Capsizing a kayak is more frightening than it is serious. With the life jacket on and a clear order of steps, you are sitting down again within a couple of minutes.
If your kayak capsizes, the first thing is to do nothing for a few seconds: the life jacket keeps you afloat, so you breathe, get your bearings and take hold of the kayak and the paddle. Then you right the kayak from one side, climb on by lying face down across it at the level of the seat, and turn to sit with your legs inside, keeping your weight low and central.
The key to all of it is not to get separated from the kayak. A kayak floats even when upside down, it is far easier to see from a distance than a head in the water, and it gives you something to hold while you get your breath back. In an offshore land breeze, which pushes you out to sea, letting go is the most serious mistake, because it drifts away faster than you can swim.
Nothing, for a few seconds. The shock of the water and the fright make you want to move quickly, and that is what tires and disorientates you. With the life jacket on, your body floats on its own. Breathe, look for where the kayak is, where the paddle is and where the shore is, and only then start to act.
The second thing is to grab the kayak, even if it is upside down, and the paddle, which you can tuck under your arm or hold against the hull. That is why the life jacket is worn the whole time and not left at your feet: if it is stowed in the kayak when it capsizes, it is no use. A life jacket is included for each person, and safety at sea in a kayak starts there.
From one side, roughly level with the middle. Reach your arm over or under the hull until you can grab the far edge and pull it towards you, while your other hand pushes the near edge upwards. The kayak rolls over and ends up the right way up.
If the kayak has water inside or feels heavy, it helps to give a strong kick with your legs out horizontally as you pull, so that your body does the pushing and not just your arms. It does not have to work first time: if it does not, rest while holding the kayak and try again. Meanwhile, keep hold of the paddle or lay it on the hull.
From one side, level with the seat, never over the end. Hold the near edge with one hand and the far edge with the other, bring your legs up horizontally behind you, almost at the surface, and with a strong kick get your chest onto the kayak, lying face down across it. In that position your weight is low and the kayak will not roll again.
From there, turn your body slowly until you are sitting in the seat facing forward, and bring your legs in one at a time. Throughout, keep your weight low and central: sudden movements or sitting up high are what make it capsize again. Once seated, retrieve the paddle and rest for a minute before paddling.
In a double kayak you work as a team, and it is easier than in a single. First the two of you right it, one on each side or both from the same side. Then one stays in the water holding the far edge, acting as a counterweight, while the other climbs in using the same technique: kick, chest onto the kayak and turn to sit.
Once the first person is seated, they lean slightly to the opposite side to balance while the second climbs in. If there is a child in the kayak, first make sure the child is holding the edge and calm, then the adult climbs in and helps the child up. The child, in a life jacket of the right size, floats the whole time.
Stay with the kayak. Holding on to it, rest, get your breath back and try again. If you are close to the shore, you can swim while pushing the kayak towards the beach, with gentle kicks, until you can stand. What you should not do is leave the kayak and swim for land on your own: distance is deceptive and the kayak is what makes you visible.
If your strength runs out or the wind is carrying you away, call for help. Your phone, in a waterproof pouch tied to the kayak or hung round your neck, lets you call 112 or Salvamento Marítimo on 900 202 202. Waving one arm above your head is the signal that can be seen from the shore or from another boat.
Almost everything. The land breeze blows offshore, from the north or north-west, and pushes you out to sea. In that wind, a capsized kayak that has been let go drifts off at once, faster than you can swim. So in that wind, the first thing to do after falling in is to hold the kayak, even before the paddle.
If you lose the kayak in an offshore breeze, do not chase it out to sea: stay afloat in your life jacket, make yourself visible and call for help. The best defence is not to get into that situation: in an offshore breeze, paddle parallel to the coast and close to the shore, and if the kayak drifts out on its own when you stop paddling, head back. In 15 to 20 knots the light kit stays ashore.
A capsize on flat water usually starts with weight shifting to one side. Standing up in the kayak, leaning out to pick something up from the water or twisting suddenly to look behind are the quickest ways to end up in the sea. Sitting with your back straight and moving smoothly, the kayak stays steady.
The other cause is the water. The wake of a motorboat or a jet ski, or a wave arriving side-on, pushes the kayak sideways; take it bow first by turning the nose towards it. Going out first thing, on flat water, and checking the sea forecast on the home page of the website beforehand, which shows wind and waves every half hour, avoids a lot of scares.
If it is not here, call us: two minutes on the phone and it is sorted.
On flat water, sitting with your weight centred, no. Capsizes happen when you stand up, lean to one side or take a wave or wake side-on.
Wearing your life jacket and not letting go of the kayak. The kayak floats upside down, gives you something to hold and can be seen from afar. In an offshore wind, holding it comes first.
Stay holding the kayak, rest and try again. Near the shore, push it towards the beach as you swim. If you cannot, call 112 or Salvamento Marítimo on 900 202 202.
Leave us your number and we will call you. In July and August it is worth booking ahead.
Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola, local 367. You can drop in and see the boats before you book.
At no charge. Going out to see what happens is never worth it.
Life jackets for everyone on board, included in the price.
