QCI Recreation

 2-Day Introduction to Sea Kayaking Course

August 28 & 29, 2010

Launching from Alliford Bay

$195 per person, including HST

For reservations, please contact QCI Recreation:

Phone  1 888 557-4418

This course runs Saturday and Sunday; participants return home overnight.

The course begins at 9am each day at the Government wharf in Alliford Bay.  (Located at the end of Kwuna Point Road; a ten-minute walk North of the ferry terminal.)

The course ends at approximately 4pm each day.  

Included Equipment:

• Single kayaks

• Paddles

• Sprayskirts

• PFDs (lifejackets)

• Pumps

Topics & Skills:

• Basic and intermediate paddle strokes (manoeuvring)

• Equipment and clothing                                                    

• Loading, launching and landing                                         

• Introduction to tides and currents

• Risk assessment and management

• Rescues and incident response

Instructor:  Gord Pincock - guide & instructor for Butterfly Tours and Evolution Guide School

Minimum four participants per course, maximum seven.
To confirm this course, four reservations must be received by one week prior.

Full payment is required in order to reserve a space.
We commit to holding your space once you've made a reservation.
Sorry, no refunds are possible if you cancel.

Please Bring:

A warm hat and rain gear are essential.  Depending on weather, a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses may be required.  Please bring a towel and a complete change of clothes.  For waterproofing, pack your extra clothes in a dry bag or a plastic-lined stuff sac - double garbage bags would also work.

Please bring lunch, drinking water and a few quick snacks.  Bring a thermos if you want to enjoy hot drinks.

Sturdy sandals or neoprene booties with hard soles are useful while kayaking; footwear will get wet.  Please do not bring rubber boots; when they fill with water they make rescues much more difficult.

A wetsuit is optional, yet highly recommended.  

Please do not bring any down-filled or cotton clothing.  Wool and synthetic fabrics are appropriate.  Synthetic underwear and synthetic swimsuits are much warmer and more comfortable than cotton underwear.  Wool and synthetic socks will insulate when wet.

• Down insulates extremely poorly when wet and dries very slowly

• Cotton insulates very poorly when wet and dries slowly

• Wool insulates well when wet and dries slowly

• Synthetics insulate very well when wet and dry quickly!

Gord Pincock is a a highly experienced sea kayak guide and educator.  He has instructed these courses on Haida Gwaii for two decades.  Dozens of Queen Charlotte Islands residents have enjoyed these weekend courses over the years.