About the Sea Kayaking II: Half Moon Bay class

Goals: Increase overall kayaking skills, boat control, balance, and rescue skills ( in open water preferably at Half Moon Bay). Students will become familiar with the J-lean and it's uses, including edge control to maneuver and correct course. Students will also review and refine the forward stroke, practice rescues in open water, and learn some basic navigation, including the use of ranges.
Prerequisite: Beginning Sea Kayaking or equivalent, and recent paddling experience.
(You must have practiced wet-exit and rescue procedures!)
Duration of class: 9:45AM - 4:30PM
Time on water: Approximately 5 hours
Location: Half Moon Bay, Oakland Estuary, or Lake Natoma (Sacramento)

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.

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More about CCK in Half Moon Bay...

This class will focus on improving your boat control and introduce you to some new skills. The idea is to prepare for paddling in a wide range of conditions, including surf and rough water. After introductions and distribution of gear, we get on the water and spend the first couple of hours working extensively on the following:

BOAT LEAN
BALANCE
MANEUVERS (using boat lean)

These skills will prove invaluable in your future kayaking excursions, especially in rougher conditions. We'll also spend a short time refining your forward stroke for more speed and efficiency. Then you'll take a short paddle (on the ocean at our Half Moon Bay site; on the Oakland Estuary near Jack London Square; Lake Natoma in Rancho Cordova) and put these skills to use.

During a lunch break on shore, your instructor will discuss an important navigational technique: the use of RANGES. You can practice using ranges later in the day as you paddle back to the shop. The instructor will also give a brief review of the rescue procedures, then you'll get back on the water and practice a couple rescues in the ocean (if not too rough) or in the Estuary (at Oakland). This will be a step up from the rescue practice in your Beginning Sea Kayaking class or other introductory kayak class; you'll be concentrating on what really works in real conditions! Most people feel empowered after this effort at refining their rescues (one rescue session is just not enough to really learn them).

During the afternoon session we'll work on the following:

IMPROVED BRACING TECHNIQUE
SCULLING BRACE
SIDE SLIP MANEUVER

After changing into dry clothes, we debrief the day's activities. The Sea Kayaking II class provides you with the tools to learn excellent boat control and rough water technique. It will also help you refine your rescues so that they will work when you really need them. This class also includes a free rental coupon for a future paddle session on the Oakland Estuary or Lake Natoma.
©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, helmet, 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 or Drysuit

* 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 SK II class begins at 9:45AM from California Canoe & Kayak in Pillar Point Harbor. Allow 30 minutes driving time from San Francisco, 45 minutes from Oakland, and 1 hour from San Jose (depending on traffic). Pillar Point Harbor is 25 miles south of San Francisco. 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.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

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

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 on our website at Liability Release.. It also can be provided to you by fax or mail upon request by calling our reservation office @ 800-366-9804.