We offer both introductory activities, easier opportunities to get a hint of sea kayaking, and qualifying courses, designed in accordance with the Euro Paddle Pass system, so as to allow participants, if they like, to aim and get a sea kayak competency award compliant with the EPP standards.
Should you feel ready and experienced enough, then you can directly book an exam with us
.
Do not refrain due to doubts about your fitness, as recreational paddling is suitable for almost all ages and abilities.
Each participant shall:
- meet our Participant Requirements,
- accept and comply with our Terms and Conditions.
Introductory Activities
Our introductory activities are available for everybody.
Kayaking Test
Description
Short free sessions, to start and discover what sea kayaking is about.
Pre-Requirements
A medical assessment is not compulsory, though advisable, in such a case of occasional sports activity.
Verify your compliance with our Participant Requirements.
Syllabus
- correctly embarking on and disembarking from a sea kayak, in order to prevent a splash! as your first result,
- instinctively paddling and reversing,
- trying two basic techniques.
All of the above, without wearing a spray deck.
Duration
20 minutes.
Dates
We typically offer such tests in the frame of major events, when we are ashore and available for people on the beach wishing to get an idea of what sea kayaking is about.
Search for next events in our Calendar and then contact us to know if we plan to offer Kayaking Test in those dates.
Cost
Kayaking Test is a free promotional activity.
Consider non-included costs.
See our Terms and Conditions.
Introduction to Kayaking
Description
A limited-effort, low-fare, short course to acquire the abilities necessary to participate in the closing half-a-mile-long guided expedition on shallow waters and in our easier Expeditions. That is, from zero up to the minimum for the paddler's own safety.
Pre-Requirements
A medical assessment is not compulsory, though advisable, in such a case of occasional sports activity.
Verify your compliance with our Participant Requirements
.
Syllabus
- visual and audible signals among paddlers,
- correctly embarking on and disembarking from a sea kayak,
- safely exiting the kayak after a capsize,
- paddling, reversing and changing course,
- capsizing when wearing a spray skirt,
- emptying the kayak in shallow water, following a capsize.
Duration
2 hours.
Dates
See next dates in our Calendar.
We also offer this activity on request: you just need to propose an event, that we will consider, or contact us and arrange for.
Cost
40 euro per participant.
Consider non-included costs.
See our Terms and Conditions.
Qualifying Courses
Our qualifying courses are reserved for the members of Lega Navale Italiana (the Italian Sailing Association), to whom everybody can associate.
Sea Kayak One
Description
Beginner course, compliant with the standards set forth in Level 1 of the EPP system.
Suitable for both the absolute beginners and those willing to consolidate their basis and start improving. The aim is autonomy, which does never mean paddling alone, but providing for own safety as a responsible groupmate, able to safely paddle in weather conditions rated as "Smooth Air" (Beaufort 1 – wind speed up to 3 knots) and "Calm Sea" (Douglas 1 – significant-wave height up to 0.10 metres).
Pre-Requirements
Verify your compliance with our Participant Requirements, including compulsory medical assessment.
Syllabus
- Correctly lifting and carrying a sea kayak
- Preparing kayak, equipment and yourself
- Visual and audible signals among paddlers
- Embarking and launching
- Instinctively paddling without wearing the spray skirt
- Fastening and using the spray skirt
- Capsizing, swimming ashore and emptying the kayak in shallow water
- Forward and reverse paddling
- Stopping
- Low brace – Preventing a capsize
- Sweep Stroke – Rotating 360 degrees over the water, remaining on the spot (that is rotating horizontally – we are not talking about capsizing and recovering, that is the esquimo roll)
- Figure-of-8 course
- Moving sideways
- Paddle rudder
- Landing and disembarking
- Correctly storing the kayak and taking care of the equipment
Duration
7 hours plus time for briefing, lunch, debriefing and showering, summing up to 9 hours during a single day.
Assessment
During this course, the Instructor will evaluate your skills. Upon successful completion, we will assess in written your sea-kayak capabilities, so you can ask for your Sea Kayak Level 1 competency award. See section Sea Kayak Competency Awards. See Exams.
Dates
See next dates in our Calendar.
We also offer this activity on request: you just need to propose an event, that we will consider, or contact us and arrange for.
Cost
For the members of Lega Navale Italiana (the Italian Sailing Association), to whom everybody can associate: 140 euro + 11 euro for FICK/Sottocosta signing up, including insurance.
