Trip Classification System
We have a system of grading & categorising events which should help you decide if events will be suitable for your level of competence, experience, fitness & expectations. One dimension of the grading is technical difficulty, the other is an endurance / exposure level that relates to the style of the event and its location.
Obviously the conditions on any event day will be driven by the weather, particularly the wind, and the presence or not of swell and local tidal effects. Guides will take all these effects into account in their planning for safe but stimulating activities for the group relative to the objectives of the event and the capabilities of participants.
If you have uncertainty on the suitability of an event for you please talk to us before booking. Similarly if you are involved in an event & are concerned that something proposed isn't aligned with your expectations, or ability, then please speak up. We'll do everything possible to ensure participant's expectations and safety are foremost in our planning.
Using a closed cockpit sea kayak for these events is a requirement, so if you do not have one please borrow or hire one from a club or commercially. Personal paddling equipment, camping equipment & clothes are the responsibility of participants - You can find our recommended paddler kit & gear lists here.
Obviously the conditions on any event day will be driven by the weather, particularly the wind, and the presence or not of swell and local tidal effects. Guides will take all these effects into account in their planning for safe but stimulating activities for the group relative to the objectives of the event and the capabilities of participants.
If you have uncertainty on the suitability of an event for you please talk to us before booking. Similarly if you are involved in an event & are concerned that something proposed isn't aligned with your expectations, or ability, then please speak up. We'll do everything possible to ensure participant's expectations and safety are foremost in our planning.
Using a closed cockpit sea kayak for these events is a requirement, so if you do not have one please borrow or hire one from a club or commercially. Personal paddling equipment, camping equipment & clothes are the responsibility of participants - You can find our recommended paddler kit & gear lists here.
Technical Difficulty Rating
Easy landings with available escape routes.
Offering shelter from extreme conditions & little affected by swell. Some gentle tidal movement & small waves, but easy to predict and manage & no unavoidable tide races or overfalls.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award level.
You need basic boat handling skills, including effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining boat direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways. You need fundamental deep water safety skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, & to be proactive when rescued in deep water to re-enter your boat.
Offering shelter from extreme conditions & little affected by swell. Some gentle tidal movement & small waves, but easy to predict and manage & no unavoidable tide races or overfalls.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award level.
You need basic boat handling skills, including effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining boat direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways. You need fundamental deep water safety skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, & to be proactive when rescued in deep water to re-enter your boat.
Some slightly demanding landings & sections of coastline with no escape routes. Some unavoidable tidal movement, including small tidal races, overfalls, crossings, swell & surf may be found on these trips. Some exposure to weather & associated conditions should be anticipated.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Coastal Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 3* level.
You need to be comfortable in moderate water conditions at all directions of paddling - up to Beaufort force 4 & associated sea state with some open water breaking waves, swell, tidal movement up to paddling speed, and some tidal, swell & wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 1 metre, and from rocky beaches in windy and swell affected conditions. You need developed boat handling skills, including effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in these windy & wavy conditions. You need practised deep water rescue & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, and to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these moderate water conditions. As part of a intermediate group on the sea you should be able to help tow & perform rescues when appropriate in these conditions.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Coastal Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 3* level.
You need to be comfortable in moderate water conditions at all directions of paddling - up to Beaufort force 4 & associated sea state with some open water breaking waves, swell, tidal movement up to paddling speed, and some tidal, swell & wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 1 metre, and from rocky beaches in windy and swell affected conditions. You need developed boat handling skills, including effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in these windy & wavy conditions. You need practised deep water rescue & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, and to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these moderate water conditions. As part of a intermediate group on the sea you should be able to help tow & perform rescues when appropriate in these conditions.
Difficult & awkward landings & large portions of the trip with no escape routes. Fast tidal movement, including tidal races, overfalls, extended crossings, confused water, swell & surf will be found on these trips. Exposure to weather & associated sea conditions will require careful planning & management, and may mean that trips are not viable in all situations.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Advanced Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 4* level.
You need to be comfortable in advanced water conditions at all directions of paddling - Up to Beaufort force 5 & associated sea state with breaking waves, fast tidal movement, & unavoidable significantly tidal & wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 1.5 metre. You need well developed boat handling skills, including strong effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in these windy, confused, & breaking sea conditions. You need well practised deep water rescue & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, to roll or self rescue, & to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these water conditions. As part of a competent group on the sea you should be able to tow & perform rescues when appropriate in these conditions.
These trips are suitable for paddlers who are at or approaching Advanced Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 4* level.
