. remeber if you do get ashore it the cold that is oging to be your first issue to deal with.


START A FIRE
Compat bic lighter and solid fuel chunks (this will help ligth wet wood as it burns hot and will burn wet)

EMERGENCY BLANKET
one idea I have sued is warpping the blanket around your chest "core" bdy UNDER your first layer - this reflects heat and stops wind but sdoesnt trap your own mositure. emergency b;ankets are terrbile for trapping moisute from yur body,

SEA KAYAING FLARE

Flares come in a number fo sizes and varietys - but a split into day nad nigth time use. Smoke flares being preferable during the dayand light flares during the night. there are also some day an dnight varietys that have a smoke flrae at one end and a smoke flare at the other  - htose these dont burn as long as a dedicated smake or light flare.

Smoke hande flares are about $40NZ online but as they are dangeraosu goods they need a special transcript licens and can incur upto 40-60 fee for transporting them.

SEA KAYAKING WHISTLE & MIRROR

A whistle is a great "between" oats contact device - and a signal mirror a great way to get attention during the day. A little combo kit can be found, though the Storm Whistle is probably the must have kayak whistle

Sea Kayak Training

there are a number of rules that must be obsearve about hte sea - RESPECT IT. It can be  aferioucs force.

RULE 1:
If in doubt - don't go out.

• Check forecast for changes in weather - can you get back to base - or shelter on land if it starts getting rough 
• Plan kayak activity for early morning and late morning  Plan to be off the water by 11am - and definately be off the water by midday. This will avoid the  afternnon sea breeze/wind/gale depending on the day. Up until this time the waether "should" be fairly stable from what ever it is when you hit the water (prefereably by 7am). 

Stay in your group/


TRAINING MANUALS ONLINE
 Mariner Kayaks Guide to Sea Kayaking

Really great on line animated Kayaking tutorials (free)

UK Guide Book and Sea Kayaking Online Resources

Marlborough Sounds Route Maps & Planning

There are several sources of maps and route information

Topo Maps

NZ Topo Maps - have  a free google map/overlaid with a topo map aviaable online
DOC

SEA CHARTS

PILOT BOOKS
Type of publication aimed at boaties that enable "piloting" a vessel in specific areas. Contain all sorts of valuable information including currents,  harbors, hazards, notable things to do and see, conditions etc.).

Kayak Transport

There are a number fo baot operators based out of Picton who have geared themselves towards kayakers and ofere kayak transport around the sounds making it possible for one way trips.Investigate timetables along with the prices and the need to "book" ahead. As you can imagine space is limtied in teh busy season and a sea kayak takes up a lot of space!


Cougerlines

Communication for Kayaking

As both cell phone and VHF is dependence on "line of sight" communication the sounds is problematic due to teh deep valleys and high hills in the area.

GENERAL ADVICE

SATELLITE SMS

SPOT

InReach


VHF Handheld

Handheld VHFs are a great emergency asset (great reading here) and do not require a license for emergency or requests for assistance operation. Althoguh these too are line of sight there abilty to communicate is alos rdirecly related to their output power. Handheld VHFs coem in a range of power i.e. "watts" ratings. Some are designed purly for commnicating with a nearby base and thus are lower output typically 2W / 2.5W whereas others are deisgned for standalone communciation with a maxumu wattage of 5W. Although normal VHF sets are somewhere around 25W,

DO NOT store the VHF in your gear compartments - atahc it too yout PFD. Buy a 5W sumerible VHF - casue it is goign to get wet! The oint hen you need it most is probalby gogin to be in less than ideal weather ad you might be eve in teh water yourself.

VHF CHANNELS

Often a handlehld witll have a Watch/monitoring mode where cahnnel 16 and sometimes channel 9 as well as possibly a thrid a user deisginated cahnnel (triple watch facility). 
Channel 16 - i Energenecy cahnnel constantly montiored by Maitime Radio (aka the OCastguard)

Channel 9 - calling chanel where one boat will call up another athen "switch" to another cahnnel to as not to congest the calling channel (see: here).

