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There are many
different ways to communicate with your paddling
partners while you are paddling in open sea. One
of the more reliable ways of doing so is with
paddle or arm signals. Your
paddle or arms can be seen over farther distance
than hand signals and noise cannot drown them
out. Keep
in mind not everyone speaks the same paddle
language so it is important to review signals
within your group at the beginning of the day
and agree upon their meaning. The signals
mentioned below and how to use them with your
paddling partners should be discussed and agreed
upon before you get on the water.
The signals are
primarily for directing the movements of
kayakers. Below are the basic signals performed
with paddles and their corresponding arm
signals. When doing paddle or arm signals, be
sure the flat of the blade or hand is used
whenever possible for greater visibility
A vertical paddle or arm means GO. On a
tour the go means paddle in the agreed upon
direction previously discussed.
The
paddle held horizontal or the arms out stretched
to the side means STOP your paddling and/or hold
your position. The stop means keep the
kayak where it is. If there is a current you may
have to be paddling to hold the position
If you
alternately move each end of the paddle up and
down or each arm, it means move BACKWARDS
in your kayak. This is most often used to back
away from obstacles.
To move
the kayaker to the right or left, point
your paddle or one arm, up and to the side you
wish them to travel.
In many sports
the waving of your hand from side to
side means EMERGENCY. Using the paddle
is also effective. Many kayakers use the side to
side wave as emergency if it is done quickly and
a GATHER-UP signal, if it is a
slow wide wave to the group.
If I want to
signal that I am OK or ask if someone is OK, I
will hold one arm out to the side and then place
my fingertips back over my head. I am attempting
to make the letter "O" on one side of my body
with my arm.
The OK sign can be a question or a response
depending on the situation. When I see someone
take a bad spill in the surf but they flash me
the OK sign I appreciate the proactive message.
I respond with the OK sign as a confirmation.
If I ask a fellow paddler if they are OK and I
get no response, I keep trying. If still no
response I assume they need help. This is also
assuming I know that they understand the OK
signal.
Note:
As mentioned earlier, these signals have some
common threads crossing over to whitewater
paddling, rafting and SCUBA diving but don't
assume they are universal. It would be nice if
some basic ones were adopted by all. The
emergency and OK symbol is more widely accepted.
The others are gaining more popularity.
>> More Kayaking
tips
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kayak, Inflatable
kayak, Folding
kayak, Solo
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What to do after a capsize - wet exiting
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Basic paddle and arm signals for sea kayakers |
