SEA AND SEA KAYAK PADDLER RATINGS

SEA KAYAK TRIP RATINGS

The difficulty of a sea kayaking trip is determined by several factors including:

  1. Weather--principally wind and water conditions but also water temperature, visibility etc.;
  2. Route hazards--exposure to tides and other currents, surf, launch and landing conditions and availability, boat traffic etc.;
  3. Trip length and pace.
All these factors, some of which can be measured objectively (e.g. wind speed) and some of which must be assessed qualitatively (e.g. landing difficulty), are considered by leaders in assigning ratings to trips. Leaders are conservative in predicting weather and water conditions but will re-route or cancel a trip if conditions exceed the published trip rating (unless all participants are willing and rated to paddle in the more difficult conditions.)

The AMC NY-NoJ chapter classifies sea kayak trips using the following five-level system:

Brown Water
Minimal wind. No waves. Up to ¼ mile from shore. Typical distance up to 8 miles at a pace of 1-2 knots. No significant route hazards. Typical waters include small lakes or marshes.
Level 1--Flat Water
Sustained winds up to 10 knots. Waves up to 1 foot, minimal whitecaps and no break. Up to ½ mile from shore. Typical distance up to 10 miles at an average pace of 2½ knots. Minimal route hazards such as currents, rocky or steep landings, heavy boat traffic etc. Typical waters include large lakes, slow-moving rivers, small estuaries and bays.
Level 2--Protected Water
Sustained winds up to 10 knots. Waves up to 1 foot with whitecaps and small breaks. Up to ½ mile from shore. Typical distance up to 12 miles at an average pace of 2½-3 knots with few on-shore breaks. Moderate route hazards such as currents, rocky or steep landings, heavy boat traffic etc. Typical waters include large lakes and rivers, estuaries and bays.
Level 3--Open Water
Sustained winds up to 16 knots. Waves up to 3 feet and/or breaking waves up to 2 feet. Up to 1 mile from shore. Typical distance up to 14 miles at an average pace of 3 knots with few on-shore breaks. Moderate route hazards such as strong currents, surf launches and landings, rocky or steep landings, heavy boat traffic etc. Typical waters would be very large lakes, large estuaries and bays, sounds and open ocean.
Level 4--Rough Water
Sustained winds up to 25 knots. Waves up to 5 feet and/or breaking waves up to 3 feet. Typical distance up to 14 miles at a pace of 3 knots or greater with few on-shore breaks. Potential for significant route hazards such as strong currents, surf launches and landings etc. Typical waters include surf zones and open ocean.

SEA KAYAKER PADDLER RATINGS

Ratings for paddlers parallel those for trips. For example, a paddler who has achieved a Level 2 rating has been judged to have the skills necessary to participate safely in a typical Level 2 trip.

The intent of the paddler rating system is to safely match the paddler with the sea conditions. Reduced to its simplest terms, the rating means that the paddler is sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to safely navigate conditions with a difficulty rating corresponding to the paddler's rating. A Level 2 paddler can safely handle Level II conditions and so forth. "Safely run" means to negotiate the conditions at hand approximately 80% of the time without a potentially dangerous incident -- capsize, broach, swamping, etc.

GETTING OR INCREASING YOUR RATING

Each paddler's rating is the result of the observation and evaluation of their paddling skills by their fellow paddlers who have higher ratings. It is an imperfect system, but all of us try hard to be as objective as possible. To get or improve your AMC sea kayak rating you must paddle on several Club trips and be observed by several Club paddlers.

The best way to learn is to come to our training courses. These courses give you an opportunity to learn from several skilled paddlers who are also dedicated instructors.

If you don't take these courses, you can still increase your rating by going on Club trips that are rated slightly higher than your rating and being seen and evaluated there by higher rated paddlers. If the leader of such a trip has enough strong paddlers, and if the trip is not too far beyond your ability, you may be accepted.

Then, AT THE START OF THE TRIP, ask a skilled paddler to watch you or ask the leader to suggest someone who will help. The observer should stick near you, make suggestions, and fill out a rating card for you. This card is their report and recommendation. It is mailed to the Ratings person for consideration at the next Rating Sub-Committee meeting.

