Quick Details
Student
Ages 15+
$ 85
Learn Essential Capsize Recovery Skills
Getting back into a kayak after a capsize might be more difficult than you expect — especially if you’ve never learned how to do it. That’s why it’s so important to learn some techniques that enable you to rescue yourself and fellow paddlers if someone accidentally flips over. Hypothermia sets in quickly on the Maine coast, and even in ideal conditions re-entering a kayak from the water takes skill, experience and, in some cases, special equipment.
This course will give you a chance to learn and practice some of the most tried and true kayak rescues. Your instructor will do their best to customize the course to meet with each student’s goals and interests. You will be in and out of the water throughout the session, so plan to get wet!
Portland Paddle (and most sea kayaking outfitters in North America) will require you to have the skills taught in this course before letting you rent a sea kayak for use on open coastal waters.
More Info
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- How to perform an assisted capsize recovery, including a “T-Rescue”
- How to perform a solo capsize recovery
- Alternative methods of re-entering a capsized kayak
- Other crucial considerations for dealing with capsizes (hypothermia, group management, equipment failures, etc.)
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- Prior experience paddling a sea kayak
- Prior experience performing a “wet exit” (capsizing a kayak and exiting the boat)
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- Kayak and other paddling equipment, including paddle floats and bilge pumps
- Wetsuit (please use your own if you have one)
Instructors
This lesson will be taught by one or more of these instructors.
JANET ROBINSON
Janet bought her first sea kayak in 1993 after a few years of whitewater paddling and many years of hiking, backpacking, and long-distance bike touring, including a solo cross-country trip. The grand-daughter of a sea captain, she loves the wild beauty and challenge of the open ocean and is thrilled to be able to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for sea kayaking with paddlers of all ages and skill levels. She kayaked the entire Maine coast in 2020 and is a licensed Maine Guide and an ACA-certified Level 3 Instructor. In addition, Janet is president of the Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network and serves as a Trustee for the Maine Island Trail Association.
ERIN QUIGLEY
Erin, Portland Paddle co-founder and guide, grew up exploring New Hampshire’s waterways by canoe and kayak. When she isn’t on Casco Bay guiding trips or at home taking care of her two young boys, she’s Development Manager at SailMaine, Portland’s community sailing center. Erin is a Wilderness First Responder, a Registered Maine Guide, and an ACA-certified instructor.
ERIC NATHANSON
Eric grew up right here in Portland and first got excited about sea kayaking after a week long trip with a high school program. He is passionate about environmental sustainability and social justice, and really just wants the world to be a happy place for everyone. When not paddling on the ocean or rivers, Eric most enjoys reading, writing, mountain biking, and snowboarding. He is an ACA level 4 sea kayak instructor. His craziest adventure yet was 104 days paddling the Mississippi River from source to sea.
ALEX KEMOS
Alex has been sea kayaking since 1998 and is a Registered Maine Guide. He loves paddling Greenland technique and you’ll see him using a “skinny stick” on the water. He has kayaked in Greece, Australia, and the length of the Maine coast yet his favorite spot is right by home, Five Islands Maine. In the winter he works as a Ski Patroller in the White Mountains of NH. He is a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician and is certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support. Sometimes rumored to quote Homer’s Odyssey while paddling … Alex is passionate about mountains, oceans, reading, and sharing the outdoors with friends both old and new.
DAN COX
Dan hails from North Carolina and got stoked on paddling after watching the 1996 Olympics (he had never seen whitewater kayaking before). His favorite places to paddle are Wilson Creek and Shackleford Banks in North Carolina. Currently Dan is an ACA Level 4 Open Water Sea Kayak Instructor, Level 2 SUP Instructor (former L4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor and L5 Swiftwater Rescue Instructor), and Maine Sea Kayak Guide. Dan sea kayaked the length of the east coast of the United States in 2009 with his wife and in 2018 was the first person to SUP the coast of Maine. He also really enjoys surfing and canoeing as much as possible.
NOAH HAGAR
Noah is a Portland native and has been kayaking since he was in high school. He is a Registered Maine Guide and has his Wilderness First Aid Certification. His favorite places to paddle are Cow Island and Long Island right here in Casco Bay. Noah loves learning new skills and doing Greenland rolls in his kayak. When he is not sea kayaking, you can find Noah running, biking, or surfing.