You need to be comfortable in advanced water conditions at all directions of paddling - Up to Beaufort force 5 & associated sea state with breaking waves, fast tidal movement, & unavoidable significantly tidal & wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 1.5 metre. You need well developed boat handling skills, including strong effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in these windy, confused, & breaking sea conditions. You need well practised deep water rescue & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, to roll or self rescue, & to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these water conditions. As part of a competent group on the sea you should be able to tow & perform rescues when appropriate in these conditions.
Difficult & awkward landings and large portions of the trip with no escape routes. Fast tidal movement, including tidal races, overfalls, extended crossings, swell and surf will be found on these trips. Exposure to weather and associated sea conditions will require careful planning and management, and may mean that trips are not viable in all situations.
These trips are suitable for seasoned paddlers who paddle above Advanced Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 4* level & have recent experience of demanding sea state paddling.
You need to be comfortable in demanding water conditions at all directions of paddling - Up to Beaufort force 6 & associated sea state with breaking waves, fast tidal movement, & unavoidable significantly tidal and wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 2 metres & from difficult rocky coasts. You need fluent autonomous boat handling skills, including strong effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in demanding sea conditions. You need well practised deep water rescue, self rescue, rolling & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, and to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these water conditions. As part of a expert group on the sea you should be able to tow & perform rescues when appropriate.
These trips are suitable for seasoned paddlers who paddle above Advanced Sea Kayak Personal Performance Award or old 4* level & have recent experience of demanding sea state paddling.
You need to be comfortable in demanding water conditions at all directions of paddling - Up to Beaufort force 6 & associated sea state with breaking waves, fast tidal movement, & unavoidable significantly tidal and wind disturbed or confused water. You should be able to launch & land in surf up to 2 metres & from difficult rocky coasts. You need fluent autonomous boat handling skills, including strong effective forward paddling, turning & maintaining direction, manoeuvring & moving sideways & support strokes suitable in demanding sea conditions. You need well practised deep water rescue, self rescue, rolling & towing skills, ability to swim 25m in a buoyancy aid, ability to exit an upturned boat, and to be proactive when being rescued in deep water in these water conditions. As part of a expert group on the sea you should be able to tow & perform rescues when appropriate.
Endurance Exposure Rating - see also any qualifying notes in the event description
- Easy paddling. Plenty of relaxation, escape, nature discovery & non paddling, new experience activity time.
- Avoidance of adverse weather conditions in generally unexposed locations.
- Day passages between 5-15 kilometres distance.
- Sheltered camping in unexposed & undemanding surroundings.
- Suitable for all basically fit healthy paddlers with some sea paddling experience.
- Adventure paddling. Mix of mostly paddling but still with lots of relaxation, escape, nature discovery & non paddling, new experience activity time.
- May have some intermittent exposure to mildly demanding sea conditions & weather & in mildly committing & wild locations.
- Day passages between 10 - 25 kilometres distance.
- Camping may be in slightly exposed & demanding locations.
- Suitable for all basically fit healthy paddlers with full day sea kayaking trip experience in moderate sea conditions.
- Challenge paddling. Mostly paddling in a wild or exposed locations with remaining balance of alternative non-paddling activity time.
- May have exposure to challenging sea conditions & weather in committing & wild locations.
- Day passages between 20 to 35 kilometres distance per day in loaded boats due to nature & duration of trip exposure.
- Camping may be in exposed & demanding locations.
- Suitable for fit healthy regular paddlers with multi day sea kayaking trip experience in challenging sea conditions.
- Committed Expedition Adventure paddling with some longer days & less time for other activities.
- May have exposure to demanding sea conditions & weather in committing & exposed wild & wilderness locations.
- Day passages between 25 to 40 kilometres distance per day in heavily loaded boats due to nature & duration of trip exposure.
- Camping may be in exposed & demanding locations.
- Suitable for fit healthy committed paddlers with significant multi day sea kayaking trip experience in committing sea conditions.
- Endurance Expedition Adventure paddling with challenging distance & passage objectives.
- Will involve committing wild locations & potential sustained exposure to harsh weather & sea conditions if necessary.
- Extended paddling days up to 50 kilometres which may involve night or unsocial hours of strenuous paddling.
- Lightweight & fast camping style, sometimes in uncomfortable wilderness locations with challenging landings & launches possible.
- You will be a committed sea paddler with a strong level of paddling fitness & toughness. You should have significant experience of paddling long distances in committing sea & weather conditions.
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