PLANNING A SAFE PADDLE
Obviously, all positions within the Kayak Club of HHP are voluntary, but, for the purposes of planning and safety there are 3 positions that must be filled on a per trip basis before any kayak trip can occur: Paddle Coordinator, Alternate Paddle Coordinator and Float Plan Contact (responsibilities are outlined below).
PADDLE COORDINATOR
ALTERNATE PADDLE COORDINATOR
FLOAT PLAN CONTACT PERSON (A Float Plan Contact is NOT required for guided tours run by an outfitter.)
PADDLE COORDINATOR
- Organize and plan the excursion, which includes "registration" of the trip with the club by sending an email to [email protected]. The email should include a description of the trip and any other details, such as, skill level required for the paddle, or a limitation on the number of participants. The information may then be disseminated by group email and the through the club's website.
- A list of paddlers should be compiled and used to fill out a float plan. The list should include contact information for all paddlers (see sample Kayaking Float Plan/Roster Sheet below).
- Request and designate an Alternate Paddle Coordinator, who can assume responsibility for the paddle organization, planning and follow-through, should the Paddle Coordinator be unable to complete the process.
- Make decisions regarding the need for trip cancellations and communicate any changes to the participants and the float plan contact person.
- On the day of the paddle, provide the completed Kayaking Float Plan/Roster Sheet to the Float Plan Contact.
- Verify all paddlers arrive. Contact anyone not there 10 minutes before scheduled start time.
- At the beginning of the paddle after all the participants have arrived, notify the Float Plan Contact of any changes to provided roster.
- Even if there are no changes to the roster, contact the Float Plan Contact by text or call to let them know the trip is commencing.
- During the paddle insure that the group stays relatively together or that at least no individual is kayaking alone.
- Verify that all paddlers return to the starting point.
- Within 1 hour of the scheduled trip completion time notify the Float Plan Contact to inform them of paddle completion or delays. This additional 1 hour is to allow the paddle coordinator (or alternate) to deal with any unforeseen, but manageable delays.
ALTERNATE PADDLE COORDINATOR
- Must be an active participant in the paddle event.
- Should be ready to assist the Paddle Coordinator with certain aspects of the paddle, like helping to keep the group together while on the water.
- Take over for the Paddle Coordinator, if, for any reason, they are unable to continue in the role, assuming all unfulfilled responsibilities listed above for the Paddle Coordinator.
FLOAT PLAN CONTACT PERSON (A Float Plan Contact is NOT required for guided tours run by an outfitter.)
- Must NOT be participating in the specific paddle and will serve as the shore contact for the Paddle Coordinator. The Float Plan Contact will have information provided by the Paddle Coordinator regarding the timing, location, and direction of the paddle, as well as a list of the participants (see Roster Sheet sample form below) and their contact information.
- The Float Plan Contact must be available to receive texts or calls from the Paddle Coordinator at the beginning of the paddle and again at the end of the paddle (within 1 hour of the scheduled trip completion).
- If you do not receive the text or call within the allotted time, you should attempt to contact the Paddle Coordinator (or alternate). If neither can be reached, then assume it is an emergency and contact Beaufort Water Search and Rescue at (843) 525-1969.
Optionally, you may choose to fill out an on-line float plan from paddling.com and email it directly the Float Plan contact, but whatever method you choose, please remember to do so for your own safety as well as the safety of those with whom you are paddling. Also, if you choose to file on-line, please ask your shore contact to respond to your email to confirm that they, in fact, received your float plan (sometimes email addresses can be mistyped or the external site may not be functioning correctly).
ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION
Boating Safety presentation offered through the HHP Yacht Club
On February 20, 2020 15 members of the Hilton Head Plantation Kayak Club attended a boating safety meeting presented by Clay Emminger of the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue Organization. This organization is completely made up of volunteers; is an IRS section 501C3 charitable organization; and gets limited funding ($2,500 per quarter) from Beaufort County. We appreciate that the Yacht Club gave us the opportunity to attend their meeting to hear this important information.
