Sea Kayaking Group

EMS kayaking facility opens on May 3: The Eastern Mountain Sports Kayak School office is now based at Lincoln Woods State Park where they offer kayak Instruction and rentals.

Demo Days are coming: (updated) Thinking of buying a kayak? This is a great way to see and try out different kayaks in a protected environment.

New Canoe and Kayak Launch in Ninigret Wildlife Refuge -- A new access to Ninigret Pond should be available this 2008 summer. It will be a 650 ft gravel road from the Ninigret Wildlife Parking area to a hand launch site. Users will be expected to drive down, launch their boats and return the cars to the parking area. They expect 14,000 additional visits due to the new launch. (Ed. Hummmm... that translates to 77 more canoes/kayaks in the pond, and cars in the parking lot, every day for 6 months. Who do they hire for these predictions anyway?)

All our Sea Kayaking trips are from easy to moderate paddles. We consider our paddles to be a combination of healthy outdoor recreation and social interaction. Any adult should not feel that sea kayaking is beyond their ability. But we do have requirements to provide for the safety of our members and guests, so we require that you be comfortable in the following conditions.

When you call to inquire about a paddle, and if the leader is not familiar with your kayaking skills, you may be asked about your kayaking experience. This will let the leader determine if the paddle is within your skill level.
At the start of each paddle eash participant will be required to read and sign the AMC release form.
For any specific paddle, have the proper equipment, and know its function and use.
Be able to swim. If not a great swimmer, you must at least have basic water skills.
Paddling 8 to 13 miles in a day. Most of our paddles are in this range.
Paddle in 13-18 knot winds in 2-3 foot waves. Which does not mean that we will paddle 13 miles in 18 knot winds. But there could be a combination of conditions that make for difficult paddling for a short time.
Performing a wet exit. This is for your safety. The leader must be confident that you have this skill.
Performing a self rescue. When paddling with our group you will probably never need this skill, never-the-less it is important that you know how to rescue yourself.
Performing team rescue. This we consider important and we practice this in our skill sessions.
Turning a kayak using forward and reverse sweep strokes. How are you going to paddle if you can't control the kayak?
Tracking for a short distances without the use of a rudder. If you have a skeg, you should know how to use it to trim weather cocking.

If you wish to participate in one or more of our paddles and have a question with any of the requirements, we encourage you to contact the leader of the paddle. If you feel that you are limited in any of the requirements that would prevent you from joining our paddles, we would like to help you gain the skills. Throughout the summer we offer skill sessions which will be listed in the Gazette, in the AMC on-line database and probably here on this page. We want you to enjoy the opportunity to paddle what we consider one of the premier day paddle areas in the Country.

The overall AMC Leadership Requirements and Guidelines will apply to all our leaders.
Should meet all the above requirements of participating (as above) and be able to demonstrate any of those requirements if needed. This means that the leader should also be able to assist learners in practicing those skills necessary to kayak in open waters.
Be an active participant in group paddles, demonstrating to the kayak sub-chair a degree of paddling skill and leadership that will give the group confidence in the leader.
Must co-lead at least three day paddles and then lead a trip, with an established leader as co-leader.
Schedule their paddle and get approval from the sea kayak sub-chair. They then have the responsibility to get the paddle listed. Either doing it themselves, or informing someone else that will do it for them.
Since all our paddles are pre-screened, the leader, or designated co-leader must take calls or emails from prospective paddlers. We try to arrange our paddles to include comparable skill paddlers. If the leader feels that someone does not have the skill level to join the paddle, they should discourage that paddler from joining that specific paddle.
When the kayakers are assembled at the launch site, the leader shall make an assesment of the existing weather and water conditions, and whether the paddle should be as planned or modified for safety reasons. The leader shall make an assesment of the skill level of the paddlers, and whether all of the participants are qualified. The leader has the responsibility to modify the paddle and/or eliminate participants, so as to ensure the safety of all those paddling. The trip may be modified by any of the following methods, including but not limited to: heading in a different direction, staying close to shore, limiting the time or distance of the paddle, driving to a new launch site, or just canceling the paddle.
Once the leader has firmed up the paddle plan, all the paddlers shall be assembled and the leader shall give a briefing of the paddle plan, including any safety precautions to be followed.
Responsible for designating a "sweep" paddler in the group to make sure that the last paddler is adequately supported. This duty may be rotated throughout the paddle, but the leader must know who it is.
Must have proper emergency gear and skills as necessary to deal with any "normal" open water problem or emergency. The equipment list satisfies the emergency gear requirments.
Responsible for getting all paddlers back to the starting point.
The leader should know what to do in an emergency or accidident.
Almost all of the chapter paddles are day paddles, so the above requirements only pertain to day paddling. Camping trips that involve multiple day paddles and overnight camping should be under the direction of leaders with established camping/backpacking/organizational skills.