EMILY MOONEY
Emily discovered her love for the ocean at a young age sailing throughout Casco Bay with her family. She’s been a part of Portland Paddle since 2016 and is a certified Wilderness First Responder, ACA Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor, and Registered Maine Guide. When she is not exploring the waters she enjoys running, skiing, camping and just about anything in the great outdoors! During the year she works as an Elementary School Physical Education teacher, helping to inspire youth to do the same.
SUZANNE BLACKBURN
Suzanne fell in love with kayaking in 1980 & stand up paddle boarding in 2017 – two great ways to play on the water. Suzanne has been guiding & teaching since 1996 and is a Master Maine Guide with ACA Kayak Level 4 and SUP Level 2 Instructor certifications. “Helping someone gain a skill in a kayak or on a board and connection with the ocean brings me tremendous joy!” she says. Suzanne has paddled the entire coast of Maine three times and may just do it again.
JOEL DALEY
Joel is a Registered Maine Guide, ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring Instructor, and a Wilderness First Responder. Joel lives in Portland, ME and enjoys getting salty in Casco Bay and kayak camping along the Maine coast. In the winter, Joel is an avid downhill skier and has coached youth freestyle ski programs for a decade in both Maine and Colorado.
JOE GUGLIELMETTI
Joe is a Master Maine Sea Kayak Guide, an open-water sea kayak instructor with the American Canoe Association, and a wilderness first responder. He is also a licensed clinical social worker, and a returned Peace Corps volunteer (Zambia 07-09). Joe has paddled expeditions as far away as Fiji and Zambia, has through-paddled the coast of Maine, and section-paddled from Boston to Nova Scotia. Joe enjoys bringing people of all strokes of life into the marine environment, and he often leads paddlers to his favorite place in the world; the Cushing Island Cliffs, a mere three miles from Portland, where guillemots nest above the wild open sea.
MELANIE COLLINS
Melanie started kayaking many years ago in the shadow of pine trees in cool New England waterways. But it wasn’t until moving to a desert island off the coast of Los Angeles that she began paddling on the sea. She learned to love exploring by water while paddling around this island, camping on deserted beaches and surfing through sea caves. She became a Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guide in 2018 when she spent her first summer in Maine. Melanie is also an ACA Level 2 Coastal Kayak instructor.
ZACK ANCHORS
Zack, owner and co-founder of Portland Paddle, grew up in Old Town, Maine along the shores of the Penobscot River. He’s been paddling on whitewater and the ocean since he was 11. During his 17 years as a guide, Zack has led countless kayaking and canoeing trips throughout the coast of Maine, and in Mexico, British Columbia, Ontario and Alaska. He is a master Maine Guide, an ACA Level 4 kayaking instructor and a Wilderness First Responder. When Zack isn’t running Portland Paddle, he’s a journalist, writer and teacher.
PETER ECKEL
A resident on Peaks Island, Peter enjoys easy access to paddling along the Maine Coast. A registered Maine Recreation and Sea Kayak guide, he is on the water most days – guiding for Portland Paddle, or on his paddleboard or kayak with other Peaks paddlers. Peter is an ACA Level 2 Coastal sea kayak instructor, an ACA Stand up Paddleboard instructor, and a Wilderness First Responder. In the winter he works as a ski instructor.
CAITLIN MORRISROE
Caitlin is a Registered Maine Guide for both Recreation and Sea Kayaking. She loves to explore Casco Bay and other surrounding areas while meeting beginner and experienced SUP and kayakers from all over the world on the tours. She is Wilderness First Aid Afloat certified and an Outdoor Emergency Care Instructor. In the winter, Caitlin is a ski patroller and also enjoys hiking, and hanging out with her dogs.
SAM ANDREWS
Sam is a Wilderness First Responder, registered Maine sea kayak guide & pursuing her ACA level 2 Instructor Certification. She fell in love with sea kayaking after her many paddles on the Great Bay in New Hampshire. Sharing her passion for the outdoors is what brought her into the outdoor industry. When she is not paddling or working for Portland Paddle, she is off hiking in the White Mountains, backcountry skiing or road biking the coast.
GLEN GORDON
Glen grew up body surfing New England’s rocky shores and hiking it’s deep forests. He discovered sea kayaking in 2017 and immediately fell in love with it. Since then he’s spent as much time as possible on the water and sharing that passion with others. When he isn’t leading a kayak trip you’ll find him chasing waves, hiking, skiing, or making any excuses necessary to get outside.