SKUK Personal skill awards

These awards cover personal skills only

These Awards can be awarded by SKUK Expedition and Instructional Centers by appointed Instructors.

The awards can then be used as evidence of competence by SKUK approved centers offering expeditions or kayak hire.

The certificates will be sold at cost in books of ten certificates to approved centers.

A record of awards will be kept by the center awarding the certificates and SKUK

Kayakers will be given a certificate at the time of the assessment. Details submitted to SKUK, who will forward a credit card style card showing the level of award obtained

SKUK will maintain a data base of awarded certificates

Sea Proficiency Award

This award has been designed to provide suitable skills, judgement, and awareness so the candidate should be safe to hire a sea kayak for use in calm conditions on the open sea. With basic navigation skills. Advice of local conditions is expected to be provided by the person or company providing the kayak.

Information for assessors Assessors must make sure candidates can perform and cope in the following conditions. This award should be assessed in F3 + onshore winds on the open sea

• Can this person handle their kayak in onshore winds F3+ and 1m (3.5 feet) surf?
• Paddle into a F3 head wind and demonstrate an efficient forward stroke.
• Turn the kayak confidently in the wind
• Tow and rescue in the wind
• Demonstrate a self rescue (any method including a paddle float)
• Undertake basic navigation i.e. Give a Long and Lat position, take a bearing and paddle on it. Work out distance and time. Produce a route card
• Have the necessary safety, first aid, emergency cloths and kayak repair kit. They must know how to use these.
• Can they contact tow?
• Can they do a simple rafted tow to shore (300 meters)
• Will this person be a liability in F3 onshore conditions? If yes it’s a fail.
• Would this person be able to paddle safely with two others of the same standard without supervision in F3 winds? If No it’s a fail.
• Have they suitable safety equipment? If No it’s a fail
• They must be able to cope in 1 meter surf (3.5 Feet) If they cant it’s a fail
• Can they role in a F3 (Only one side needed) If No it’s a fail
• The candidate must be of a responsible nature. If they are not responsible then it’s a fail
• The candidate must have a good appreciation of estimating weather conditions and know their limitations. If they don’t it’s a fail

Sea Proficiency Intermediate Award

This award has been designed to provide suitable skills, judgement and awareness so the candidate should be safe to hire a sea kayak for use in intermediate conditions in the open sea. Up to sea state 4, 1m surf and F4 winds. With suitable navigation skills. Advice of local conditions is expected to be provided by the person or company providing the kayak.

Information for assessors Assessors must make sure candidates can perform and cope in the following conditions.

The candidate must be seen in 4 to 6ft + waves on the open sea (Not surf) and in winds of F4+ onshore winds and up to 2knots of tide. Max 2 mile sea crossing

• Can this person handle their kayak in onshore winds F4+ and 1.5m (4 to 5 feet) surf?
• Paddle into a F5 head wind  and demonstrate an efficient forward stroke.
• Turn the kayak confidently in the wind
• Tow and rescue in the wind
• Demonstrate a self rescue (any method including a paddle float in conditions on the open sea)
• Undertake navigation i.e. demonstrate they still have the proficiency skills and in addition. Have a working knowledge of a GPS to include. Reading the Long and Lat position, putting in waypoints and creating a simple route. Work out a simple tidal vector. Produce a route card
•  Have the necessary safety, first aid, emergency cloths and kayak repair kit. In addition a VHF Radio. They must know how to use the radio and have a knowledge of radio protocol.
• Can they contact tow and organize manage an inline contact tow?
• Can they do a rafted in line tow to shore in conditions over 300 to 400 meters
• Will this person be a liability in F4+ onshore conditions? If yes it’s a fail.
• Would this person be able to paddle safely with two others of the same standard without supervision in F4+ winds? If No it’s a fail.
• Have they suitable safety equipment? If No it’s a fail
• They must be able to cope in 1.5 meter surf (4 to 5 Feet) If they cant it’s a fail
• Can they role in a F4+ (Only one side needed) If No it’s a fail
• The candidate must be of a responsible nature. If they are not responsible then it’s a fail
• The candidate must have a good appreciation of estimating weather conditions and know their limitations. If they don’t it’s a fail

Sea Proficiency Advanced Award - Tidal

NONE TIDAL = less than 3 knots | TIDAL = over 3 knots

This award has been designed to provide suitable skills, judgement and awareness so the candidate should be safe to hire a sea kayak for use in advanced conditions in the open sea. Up to sea state 4 plus, over 1m surf and F4 winds plus. With suitable navigation skills. Advice of local conditions is expected to be provided by the person or company providing the kayak.

