Over the next four hours I had one of the best days off that I have had so far.
Having worked at a summer camp, sea kayaking was not something I was specifically taught, but by using canoes I had an idea of what a draw stroke should look like or how to do a proper sweep. And sure I had an idea, but not a single clue at the potential those ideas could hold.
Before leaving Maine Kayak we made sure that we were equiped with wetsuits, spray skirts, bilge pumps and all the amenities needed for a day in the water. Especially Gulf of Maine water.
Gary started the instructional clinic with describing all of the terminology of the boat, such as chines and what rocker is. He certainly spoke with the confidence that is a trademark of a real State of Maine Guide and after some real basic instruction in kayaking form we hit the water ready to get wet. And wet we got.
After paddling over 65 degree water to get to a sheltered pocket beach, we abandoned our paddles and started, one by one, taking a plunge and flipping the boats over to to see how long we could stay in our boats upside down.
"Time Dilation" was the two words that Gary said to us shortly before we found ourselves upside down in a boat underwater. Time dilation is the phenomenon that as your adrenaline kicks in, seconds turn to minutes and time spent under a boat last much longer than what is traditionally felt when safe and dry. Gary started by flipping his boat than drumming his fingers to a beat, upside down, in the water for about 5 seconds. I attempted the same but made it a remarkable 2 seconds as my nose filled with salt water and the panic of cold water struck me. Once above water I had time to relax and start to enjoy the water as my wetsuit started to work properly.
Time after time we flipped the boats to practice all of the rescues that I have been instructing people on how to do, but had never done myself. T-rescues, cowboy rescues, bow rescues and paddle float rescues to name a few. We learned that you can actually float a boat sideways with your elbows in the water while keeping the boat from flipping over. In one four hour period I successfully executed at least one of every rescue, managed to stay underwater and enjoy my own drum beat on my upside down boat for 5 seconds, and learned valuable rescue skills that would be crucial should I every find myself in a kayak on the deep blue sea.
Maine Kayak's basic instructional clinics provided me with skills that left me feeling confident on the water, much more mentally prepared for the unexpected and provided with quite a few laughs as I flipped my boat again and again. Talk about a day off from work.
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