Channel 63 - is the Marlbourfhg Radio channel for boating in the Queen Charlotte  and is used by boaties in that area. Although this requires a VHF licence sn aregertration it can be useful for infroamtion. Other parts of the sounds have their own dedicated repeater and VHF channel (see here). It is funed by loacls for loacl use - see here ofr  anewspaper article

make sure your unit is et to "internaitonal" as this enables and duplex repaeter stations to operate and extend your coverage(see: Here)

TRAINING COURSES

List of Coastguard afternoon trianign course are avaible here - every sunday for the picton area VHF trianing


VHF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Although anycontact made via a VHF that communicates an emergency will be responeded too there is a set format for emerency calls - see here

Ypu houdl have a breirf outline how to do a
radio check
PANPAN
MAYDAY
and...
MAYDAY RELAY

Simpley turnign teh VHF and listening will give you agood handle on what an dhow to use the radio perform radio checks and call fro aisstence. Callign for assistence is supriisnign not that uncommon - after there is not any breakdown service out here - only the coastyguard and other boaties!

Really googd discusion in this fourm on raiod use - and using it on a regualr baissi see here .. probalby us non-emerggncey call up on channel 16 as the local b

THE FULL MANUL : made avaible by the new zealand coastguard is avialbem here

CALLSIGNS

you might want o do a short VHF course and get a callsign if you will e suing your set for communication purposes its cheap and can be done online (see)

TRIP REPORTS
This is basically - tellign somene where you ar egoign - in this case the caostguard - details on how to file one are in the manual produced by the coastguard here on page 41.

there is a good disucssion about VHF radio use here - utining the need to get into the habit - regereter na dget licnesed
VHF RADIO CHECKS

A radio check should be performed when you are goign out - just to make sure its working.

It is quite 

Make sure you "lock" the phone as if the microphone button is pushed it can block the channel for other users in an emrgencey ( see)

Mobile Phones

There are two options of carrier in the sounds Vodafone or Telecom. IT is useful to print out the coverage maps of your carrier. Often markign a good reception point and timing lunch or a rest there is benifical for upadting on wweather forecasts and family/ friends (or business!) - especially as many campsites are deep in the valleys and have little reception.

It is alos useful in an emergency- you know where to sned someone to get a signal out.
DO NOT STORE in a compartment - keep it on yur PFd and sotre in a watertight sumersaible containter or pack - te time you are most liekly to want to use it is gogin to be in not oitmum conditiosn. 


AM/FM Radio

Marlborough Sounds Kayaking Accomodation

Being a hoiliday desitaintiona with large Department of Conservation (DOC) Researves there is an arrayu fo palces and prices for accomodaiton.

DOC Campsites

ther eare a number of basic campsits (ie. baisc meaning an area to camp, water, and pit toilet (i.e. a longdrop).
 along the Queen Charlotte sound - there are also a numbe raccessbile huts dotted along in varios places.

Camping is fee driven and tickets need to be brought from  DOC office in Picton or Blenheim ( a better bet if yu are plannign a longer dytay is to go for an annual pass which will work out a lot cehaper.

If yu are plannignt o stat inthe areas a great addiotn to the gerar list would be a poratble shower bag - fill with cold freah water and add a bolied billy of water tot eh bag - viola a instant hot shower! 

PRIVATE CAMPSITES

there are also a numbe rof private campsites - thes notably have fluching toilets, hot showers and power ! Whoop! Whoop!

Marlbourgh Sounds Weather

The Marlborough Sounds  - is a body of sea water that has flooded a sunken river valley (see wiki). In this sense we will be paddlin around large valleys - althog this excellent shelter from strom swells and large seas adn strong scurrent flowing through teh Cook Strait to the North what you will experiecne out there is mroe localised conditions, especially funneling of wind down the central sound or branch valleys and bays. You can literelaly turn teh corner and come from a realtively flat and sheleterd conditions and come into a half meter chop as ou round the conrner into one of the wide and open bays.Whatmonga is a classic bay for this sort of conditions and is well known amoungest the guiding commmunity and has aquired several nicknames.You acan see fromt eh map how teh valley forms a large funnel for teh wind and pushes it through a narow opengin.



