{"id":284,"date":"2013-07-30T11:45:26","date_gmt":"2013-07-30T11:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unswoc.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=284"},"modified":"2020-08-14T18:45:54","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T08:45:54","slug":"kayaking","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/unswoc.org\/wordpress\/sports\/kayaking\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Whitewater\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Kayaking can be a peaceful cruise on a flat-water river or lake, a hard push through the waves of the sea or an exhilarating ride down a white water river. The club can help with all. Basically kayaking can get you where no other club activity can and get you wet. As we are based in Sydney we have 4 large bays and numerous rivers to learn on and then of course there is the big blue sea and plenty more around NSW.<\/p>\n

Kayaking at UNSW is split into 3 main disciplines; Whitewater, Flatwater, and Sea Kayaking.<\/p>\n

Basic safety<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

All participants should be able to swim 50 metres full clothed and 100 metres clothed and with a life jacket on. Also they should be able to tread water for two minutes.
\nAll participants should be able to exit a capsized kayak.<\/p>\n

A note on white water grades. White water grades are as subjective as rock climbing and possibly more variable as changing river levels (due to rain, snow melt, drought) can dramatically change the rating of a river. When possible inspect rapids first and if necessary carry the gear around the rapid. Live to fight another day!<\/p>\n

Preparing for a kayaking trip<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As a trip participant:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On every trip you will need to bring the following:<\/p>\n

Hat
\nSunscreen
\nTowel
\nChange of clothes for after kayaking
\nPlastic bags to keep everything dry (zip lock is great)
\nWater(at least 2 litres per day)
\nSufficient food
\nClothes to wear in the kayak: short and t-shirt are fine if the weather is going to be hot other wise you will need a wet suit, thermals or a woolen jumper to keep you warm, even when you are wet. Wet t-shirts are great in the hot weather but they lose a lot of heat from your body.
\nShoes that can be worn in the boat (Dunlop Volleys are great and relatively cheap).
\nA light spray jacket is good to have if the wind picks up.
\nSafety whistle (pea-less)
\nLifejacket
\nMatches<\/p>\n

Multi day trips:<\/p>\n

Your normal camping gear is needed, with more plastic bags or dry bags (Ortlieb, Sealline, Wtex) if the gear is going in the kayak with you. Remember that lighter and smaller is better; it all has to fit inside the kayak.<\/p>\n

Whitewater trip:<\/p>\n

Helmet<\/p>\n

As a trip leader:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to all your personal gear listed above you need to ensure that the following trip items are taken:<\/p>\n

At least one first aid kit
\nMap
\nAt least one compass
\nDescription of the river, including grades, distances and put in and pull out points.
\nThrow ropes ( two minimum)
\nTorch (preferably waterproof)
\nSpare break down paddle (white water or multi-day flat-water)<\/p>\n

Guidelines for leading a kayaking trip.<\/span><\/p>\n

The leader must be aware of the approximate limits of the paddlers\u2019 skills.\u00a0See the\u00a0notes on basic safety above. Capsize procedure can be\u00a0checked\/ taught at the start of the trip.\u00a0If paddling large rivers or continuous rapids the Eskimo roll should be mastered.<\/p>\n

Before the trip the leader should be aware of conditions including weather, currents, water levels, tides and white water grades.<\/p>\n

All paddlers must wear lifejackets and, if paddling on white water, a helmet.<\/p>\n

It is not recommended that paddling be under taken at night. However, should this be required a white light should be attached to the bow of the boat and a red light to the stern. These should be visible above the water line. A small torch and a pea less whistle should be attached to the life jacket. All lights should be waterproof or cylume sticks.<\/p>\n

Tips on packing a kayak<\/span><\/p>\n

All gear that you want to be dry needs to be in plastic bags in side dry bags (Ortlieb, Seal-line or Wtex are all good). If you don\u2019t have access to dry bags, don\u2019t worry use two thick plastic bags. Remember you don\u2019t want any holes.<\/p>\n

Spread the gear in the kayak, placing the heaviest item directly behind the paddler. Remember what you are going to need during the day (lunch, spray jacket, camera, sunscreen) because you do not want to unpack the entire kayak to get those items.<\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/p>\n

The Practical Guide to Kayaking and Canoeing, Bill Mattos, 2003 (my personal favorite for all round information on technique, pictures for the less literate of us, available from Dymocks and Angus and Robinson).
\nCanoeing Guide to New South Wales, New South Wales Canoe Association. (the bible to kayaking in NSW, mainly white water but it has a flat-water section. The club has a copy but at $29.95 pick it up from Blue-Earth, Paddy Palin, Mountain Designs etc)<\/p>\n

Water levels for most NSW rivers:
\nhttp:\/\/waterinfo.dlwc.nsw.gov.au\/cgi-bin\/sites_riis.epl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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