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What kit do I need?
- Sea kayak in good condition (hatches seal well, no holes or cracks) and preferably with deck lines
- Approved personal flotation device (PFD) preferably with an attached whistle
- Well-fitted spray skirt (only use a tightly fitting one if you have practised wet exits)
- Paddle
- Sponge, bailer, or pump
- Appropriate clothing for the likely conditions
- Spare dry & warm clothing. Anticipate changes in conditions
- Enough water & food for your trip, plus some spare
- Two means of communication (mobile phone, VHF radio and/or personal locator beacon)
- Helmet for rocks or surfing
We also recommend
- Paddle floats (for re-entry)
- Spare paddle
- Tow rope
- A high-viz flag attached to your boat
- First aid kit
Clothing advice
Outer layer: windproof jacket or paddling top
Warm layer/s: polypropylene, wool or fleece. Some people like to wear a wetsuit (singlet style so your arms aren’t constricted) or neoprene shorts/leggings. No cotton.
Remember to be sun-smart, especially protecting your face, eyes (good glasses that protect from glare), hands and arms. Padded gloves can aid comfort and protect the back of the hands from the sun.
Gear for intermediate and advanced trips
In addition to the above, we recommend bringing the following gear on our advanced and intermediate trips:
- Hands-free bailing system (electric or foot pump)
- Thermal blanket and/or large plastic bag, eg garbage bag
- Kayak repair kit - at least a roll of duct tape
- Flares and/or other signalling devices
- Compass & maps
Staying safe on the water
Here are some guidelines for safe fun on the water
- Ensure you have a craft appropriate for your planned trip. A kayak with water-tight bulkheads is essential for open sea kayaking. Sit-on kayaks are usually too slow to be able to keep up with sea kayaks, therefore, are not recommended on club kayak trips. Surf skis might be suitable.
- Ensure all your gear is in good working order.
- If you are paddling in a group, make sure the trip is appropriate for everyone’s skills.
- Leave your trip details with a responsible party.
- Check the weather, wind and tides. Check again shortly before you depart – conditions on the sea can change quickly.
- Have several ways of communicating (phone, radio, personal locator beacon). See the Maritime NZ website for more on this.
- Also consider flares and/or other signalling devices.
- We recommend that novice paddlers attend at least a basic kayaking course before attending club-organised trips.
- If you are a beginner, stay within Ōkahu Bay. It can be fun exploring the boats in the bay. If the tide is in, paddle across to the sandy shore practising steering and getting in and out of the kayak. Practise getting the rudder up and down so you know how it works.
- Come along to the Saturday coffee cruise or the Sunday morning paddle and get started with the help of club members.
Get in touch
For specific enquiries, contact the relevant committee member/s on the list below.
Written correspondence
P.O. Box 9271 Newmarket, Auckland.