How to Get out of a Capsized Sea Kayak

Unlike the sister sport of river kayaking, the chance of capsizing in a sea kayak is rather small. However, it is still an important part of the learning process to prepare for such activities as surfing or paddling through unusually nasty weather. The steps which follow assume practicing the motions as a drill.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find a calm stretch of water where the sea floor is deeper than you can stand in, but the shore is close enough to swim to without much trouble. Where a life vest to be on the safe side.

2. Sit in your kayak and check that the spray skirt release strap is outside of the cockpit. It helps to reach forward and feel it while you are still dry and can see it easily.

3. Take a deep breath and lean to one side allowing the kayak to capsize.

4. Release your paddle and relax, letting the boat settle into the upside-down position. This step can be extremely difficult the first time you try it, but remember: the whole process will take less than ten seconds, and you can hold your breath for far longer than that.

5. Locate your release strap and pull it out towards the tip of the boat and then down, away from the cockpit. You'll notice the spray skirt pops of the coaming quite smoothly.

6. Lean forward, straighten your legs, and push the kayak away from you as your legs slide out. Again, you'll be suprised at how easy it is to get out when you're suspended in the water.

7. Hold the kayak as you pop up to the surface. Make certain that in all conditions you keep a grasp onto your boat, as a wave or slight wind could otherwise leave you alone in the water.

8. Look around for your paddle and swim to it while holding onto some part of the kayak. Once you have both items you can head to the shore to dry off.

9. Practice this drill until you feel comfortable with being underwater and are ready to try rolling back up.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find yourself uneasy with the idea of flipping over the first time, try the whole process without the spray skirt on. Once you are ready to use the skirt during a wet exit, try releasing it several times above the water to get the feel for removing it quickly.
• Sea kayaking can be a very fun and relaxing sport. However, as with any sport dealing with open water, it has many inherent dangers. When learning how to sea kayak, it is a good idea to seek out professional instruction.

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