About Beginning Sea Kayaking: Half Moon Bay

Goal: Introduce basic sea kayaking skills and safety. Students will learn how to enter and exit kayaks, and how to perform basic strokes and rescues. Successful completion of this class will allow you to rent sea kayaks for use in protected waters.
Prerequisite: Kayak Basics Class, or just the desire to paddle! The minimum age for Beginning Sea Kayaking is 14 years; children under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Duration of class: 8:45AM - 4:00PM
Time on the water: Approximately 4 hours
Location: Pillar Point Harbor (Half Moon Bay); Oakland Estuary (Jack London Square); Lake Natoma (Sacramento)

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Note: Good physical condition is required to ensure an enjoyable class. If you are not sure about your abilities to handle such an activity, please call our Program Office at 800-366-9804.

In this class you will learn the fundamental skills needed to paddle a sea kayak safely and enjoyably. Upon arriving for the class, your instructor will outfit you with all the appropriate gear, including wetsuit, sea kayak, and other accessories. You will be given some on-land instruction on how to enter and exit the cockpit, attach the spray skirt, and proper posture while sitting in the kayak.

Once on the water, we spend the first two hours practicing efficient stroke technique and boat control, including the following strokes:

FORWARD and REVERSE Strokes
SWEEP Stroke (turn and adjust course)
DRAW Stroke (to move sideways)
BRACE Strokes (two methods to prevent capsizing)

During a lunch break on shore, there is a discussion of tides and currents as they affect the sea kayaker, and use of nautical charts. Then, the fun part - getting wet! Back on the water, you will learn to exit and reenter the kayak, using assisted rescue and self-rescue techniques. Everyone will be dressed for the water. It is extremely important that you know how to deal with a capsize in order to paddle a kayak on your own, or with friends, even in the calmest conditions. We'll teach you what to do! The following rescues will be taught:

T-RESCUE: This is an assisted rescue, where you help a partner get back into his kayak.

PADDLEFLOAT RESCUE: This is a self-rescue, allowing you to climb back into the kayak on your own.

If time allows after completing the rescues, the class may go for a short cruise. Then, we head back to shore to learn the art of rinsing your boat and equipment (important to know, so you can take care of your own gear when you purchase your own kayak!). After changing into dry clothes, we debrief the day's activities. The Beginning Sea Kayaking class will give you the invaluable tools needed to practice and refine your strokes and rescues in future practice sessions. The class at California Canoe & Kayak also includes a free rental coupon that you can use later to get out and practice paddling. Learning the basic skills will significantly increase your enjoyment and safety in a sea kayak.

© CCK, 2/02

EQUIPMENT:
CCK provides all kayak equipment, including wet suit, paddle jacket and US Coast Guard approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD), spray skirt, paddle and kayak. You will need to provide some personal items for the class; the links below will take you to our on-line store, Purepaddlesports.com. For assistance with on-line purchases, call us toll-free: (888) 452-9257.

You will need to bring:
* IMPORTANT! One or two long sleeve shirts of "polar fleece", or other polyester fabric; wool is OK. No cotton, please!
Purchase a Thermal Top now!
Shop for a Paddle Jacket!

* A swimsuit to wear under your wetsuit.
Purchase Paddlers Shorts now!
Shop for a Paddler's Wetsuit

* Footwear that can get wet, e.g., wet suit booties, lightweight sneakers (not too bulky).
Purchase Wet Suit Booties now!

* Billed cap or hat for shade or warmth; wool hat for winter class.
* Light-weight gloves, for warmth and blister prevention. Purchase Paddling Gloves, and a Paddling Hat or Hood now!

* Snacks and lunch (in a zip-loc bag, preferably; we will transport in kayaks)
Purchase a Dry Bag for carrying food and clothing now!

* Eye/sunglasses and a retention device.
* 1 qt. water bottle(s)- there are drinking fountains available.
* Waterproof sunscreen for lips & face.
* Dry, warm clothes and a towel for the end of class.

MEETING TIME AND PLACE:
The class starts at 8:45AM from California Canoe & Kayak in Pillar Point Harbor. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour from San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose (depending on traffic). Our address is 214 Princeton Ave, Princeton CA, 94019 (in the quaint fishing village of Princeton-By-The-Sea). We're next door to the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club, on the beach in Pillar Point Harbor. If you are unable to attend at the last minute, or running late, please call us on site @ 650-728-1803.

View California Canoe & Kayak - Pillar Point Harbor in a larger map

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From North Bay cities:
Head south on Hwy. 1 from San Francisco, and pass through the towns of Pacifica, Montara and Moss Beach. Just past the San Mateo County-Half Moon Bay Airport, take the Princeton cutoff to your right; turn right at the Meza Luna Restaurant/Princeton Inn onto Prospect Road. Turn left on Broadway, then right on Princeton Ave; continue about 3 blocks to Vassar. There is plenty of free parking on Princeton Ave or Vassar. The entrance to CCK is on Vassar, at the first driveway/garage door to your left. (Look for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club sign)

From South Bay cities:
Take Higway 92 west to Half Moon Bay. At the junction of 92 and Highway 1, turn right and head north on Hwy 1 for four miles. Turn left at the traffic light (in El Granada) onto Capistrano Road; you will see Pillar Point Harbor to the west. Turn left at the Meza Luna Restaurant/Princeton Inn onto Prospect Road; turn left on Broadway; right on Princeton Ave; continue about 3 blocks to Vassar. There is plenty of free parking on Princeton Ave or Vassar. The entrance to CCK is on Vassar, at the first driveway/garage door to your left. (Look for the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club sign.)

LIABILITY RELEASE FORM INFO:
You will be required to sign a Liability Release, Express Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement at the start of your class or trip. The entire text of this legal form may be viewed here: Liability Release. It also can be provided to you by fax or mail upon request by calling our reservation office @ 800-366-9804.