View Larger Map

The weather is alos unpredictabel due to the micor cimate casued but also the inablity to see beyodn teh mounaints surounding the sounds to see oncoming changes in teh weather. the weather is "upon you" quite sudenly.

One of the great advantages of the sounds is that there is always a nice beach or sheltered bay to ull into close by. the best advice is "If in doubt don't go out" - or if you are out there and it tunrs windy and wet - make camp, have a cup of coffee and read a book. 

The OSunds in the central channel is typically 40 to 60 meters in depth

the Marlbough OSunds can see extreme weather and extreme gusts whistling down the valleys with hoszitonal winds and tadies washing ocer ajettys - always camp and store kayaks well above the high water. A storam adn a good spring tide can add a coupe of meters to teh high water mark.

Forecasted wind directions are often funneled int eh osunds nad some boaties report 180 degrees diffenrece
 as wella s gale force winds in the starit being reduced to windy in the central and soutern reaches of the sounds
WIND

CURRENTS

Complex current are evident in tht outer sounds and there are a nuber of places where carfeul planning and high levels of skill are requred the Cook Strait is well known for extreme and dangerous weather  and as you venture further out towards th Starit your exposure to it is greater and thus kayakers must be more vigilient not to get themselvves into trouble

The space startion image aboive identifyes a varying degeree and complex pattern of curetns around the MArlbourgh Sounds headlansd as the soudns comes into contact with the Starit - the differecnt clours identify differnet levels of turbidity (sediment held in suspension).

WEATHER FORECAST

weather forecasts are avaible via VHF, AM/FM radio as well as via mobile.

VHF WEATHER INFORMATION

Marlborough Marine Radio broadcast the most recent weather forecast on:
Channel 01, 05, 63, 65 and 66 at 0835, 1135 and 1735
Maritime Radio transmit the weather at 0533, 0733, 1033, 1333, 1733 and 2133 - listen on Channel 16 for a general broadcast and then go to the appropriate channel for your area.
Nelson Marine Radio also transmit the weather forecast on channels 28 and 60 at 0810, 1310 and 1810.

If you miss a broadcast then Marlborough Radio will be able to give updates on request.

( interestingly this site tracks in realtime large boats gonig into and out of the sounds (see here) - not much use when you out and about but interesting all teh same.

Curetn conditons at Pcton is alos povided by the laocl port - wich can be useful if you are plannign a day trip out of Picton.Live Picton Webcam (though not a very good shot)

Metservice - is the governemtn run weather forecasting service - good website though no speciifc informaiton about Marlbourogh sounds yu cna get a general idea from Blenheim forecast and influencing pattersn from Nelson and Wellington. Note on teh metservice website: top Right EXTREME WEATHER warnings for the area, just below the map a predicted average wind speed and wind gust speed (rememebr wind being the most important aspect of waeather in kayaking - it is wind not rain that will make it hard to paddle and also create chop on the sea).

Coastal Sea Warnings are also availbe.  REMEMEBR to take special note of the wind direction, speed and gust strength. - metservice provide wind spedd in km/hr you convert these readings to knots here.

WIND SPEED & WAVE HEIGHT

Often a foreact will include wind speed in knots and predicted wave height - alos the forecast will inlcude the use of descritve words like "moderate winds" or "rough seas" - forecast descriptins arenot color added bybthe forecaster but are tied to a specific scale called the "beaufort storm scale". How this scale relates to kayaking an dhow you should plan yu day around the foreacst is detiled brillently here by the UK Sea kayakaers Guide Book . I print this out and take it with me it is a great asset along with the map to plan your day. (small guide on how to kayak in the wind effectively). There is a detailed explanation of how increasing wind affects akaysk here




TIDES

Where is the Marlborough Sounds

The Marlborough Sounds is at the top Northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. Its a beautiful spot and well kayaked over the years.