Mission
The primary mission of Beaufort Water Search and Rescue (BWSAR) is to:
SC Department of Natural Resources (Marine Patrol)
Local fire/rescue agencies
Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies
Beaufort County Office of Emergency Management
This organization responds to calls it receives directly from the Coast Guard and Beaufort County Emergency Management as well as 911 calls. They can be reached via telephone calls to 911 and emergency calls to the Coast Guard who then calls 911. The Coast Guard responds when called, they also dispatch the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue Organization whose personnel frequently arrive before the Coast Guard. Their rescue equipment can get into the rivers, marshes and streams of Beaufort County better than the Coast Guard equipment.
When this organization responds, there is no charge ($0).
On average they respond to 80-100 calls per year, which includes kayakers. Many of these rescues are for kayaks being stranded after the tide has receded leaving the boats high and dry. Additionally, paddling in difficult conditions (against strong tides, against the wind, in rough water), as well as getting stuck in pluff mud have caused kayak rescues.
Clay advised the following for kayak safety:
Another tidbit of information that was provided is that there are large sharks in our waters (Bull Sharks and Great Whites) and their preferred feeding time is near dusk. That is not to say they can’t eat whenever they want, because I’m sure they do.
On February 20, 2020 15 members of the Hilton Head Plantation Kayak Club attended a boating safety meeting presented by Clay Emminger of the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue Organization. This organization is completely made up of volunteers; is an IRS section 501C3 charitable organization; and gets limited funding ($2,500 per quarter) from Beaufort County. We appreciate that the Yacht Club gave us the opportunity to attend their meeting to hear this important information.
Mission
The primary mission of Beaufort Water Search and Rescue (BWSAR) is to:
- Carry out search and rescue (SAR) missions in the Beaufort County, South Carolina area.
- Support and assist local, federal and state emergency response agencies including:
SC Department of Natural Resources (Marine Patrol)
Local fire/rescue agencies
Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies
Beaufort County Office of Emergency Management
This organization responds to calls it receives directly from the Coast Guard and Beaufort County Emergency Management as well as 911 calls. They can be reached via telephone calls to 911 and emergency calls to the Coast Guard who then calls 911. The Coast Guard responds when called, they also dispatch the Beaufort Water Search and Rescue Organization whose personnel frequently arrive before the Coast Guard. Their rescue equipment can get into the rivers, marshes and streams of Beaufort County better than the Coast Guard equipment.
When this organization responds, there is no charge ($0).
On average they respond to 80-100 calls per year, which includes kayakers. Many of these rescues are for kayaks being stranded after the tide has receded leaving the boats high and dry. Additionally, paddling in difficult conditions (against strong tides, against the wind, in rough water), as well as getting stuck in pluff mud have caused kayak rescues.
Clay advised the following for kayak safety:
- Have some type of communication device in the kayak so you can communicate in an emergency. Examples are:.
- Cell phone. Enter Clay’s cell phone number (843) 525-1969 which may yield the fastest response. You should also add the app Latitude Longitude to your cell phone which you can use to provide your exact location. However, there may be locations without cell coverage.
- VHF handheld radio with GPS for locating you (make sure the battery is charged). This is Clay’s preferred device. For water rescues, emergency responders may have difficulty locating you without this GPS or a latitude longitude location.
- Have a float plan with some timing guidelines and someone on land to communicate with. The plan should have approximate depart and return times, at least the general location where you will be kayaking and the number of people/boats that are involved. The float coordinator should contact (call or text) the land based contact to let them know they have completed the float or changed the plan.
- Put your name and phone number in your kayak and leave it there. Sometimes kayaks break free and are just floating. If BWSAR finds a kayak they don’t know if they are looking to return the kayak or if they are trying to rescue its inhabitant. They will call the phone number to try to determine their next steps.
- Wear your PFD, don’t just keep it in your kayak. This action was highly recommended and should be our policy for all of our floats.
- You can purchase a personal locator device. This device (about $250) can be used to broadcast your location all over the world and when activated rescue personnel are dispatched to find you. This device needs to be registered after you purchase it.
- Always bring water on your kayak trips. It is important to stay hydrated both in the summer and the cooler weather. You need to be especially aware of conditions in the midsummer (hydration/heat) and the winter (cold water).
Another tidbit of information that was provided is that there are large sharks in our waters (Bull Sharks and Great Whites) and their preferred feeding time is near dusk. That is not to say they can’t eat whenever they want, because I’m sure they do.