For newcomers to the sport, and on occasion those who have been paddling for longer, one of the most intimidating techniques is capsizing. Horror stories abound of people who have experienced difficulty exiting an upside down kayak, but on closer examination almost all appear to be false or at the very least exaggerated. As with all techniques, the only way to improve is to practise and this is the case with capsizing. Do not put off the inevitable; at the earliest opportunity, preferably in the company of more experienced paddlers, capsize!

Although there are occasions when it may appear preferable to leave the capsize drill until a later session, experience has shown that this is not always the best course of action. Many individuals will become apprehensive prior to their next paddle if they have not completed a capsize drill. When they get on the water this apprehension may well inhibit their learning. From a coaching perspective, an individual who does not complete their capsize drill on their first session, can place the coach in a difficult position. As the paddlers have already undertaken at least one session it is not unreasonable to assume that they would have completed this most essential of tasks. If this is not the case, then the coach may be confronted with a panicking student if they have capsized accidentally.

Ideally the first capsize would be in the warm and friendly environment of the swimming pool, but that is a luxury which is not always available. Capsizing may not be as intimidating if it is related to an everyday series of movements. One of the simplest ways to describe the process is to compare it to taking off a pair of trousers, something which most people have experience of.

Pull the release strap up and forwards, this equates to undoing the trousers.

Then place the hands on the kayak, just behind the cockpit and push down. The same action as pushing a rather tight pair of trousers over the hips. By pushing with hands the paddler's backside should leave the seat of the kayak.

In a kayak with a large cockpit this is essentially all that is needed to ensure that a clean exit from the kayak is achieved.

With smaller cockpits or for paddler's with particularly long legs, it is necessary to bring the knees together and to keep the legs straight so that the exit is similar to a forward roll. Essentially at this stage the paddler is pushing their head towards the seabed. Once the kayak has been exited the paddlers buoyancy will bring them quickly to the surface where it is important to ensure that they keep hold of the kayak.

Holding onto both the kayak and the paddle is very important

This is one of the reasons for serviceable deck lines to be on the kayak. Once they have caught hold of the kayak it should only be a very short time before their paddling companions have rescued them.

There are a couple of common faults, which make exiting the kayak more difficult and are often the reason for the horror stories.

Firstly, against most basic instincts, ensure that the kayak has completely capsized before any attempt is made to exit. If the kayak is still on its side it is likely that the legs will prove difficult to extract and although in most cases the head will be clear of the water, there is a real feeling of entrapment. Secondly, ensure that the spray deck is released before trying to exit. Some paddlers in an attempt to raise their head out of the water forget to release the strap at the front of the kayak and then become worried about having to put their head back under the surface so that they can reach forward to perform the release. In this scenario, if the spray deck is relatively loose fitting it is likely that the paddler's legs will release the spray deck enabling the paddler to exit but leaving them with a feeling that they were trapped.

Once a capsize drill has been successfully executed then it is preferable that several others are completed in the same session. Once the paddler is wet they might as well have another couple of tries as it saves having to get wet at some time in the future.

It is necessary to practise capsizing in a variety of different situations to ensure that if a real incident arises then the skills, which are required, are second nature. Tidal races and the surf are two particularly unique environments. In breaking waves the paddler must ensure that they are on the sea ward side of any waves, a sea kayak is able to inflict considerable injuries if it hits a swimmer. In a controlled situation on a windy day an interesting exercise is to let go of the kayak after capsizing, allow it to move a few metres away and then to try to swim after it. Even in relatively light winds it will prove almost impossible to catch a kayak which is being blown across the surface of the water. Once experienced, the need to maintain contact with the sea kayak, is never forgotten.

Once the paddler lets go of the kayak it can be quickly blown away.
Kit should also be secured.

At the same time as practicing the capsize drill it is important to experiment with the various ways of emptying the water from the kayak. If the paddler is close to the shore and is able to swim their kayak to the beach then the simplest option is to lift the kayak so that the water empties out. Ensure that the kayak is at right angles to the sea with the bow pointing up the beach. The mere rolling of the kayak onto its deck will ensure that the majority of the water empties out of the cockpit, particularly if the rear bulkhead is close to the seat. It is easier to roll the kayak over by standing close to the centre of the kayak.

The next stage needs to be completed carefully to avoid the possibility of back injuries. Stand to one side and approximately half a metre in form the stern. Then grasping the kayak on either side gradually lift the kayak up, resting it against the hip which prevents the kayak spinning under its own weight, resulting in the kayak facing upwards. Once the water has run from behind the seat, lower the kayak onto the beach and due to the slope the water will run back towards the cockpit. Repeating this process several times will ensure that the majority of the water is emptied from the kayak. It should then just be a matter of using a sponge to remove the remaining drops.

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