SCA COACHING COMMITTEE

GUIDELINES & CONDITIONS FOR USE OF SURF KAYAKS

NOV 2002 - Ian Sherrington

Coaching has recently purchased 4 surf kayaks, Mega Cyclones. The following document has been written on behalf of the Coaching Committee to enable access to them. It is hoped that the boats will be; well used, well looked after, and provide a great boost to Scottish Surfing. Currently the boats are stored Glenmore Lodge, access being via Tracy Sherrington, Doug Cooper, GL stores, and myself. They are a fantastic resource and when used on a course recently, they were an instant success with a broad range of paddlers. The boats are here to be used, but obviously not abused so please read the following guidelines for their use. As always they are here to be amended.

PRIORITY OF USE

I believe that the boats were bought primarily to help develop the quality of coaching courses and coaches. However I believe that they were also bought to help develop “Surf” in its wider context and support the work of the Surf committee where reasonable. Prioritising the use of the boats is therefore as follows:

· Coaching courses

· Coaching development

· Surfing development

· Surfing competition (NB: Novice Use)

AUTHORISATION AND RESPONSIBILITY

We recognise that there are a number of surfers out there who have appropriate experience in both surfing and leading / coaching. We want these people to get access to the boats so that others can be introduced to the wonders of these special craft. Obviously if someone holds an appropriate Surf qualification then it is easy to recognise their abilities and allow them to take the boats away and use them wisely.

We need a workable system to allow for those without bits of paper. If this is you then what you need to do is either:

· Get a Level 4 Surf Coach to vouch for you; or Chat to Tracy or Myself

It will be Tracy, Myself or Doug who will authorise and co-ordinate their use as we’re on site and are reasonably aware of the Scottish calendar and the priority work of both the Coaching and Surf Committees.

LOAN RULES – harsh but fair!

· The boats are NOT insured; therefore you must ensure when you borrow them that they are covered under personal insurance. The boats cost approximately £750 each and the borrower must accept their responsibility for this.

· The boats are borrowed on a “You bend you fix” basis. There are no funds set aside for repair / replacement at present.

· The boats should be returned after the agreed use. IE not hung onto until the custodians send round the boys!!

· The boats are returned having been washed out with fresh water, the footrests sprayed with WD40, all sand removed, and, the boats dried

· The “Top Tips and Handy Hints” section that follows be read and taken heed of.

“Top Tips and Handy Hints”

Transport

· Padded roof bars only – perhaps ask advice if you haven’t tied composite boats on before.

· The boats cockleshell well together, but best to put padding (carpet?) between the cockpit areas.

· Please bring this padding with you

· If you don’t have uprights and want to take 3 or 4 on your car; bring heaps of paddling and extra straps / cord to additionally tie the boats front and back

· If the boats are dropped, unlike plastic they may not bounce unscathed. Although relatively light, they are prone to catching wind. Watch to ensure they are not blown of the roof or a wall. Perhaps get people to buddy up to load, unload, and carry to the beach

At the Water

· If the conditions / experience are not appropriate then please do not send people out in these boats.

· Ensuring that you have alternate craft (Plastic) is the easiest way to operate. Thus covering for dumpy conditions, which might damage the boats, & allowing the boats to be shared more fairly.

· Airbags are not provided but are essential – do not use without!

· Please check the condition and seaworthiness of all craft – you are responsible! Also that the material inside and out of the boats are not going to cut anyone. As composite boats wear they sometimes get jaggy. This can be glassed down; repaired; or even taped over to make safe.

· The boats are sized according to how the footrest have been installed and are marked up e.g. S, M or L

· The boats should be fitted with tails front and back.

· These boats are most vulnerable in shallow water. Working in an area with a simple sandy launch and that is free of boulders will help

· Please structure the session such that folk do not share waves. These boats will break each other; but more importantly go fast and have points. Lots of space is good!

· The boats are most vulnerable to breaks at the nose and tail. Because they are longer than many river boats novice surfers may well be caught out in small waves and end up looping when trying to take off. The good news is there is a simple and effective solution. When introducing folk to these boats provide structure to the session such that they always take off in a diagonal. As they gain control and in slow spilling waves they can later develop a straight take off.

· Consider the rescue if people in these boats. If someone is washed out the back in the rip swimming, they may prove difficult to get back in. These boats are difficult to slide into by comparison to keyhole plastics. Most people have to sit on the back and slide in. There is very little buoyancy in the tail and therefore the boats often flood unless supported. – Food for thought!

Happy Surfin’ Ian