Consider non-included costs.
See our Terms and Conditions.
Sea Kayak Two
Description
Improvement course, compliant with the standards set forth in Level 2 of the EPP system.
Suitable for those already holding a Level 1 EPP award. Of course, it is possible to concatenate Level-1 and Level-2 courses, here with us.
The aim is learning and practicing new techniques and competencies, learning or confirming a basic environmental awareness, so to end up as a kayaker totally reliable for own safety and to be of help in case others need assistance, during navigations in up to "Light Breeze” (Beaufort 2 – wind speed 4 to 6 knots) and “Smooth Sea” (Douglas 2 – significant-wave height 0.10 to 0.50 metres).
Pre-Requirements
An EPP-system level-1 competency award or equivalent assessment or the completion of course Sea Kayak One here with us.
Verify your compliance with our Participant Requirements, including compulsory medical assessment.
Syllabus
This Level-2 syllabus applies to those already as competent as per the Pre-Requirements here above.
- Efficient forward and reverse paddling
- Four ways of changing course while paddling
- Changing course by the stern-rudder technique
- Low braces
- Low-brace turn
- Draw strokes of two kinds – sculling and two-time draw – for moving the kayak sideways
- High braces
- Capsizing, retaining the equipment, preparing for assistance, assisted emptying and re-entering the kayak in deep water
- Capsizing and self-rescuing in deep-water
- Environmental awareness
Duration
4:30 hours plus time for briefing, lunch, debriefing and showering, summing up to 6:30 hours during a single day.
Assessment
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible for an examination within the EPP reference system, aiming at a Sea Kayak Level 2 competency award. See section Sea Kayak Competency Awards. See Exams.
Dates
See next dates in our Calendar.
We also offer this activity on request: you just need to propose an event, that we will consider, or contact us and arrange for.
Cost
For the members of Lega Navale Italiana (the Italian Sailing Association), to whom everybody can associate: 90 euro + 11 euro for FICK/Sottocosta signing up, including insurance.
Consider non-included costs.
See our Terms and Conditions.
Sea Kayak Three
Description
Further-improving course, compliant with the standards set forth in Level 3 of the EPP system.
Suitable for those already holding a Level 2 EPP award. Of course, it is possible to concatenate courses from any lower level up to Level 3.
The aim is becoming and feeling as an intermediate sea kayaker, aware of safely on the sea, able to deal with difficulties and rescue expedition mates, within groups paddling in up to "Gentle Breeze” (Beaufort 3 – wind speed 7 to 10 knots) & “Slight Sea” (Douglas 3 – significant-wave height 0.50 to 1.25 metres).
Pre-Requirements
An EPP-system level-2 competency award or equivalent assessment or the completion of course Sea Kayak Two here with us.
Verify your compliance with our Participant Requirements, including compulsory medical assessment.
Syllabus
This Level-3 syllabus applies to those already as competent as per the Pre-Requirements here above.
- Powerful forward and reverse paddling
- Emergency stops within four strokes
- Efficient course changing
- Competent stern-rudder technique on small waves
- Bow rudder
- Powerful low and high braces, both sculling and two-time
- Launching and landing forwards, sideways and backwards
- Launching and landing in the surf, up to 1 m (3 ft) spraying waves
- A range of assisted rescuing techniques following deep-water capsizes, as a victim and as a rescuer
- Carrying others
- Short- and long-rope tugging
- Rolling the kayak
- Map reading, chartwork, navigation, tides, reading a bearing compass or a steering compass
- Reckoning navigation distances and times
- Effects of wind, waves, tides and shore morphology
- Navigational aids
- Collision prevention regulation
- Weather forecasting, information sources and iterpretation
- Ropes and knots
- Kayaking in a group
- Safety at sea
- Elements of First Aid
Duration
18:30 hours plus time for briefings, lunches, debriefings, etc., summing up to 26 hours in total during 4 days.
Assessment
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible for an examination within the EPP reference system, aiming at a Sea Kayak Level 3 competency award. See section Sea Kayak Competency Awards. See Exams.
Dates
See next dates in our Calendar.
We also offer this activity on request: you just need to propose an event, that we will consider, or contact us and arrange for.
Cost
For the members of Lega Navale Italiana (the Italian Sailing Association), to whom everybody can associate: 370 euro + 11 euro for FICK/Sottocosta signing up, including insurance.
Consider non-included costs.
See our Terms and Conditions.