Kayak Sailing

Kayak sailing can be an effective way to increase your range and speed on long day trips or multi-day expeditions ... plus, kayak sailing is fun! You can paddle at the same intensity and go faster, or at the same speed and work less. 

This course consists of two sessions that must be taken as a progression. The first session will be in light to medium winds and the student can borrow a boat with sail.  This is an opportunity to learn what it is like to have a sail on your kayak and use it for propulsion in winds that will not be too difficult to control

The second session will be held in medium to strong winds.  In strong winds the sail can move you along quite fast - faster than you can paddle - and this is a  lot of fun.  But the sail can also tip you over quite quickly.  In strong winds, good lateral balance and sail handling skills are needed.  Students are responsible for bringing a boat with sail, possibly their own boat.  The second session can be repeated as needed until sailing proficiency is developed.

Prerequisites for this class are good boat handling skills, particularly a reflexive brace that will prevent capsizes.  Indications that you have these skills

• Can handle your boat in winds up to 20kt and the waves that come with them.
• Comfortably paddle in Deception Pass currents up to 5 knots
• Comfortably paddle in the surf soup zone.
• Efficient wet exit and abilityu to hold onto boat/paddle; good buddy and self rescue

 If you feel reasonably strong in these, then you may be ready to add a sail.  If you don’t have experience with those conditions, then you would benefit from training in currents and surf first. A roll is not required as rolling with a sail is difficult so exit and rescue is the common recovery. 

Because of the nature of kayak sailing, course sessions will be scheduled as students are interested and instructors are available (conditions permitting). Session will be more common in the winter, when winds are more common.  

You may not notice any course sessions available when you register for this course! Please contact the Primary Leader to inquire about availability and to schedule a course session. Sessions will be small, typical limited to  one instructor and one or two students.