Information for assessors Assessors must make sure candidates can perform and cope in the following conditions. TIDAL

The candidate must be seen in 4 to 6ft + waves on the open sea (Not surf) and in winds of F5+ onshore winds and up to 3+ knots of tide. Sea crossings up to 10 miles

• Can this person handle their kayak in onshore winds min F5+ launch and land in 5 ft + surf ?
• Undertake a rocky landing
• Paddle into a F5+ head wind  and demonstrate an efficient forward stroke.
• Turn the kayak confidently in the wind and 3+ Knots of tide
• Tow and rescue in the wind and 3+ Knots of tide
• Demonstrate a re entry and role in tidal conditions
• Undertake navigation i.e. demonstrate they still have the Intermediate proficiency skills and in addition undertake a navigation question to include a min of a 10 mile open sea crossing. The candidate needs to have the ability to work out tidal vectors etc Produce a route card
•  Have the necessary safety, first aid, emergency cloths and kayak repair kit. In addition a VHF Radio. They must know how to use the radio and have a knowledge of good radio protocol.
• Can they contact tow and organize manage an inline contact tow?
• Can they do a rafted in line tow to shore in conditions over 400 meters
• Will this person be a liability in F5+ onshore conditions with tide? If yes it’s a fail.
• Would this person be able to paddle safely with two others of the same standard without supervision in F5+ winds and tide? If No it’s a fail.
• Have they suitable safety equipment? If No it’s a fail
• They must be able to cope in up to 2 meter surf ( 6 Feet) If they cant it’s a fail
• Can they role in a F5+ and 3knots + of tide (Only one side needed) If No it’s a fail
• The candidate must be of a responsible nature. If they are not responsible then it’s a fail
• The candidate must have a good appreciation of estimating weather conditions and know their limitations. If they don’t it’s a fail
• The Candidate must have a good level of tidal awareness.

Pass through areas of tidal races and overfalls safely. Rescue in the races and overfalls. THEY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORCAST WHEN THE RACES / OVERFALLS  WILL BE AT THEIR SMALLEST OR NOT THERE.

Sea Proficiency Advanced Award - Non-tidal

NONE TIDAL = less than 3 knots | TIDAL = over 3 knots

This award has been designed to provide suitable skills, judgement and awareness so the candidate should be safe to hire a sea kayak for use in advanced conditions in the open sea. Up to sea state 4 plus, over 1m surf and F4 winds plus. With suitable navigation skills. Advice of local conditions is expected to be provided by the person or company providing the kayak.

Information for assessors Assessors must make sure candidates can perform and cope in the following conditions. NONE TIDAL

The candidate must be seen in 4 to 6ft + waves on the open sea (Not surf) and in winds of F5+ onshore winds and up to 2 knots of tide. Sea crossings up to 10 miles

• Can this person handle their kayak in onshore winds F5+ launch and land in 5 ft + surf ?
• Undertake a rocky landing
• Paddle into a F5+ head wind  and demonstrate an efficient forward stroke.
• Turn the kayak confidently in the wind
• Tow and rescue in the wind
• Demonstrate a re entry and role rescue
• Undertake navigation i.e. demonstrate they still have the Intermediate proficiency skills and in addition undertake a navigation question to include a min of a 10 mile open sea crossing. Produce a route card
• Have the necessary safety, first aid, emergency cloths and kayak repair kit. In addition a VHF Radio. They must know how to use the radio and have a knowledge of good radio protocol.
• Can they contact tow and organize manage an inline contact tow?
• Can they do a rafted in line tow to shore in conditions over 300 to 400 meters
• Will this person be a liability in F5+ onshore conditions? If yes it’s a fail.
• Would this person be able to paddle safely with two others of the same standard without supervision in F5+ winds? If No it’s a fail.
• Have they suitable safety equipment? If No it’s a fail
• They must be able to cope in up to 2 meter surf ( 6 Feet) If they cant it’s a fail
• Can they role in a F5+ (Only one side needed) If No it’s a fail
• The candidate must be of a responsible nature. If they are not responsible then it’s a fail
• The candidate must have a good appreciation of estimating weather conditions and know their limitations. If they don’t it’s a fail
• The Candidate must have some tidal awareness and be able to identify tidal flow and Eddy’s
• Understand what tidal races and overfalls are and how to identify them on a chart.