Rating cards are stored in the trailers; they may be passed out at training courses, or you can request some from the Chair (send an SASE for best results), or print them from the website:

Requirements for the specific ratings:

Brown Water Paddler
In protected water conditions, demonstrates competence in: maintaining boat stability; paddling in a straight line; controlling boat direction and avoiding obstacles; wet exit (or paddles without a spray skirt). Can paddle continuously at a moderate pace for 1 hour without a break.
The BW rating is awarded for successful participation in one BW or higher trips (one of which may be any AMC kayak instruction including whitewater*).
Level 1--Novice Paddler
In protected water conditions, demonstrates competence in: all basic strokes including forward, reverse, sweep, draw, high & low braces; wet exit; assisted rescue as both rescuer and victim (T-rescue) and self-rescue (paddle float); safe group paddling (e.g. on-water signals, rafting etc.). Also, demonstrates knowledge of safety issues related to paddling including weather, tides & currents, marine hazards, hypothermia etc. Can paddle continuously at a moderate pace for 1 hour and if necessary can remain reasonably comfortable in a kayak for up to 2 hours without a shore break.
The Level 1 rating is awarded for successful participation in two Level 1 or higher trips (one of which may be a Level 1 or higher AMC sea kayak instruction*). A Level 1 recommendation is necessary unless one of the two required trips is a Level 1 or higher AMC sea kayak instruction.
Level 2--Intermediate Paddler
In protected water conditions, in addition to Level 1 skills, demonstrates competence in: basic strokes with edging; advanced strokes with edging including bow rudder, low brace turn, draw-on-the-move and hanging draw; high and low sculling for support and sculling draw; stern rudder; Eskimo rescue (bow presentation). Demonstrates good progress toward an Eskimo roll. Also, demonstrates knowledge of basic on-water navigation including map/chart reading and compass use. Can paddle continuously at a moderately brisk pace for 1½ hours and if necessary can remain reasonably comfortable in a kayak for up to 3 hours without a shore break.
The Level 2 rating is awarded for successful participation in three Level 2 or higher trips (one or more of which may be a Level 2 or higher AMC sea kayak instruction*). At least one of the trips must include some exposure to conditions near the upper end of the range for protected water. Two Level 2 recommendations are necessary. One Level 2 recommendation may result in a Level 1+ rating until the remaining requirements are completed.
Level 3--Open Water Paddler
In open water conditions, demonstrates competence in: all Level 1 and 2 skills; Eskimo rescue (paddle shaft presentation); Eskimo roll from a non-set up position; towing; navigation including nautical chart interpretation, plotting and following bearings, calculating distances and speeds, and using ranges. Also demonstrates knowledge of open water hazards. Can paddle continuously at a brisk pace for 1½ hours and if necessary can remain reasonably comfortable in a kayak for 3 or more hours without a shore break.
The Level 3 rating is awarded for successful participation in five Level 3 or higher trips (one or more of which may be a Level 3 or higher AMC sea kayak instruction*). At least three of these trips must include some exposure to conditions near the upper limit of the range for open water. Three Level 3 recommendations are necessary. One or two Level 3 recommendations may result in a Level 2+ rating until the remaining requirements are completed.
Level 4--Rough Water Paddler
In rough water conditions, demonstrates competence in: all Level 1, 2 and 3 skills; advanced rescues including curl rescue, TX rescue, anchored rescue, swimmer and disabled-paddler rescue; re-entry and roll; rolling in waves and current; surf launches and landings; advanced navigation including predicting currents, calculating ferry angles etc. Also, demonstrates knowledge of surf zone safety issues. Can paddle continuously at a fast pace for at least 1½ hours without a break and if necessary can remain reasonably comfortable all day in a kayak.
The Level 4 rating is awarded by consensus of the Chapter’s current Level 4 paddlers.

*The Ratings Committee may at its discretion accept proof of comparable instruction by coaches certified by recognized sea kayaking organizations (i.e. ACA or BCU).

All recommendations for rating changes are reviewed and considered by the Ratings Committee, which meets at least twice a year. The changes from each rating meeting are published in Paddle Splashes.

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Last updated: Spring, 2006